Can a Landlord Drop a Name Off the Lease?
If you decide to rent an apartment with a roommate, you need to complete a joint application and put both names on the lease. Unless you and your roommate renew the lease, the lease agreement expires when the lease term comes to an end. At that point, you're both free to move. But if your roommate decides to move before you, you have to alter the lease agreement and take his name off the contract.
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Removing a Name from Lease
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Signing a rental lease as joint applicants makes you and your roommate responsible for the payment for the lease term -- typically one year or 12 months, although the term can be shorter. Because both names are on the lease and liable for rent payments, your landlord might not modify the agreement mid-lease if your roommate decides to leave prior to the lease's end. Your roommate can vacate the unit; however, vacating early does not release him from the financial obligation.
Renewing Lease
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If you are nearing the conclusion of a rental lease term and one applicant decides to vacate and move on, the remaining applicant has the option of retaining the rental lease and managing the financial obligation on his own. However, dropping a name from a lease in this instance requires the remaining lease holder to re-apply for the apartment. Landlords give tenants the opportunity to renew their leases each year, and often this renewal occurs automatically. But if any change occurs with regard to occupancy and the names of individuals living in the apartment, landlords want to re-evaluate tenants to determine whether they're still eligible in the modified circumstances.
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Eligibility
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Re-applying for an apartment after a roommate or other lease holder leaves requires completing an updated rental application and supplying updated financial information. Income statements and a review of this individual's credit history help lenders determine an applicant's eligibility. If a remaining lease holder opts for a new roommate, completion of a new joint application and submission of financial information from both parties is needed to determine eligibility.
Considerations
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Already being a lease holder doesn't guarantee approval as a sole tenant. The landlord evaluates your credit rating and income, but he will only approve your application if you can manage this financial obligation on your own without the financial help of another person. Maintaining a high credit score by always paying your bills on time and keeping debts low can help you qualify for a rental on your own.
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