How to Apply for a Rental With a Roommate

When renting property with a roommate, you'll go through the same process as you would if you were renting yourself - only, you'll need more documentation. Each person whose name will appear on the lease will have to supply references and rental history to the landlord or management company.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calculators
• Calculators

1. Talk to your roomie-to-be before starting the application process. Find out if there's anything in your future roommate's rental history that would throw a wrench into getting approval for both of you.

2. Tell the landlord or property manager exactly how many people will be living in the property. Each of you will have to fill out a rental application.

3. Make sure each of you has all your rental history information together. This includes previous addresses, as well as phone numbers of previous landlords.

4. Fill out the paperwork completely and honestly.

5. Ask if the lease can be worded so that rental responsibilities between you and your roommate are divided. This is a legal way to protect yourself if you meet your half of the rent but your roommate doesn't. (In other words, you don't want to be responsible for the difference.)

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure the names of everyone living in the rental property appear on the lease. This ensures that everyone is equally responsible for paying rent and meeting any other obligations set forth in the lease.

on 11/22/2005 If the landlord makes any one of the tenants responsible for the full rent, make sure there's a clause in the lease that allows you to choose another roommate in case your original roommate skips out.