Landlord/Tenant Questions & Answers Ted Kimball, Esq. September, 2018 1. Question: I have a two bedroom apartment rented to two roommates. One roommate always pays the rent on time. The other roommate is habitually late. Can I do an eviction based on a partial payment even though the month is not over? Answer: Both tenants...

Ted Kimball, Esq. June, 2018 1. Question: In our lease agreements we require tenant’s to pay their rent on the first of the month. If the first falls on a holiday, do you have to give the tenants until midnight on the second to pay the rent or can you still enforce the late fee...

Rent Sense: Manage Roommates
By Neil Fjellestad and Chris De Marco
FBS Property Management

You and two friends decide to lease an apartment together. Things are going well until one or these friends loses their job and moves out because he/she can no longer afford the rent. What if a roommate damages the property or has a pet that damages the property and after move-out you get the bill for the excess damages? Who pays? Who is liable? The answer is that ALL of you are liable for the damages or lost rent even if it’s not your fault. This is because most rental contracts contain the language that the tenants “will be held joint and severally liable”; all tenants are each responsible for the full execution of all the lease terms.
So, if your roommate doesn’t pay their share of the rent on time, you are in violation of the lease and subject to late charges and eviction. Your credit may be negatively affected for a very long time due to your roommate’s bad behavior and/or poor judgment.

Here are a few things you can do to protect yourself:

• Every roommate should be able to demonstrate good credit, responsible past performance as a roommate and provide a guarantor if needed. Don’t be bashful about asking for details and be willing to share your own circumstances.

• Make sure that all roommates have an application on file and have signed the current lease. Don’t move roommates in and out without proper written notice. Promptly attend to updating documents. You want roommates that are legally bound just like you are.

• Make sure that everyone adheres to all the terms of the lease. Examples: pets, guests, noise, parking, etc. Insist that you and your roommates sit down with the owner’s representative and thoroughly review the leasing documents together. Ask questions and present “what if” scenarios so everyone starts with the same understanding.

• Make sure that everyone holds up his/her end of the arrangement: rent payments, other charges, utility bills, etc. All roommates should acknowledge condition at move-in and requirements at move-out.

We have built a healthy San Diego business out of advising independent real estate investors, acquiring and managing rental properties for clients while providing superior housing alternatives for qualified renters. We've accomplished all of this daily for longer than four decades and currently operate rental properties (houses, condos and apartments) in 69 zip codes throughout the region. Our rental vacancies change daily. Take a peek today www.fbs-pm.com/rentals

If you're a qualified renter you deserve to be treated like the preferred customer you are.
Educate yourself www.RentSenseBlog.com

If you’re a local rental owner now you hold a winning ticket if you want a preferred retirement. A preferred retirement includes a personal residence plus rental properties held without debt and managed by professionals. This financial condition allows you some important lifestyle choices – where you live and how you live. The ONLY challenge according to Warren Buffet? Comprehensive and constant professional management of your rental business by FBS.

https://fbs-pm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/equalopportunity.png

Promote housing opportunities for all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, marital status, ancestry, national origin, color, familial status, or disability (Government Code Section 65583(c)(5)).

San Diego Metro Office
6398 Del Cerro Blvd., Ste 8.
San Diego, CA 92120
Phone:
(619) 286-7600

Skip to content