Example
Three roommates sign one lease for $2,700 a month and split it $900 each. One moves out in March 2026 and stops paying. The landlord can demand the full $2,700 from either of the two who remain, and damage caused by one roommate can come out of the shared security deposit. The two who paid can try to recover $900 a month from the one who left, but that is between them, not the landlord.
In a lease it looks like…
If more than one person signs this Lease as Tenant, each is jointly and severally liable for full payment of the rent and performance of all obligations under this Lease.
Good to know
Roommates who want to be liable only for their own share need separate leases for separate rooms. A written roommate agreement does not change what the landlord can collect, but it makes getting paid back easier, including in small claims court.
Plain English, not legal advice. Last reviewed September 29, 2026.