Adding a Roommate

[Nikoma Thompson]

I have a tenant who is currently the only one on the lease. I knew he would be looking for a roommate and now he has found one. He wants to add the roommate to the lease for the remainder of the the lease. What is the best way to go about this? Do I just write it in on the leasee line next to the first tenant with a date and initial from everyone? Do I write up an addendum to add to the lease?

Thanks!

Nikoma

[Susan M.]

Did you screen the proposed roommate as you would any new tenant?  I hope so.

I would do a completely new lease where both parties are named, jointly and severally.  I would have both parties initial all pages and sign the new lease and any addendum.  Basically I would treat this as a new tenancy, although I would honor the original expiration of the original tenant's lease.

Are you charging extra for the roommate?  I'm always asked this.  I don't think it seems fair but I know a lot of people do it.