Skip to main content

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ROOMMATES IN NEW JERSEY

Renting an Apartment With Roommates
When two or more people sign the same rental agreement or lease, they are co-tenants and share the same legal rights and responsibilities. The problem with this situation is that one roommate's bad behavior affect them all. 
Cotenants may decide to split the rent equally or unequally between themselves. However, this agreements amongst roommates don't affect the landlord. Each cotenant is independently liable to the landlord for all of the rent. Landlords often remind cotenants of this obligation by inserting into the lease a that says that the tenants are "jointly and severally" liable for paying rent and adhering to terms of the agreement.
A landlord can legally hold all cotenants responsible for the negative actions of just one, and terminate everyone's tenancy with the appropriate notice. 
For all sorts of reasons, roommate arrangements regularly go bad.   Roommates make lots of informal agreements about splitting rent, occupying bedrooms, and sharing chores. Your landlord isn't bound by these agreements and has no power to enforce them, but making an agreement can force you and your housemates to take your co-tenancy responsibilities seriously.
Before you move in, sit down with your roommates and discuss major issues, such as:
  1. Rent. 
  2. Household chores.
  3. Noise. 
  4. Guest. 
  5. Moving out. 
The more you can anticipate possible problems from the start, the better prepared you'll be to handle disputes that do arise. Be as specific as possible, especially on issues that are important to you.  It's best to put your understandings in writing. A mediation clause is also an effective way to enforce an agreement. Ultimately issues with roommates are far too common in Landlord Tenant Law. We always recommend that prospective co-tenant make an agreement so there can be an assurance of a smooth living arrangement.

For landlord-tenant matters please contact our office at (201) 880-5563 for a consultation. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NEW JERSEY EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION

New Jersey is an Equitable Distribution State. This means that marital assets will be divided in a manner that is considered fair but not necessarily equal for the parties. Below we have developed an outline to give a general overview on Equitable Distribution in New Jersey. Equitable Distribution in New Jersey an Outline Overview. I.         Assets subject to Equitable Distribution a.         Assets that are Acquired During the Marriage b.       Assets acquired in contemplation of marriage II.       Assets Immune by Statute a.        Premarital – except the increase in active assets value due to efforts of non-owner. b.       Inheritances c.         Gifts from third parties III.     Specific Assets: Subject to Equitable Distribution a.  ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Harassment and Domestic Violence in New Jersey

Harassment can constitute a basis for the issuance of a restraining order if the statutory elements are satisfied. See N.J.S.A. 2C:33-4. The statute defines harassment: Except as provided in subsection e., a person commits a petty disorderly persons offense if, with purpose to harass another, he: a. Makes, or causes to be made, a communication or communications anonymously or at extremely inconvenient hours, or in offensively coarse language, or any other manner likely to cause annoyance or alarm; b. Subjects another to striking, kicking, shoving, or other offensive touching, or threatens to do so; or c. Engages in any other course of alarming conduct or of repeatedly committed acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy such other person. [N.J.S.A. 2c:33-4 (emphasis added).] As provided by the statute, a finding of harassment requires proof of an intent or purpose to harass. State v. Hoffman , 149 N.J . 564, 576-77 (1997). An assertion by a plaintiff that he or she felt ha...
Post a Comment
Read more

Divorce Mediation in New Jersey: In looking for a Divorce Mediator.

Divorce Mediation in New Jersey By: Marina Ginzburg, Esq. I. What should you expect from a Divorce Mediator in New Jersey? 1) Impartiality . People that are seeking the help of a divorce mediator need to know that the mediator does not take sides. We listen to both parties positions, their expectations and their needs and make recommendations in accordance to the facts presented. 2) Fair Dealing :  I am mentioning fair dealing because acrimonious process of divorce can have a painful and traumatic emotional reaction that often time one party gives up just to make the matter go away. This knee jerk reaction causes that party to put themselves in such as disadvantageous position that they may no be able to go back. By taking out the stress and the emotion of going to court the couple can reach a mutually acceptable agreement.   I mention the word acceptable because nobody is going to get 100% of what they want that is the reality.  The fact that the couple ca...
Post a Comment
Read more