Landord myself or my LLC

Cleveland, Ohio
Buying & Selling Real Estate
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Landord myself or my LLC

Gurjeet Brar
Twinsburg, OH · Member since 2014 · 37 posts · 9 votes

Good morning everyone. This is my second single family home. I am in process of signing lease. I do have LLC that i opened for this home. My question is if i use my personal name as Landlord or the name of my LLC on leasing contract. I want go the way that protects my the most from any future claims/lawsuits from renters. Any suggestions.... thank you in advance

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Jaron WallingPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
8mo

@Gurjeet Brar You should sign the lease in a way that indicates you are acting as an agent or authorized representative for the business, not as an individual. For example;

Paws & Claws Properties, LLC
By: __________________________
Jason Jesse, Manager

Signing like this indicates the LLC is the one entering the agreement, and you're simply the person (manager) executing it.




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  • Jaron WallingPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2018 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8mo

    @Gurjeet Brar You should sign the lease in a way that indicates you are acting as an agent or authorized representative for the business, not as an individual. For example;

    Paws & Claws Properties, LLC
    By: __________________________
    Jason Jesse, Manager

    Signing like this indicates the LLC is the one entering the agreement, and you're simply the person (manager) executing it.




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  • Ryan Coon
    Attorney · Spanish Fork, UT · Member since 2025 · 77 posts · 98 votes
    8mo

    First, as Jaron points out, you will want to make sure that you sign in your representative capacity in the entity that owns the property, assuming that the property is owned by the LLC. This may seem like an obvious qualification, however it's one worth making because too often I see investors, who are making the right move by setting up LLCs for their investments properties, trip at the finish line by not actually transferring or holding the property in the LLC. The LLC cannot provide protection to a property that it does not own.

    Second, the distinction Jaron makes—signing in your role under the LLC (e.g. manager, president, etc.)—is especially important because if the property is owned by the LLC but your signing in your individual capacity, you're giving a potential creditor an easy-in to ignore the LLCs protections by piercing your corporate veil. The corporate veil is what separates you from your LLC for liability purposes but when you do not honor this separation—such as when you personally sign for your LLC rather than signing in your role under the LLC—the court and your creditors have good reason not to honor this separation either. This is what is referred to as piercing the corporate veil.

    Note: This information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. No attorney-client, fiduciary, or professional relationship is established through this communication.

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  • Drew SygitBusiness Member
    Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
    8mo
    Quote from @Gurjeet Brar:

    Good morning everyone. This is my second single family home. I am in process of signing lease. I do have LLC that i opened for this home. My question is if i use my personal name as Landlord or the name of my LLC on leasing contract. I want go the way that protects my the most from any future claims/lawsuits from renters. Any suggestions.... thank you in advance

     What @Jaron Walling and @Ryan Coon said.
    P.S. I voted for their answers, you should too!

    [email protected]248-209-6824
    Logical Property Management4.9460 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
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  • Alioune Camara
    Realtor · OH · Member since 2026 · 122 posts · 77 votes
    7mo

    For maximum protection, use your LLC as the landlord on the lease. This keeps liability with the entity and separates your personal assets from tenant claims.

    Make sure your LLC has proper insurance—landlord liability coverage—and that your operating agreement and lease are solid. Doing it in your personal name exposes you personally, even if you have an LLC.

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