Types of Tenant Applications

Most landlords have a sample tenant application and tenant credit application that they give to all prospective tenants that they use to screen applicants with and verify information including credit checks.  If there is more than one tenant sharing the property, then the landlord will generally use a multi tenant application.  Multi tenancy applications are used for roommates sharing the costs of renting the property.

Multi-Tenant Rental

When renting to multi tenants, landlords should include language in the lease that each tenant is jointly and severally liable for all the obligations under the lease. Which means that if one tenant violates the lease, all notices sent apply to all tenants and that all tenants are responsible for the entire lease payment amount even if one tenant does not pay their rent.

Possible Roomate Issues - Rent Payment

Roommate situations generally don’t work out that well because the roommates don’t get along or one moves out, leaving the others stuck paying the rent. Multi tenancy applications takes more time because you need to screen each tenant. So when you are renting to multi tenants, you have double or triple the amount of verifying to do with regard to credit checks, employment verification and bank account verification. 

Tenant Application Legal Help

Multi tenant leases are complex. Before you enter into a lease with multi tenants, you should consult with a real estate attorney that deals with landlord/tenant laws who can advise you of the real estate laws in your area. A tenant application attorney who deals in this type of law can represent you in landlord/tenant disputes as well.