Topic: Someone had mentioned how they require unmarried roommates to each make the minimum required income in order to qualify.

Someone had mentioned how they require unmarried roommates to each make the minimum required income in order to qualify. So just in case one moves out the other can afford to stay alone.
Does anyone have exact wording of that from their application that they could share with me? I'm not sure how to word it, but it's certainly good advice. Thanks!

If one moves out, you just get the other to provide income showing they can afford it. That’s what we do.

I think that’s a weird set up because married people get divorced all the time and does that mean that they are approved by themselves just because they were married?

This sounds like a Fair Housing nightmare! Who’s going to ask applicants if they’re married? That’s just for starters.

This. Plus not all family dynamics are the same and isn’t something I’d want to touch with a 50 foot pole. Plus not everyone can get legally married who may be living together (separations/divorce proceedings can take awhile as a easy example). Or people dont believe in marriage as a institution as a whole.

Or their relationship could be something easily discriminated against.

When someone moves out the remaining residents have to income qualify on their own is normally how it’s done.

Leases are joint and severable

Marital status is a protected class in many states. Proceed at your own peril

This sounds like a way to have insane vacancy. The whole point of roommates is to split expenses. Otherwise everyone would live alone. Not sure where you are, but in California, that's all but impossible with sky high rents.

We just won't allow anyone To be removed from the lease unless the one staying can prove they make the required income

That is definitely a fair housing issue

We just state that all applicants 18 and older have to qualify on their own. Doesn’t matter if it’s two cousins, friends, married couple, or 2 strangers

Um I have never done that, however, yes if one moves out we usually require that the remaining leaseholder prove they can afford the rent and expenses without the income of the exiting lease holder.

Simple. Married or not should not be the question. If any adult in the household moves out whose income was used to qualify them at move in, then the staying adult has to income qualify on their own. If they don't qualify on their own, then the person wanting to move stays on the lease or they both leave.

If the person staying doesn’t qualify on their own damn the option of getting a roommate and having them be qualified are both partners move out

or that. He can definitely get a roommate to qualify or a guarantor.

We have a roommate release agreement that both parties have to sign. It addresses handling of the security deposit as well. Person staying also has to provide recent proof of income.

Is it possible that you can convince management to rent by the bedroom and provide individual leases? Similar to a student housing concept?

You can't pick and choose who will qualify differently. Fair housing. If someone on a lease wants to move and the other party does not qualify alone then the moving resident is still rent responsible for the remainder of the lease. If rent does not get paid then it affects their record. I always tell people whatever you and your room mate agree to is none of my business, rent is due in full on the first.

This sounds like a Fair Housing uh oh. I would refrain from doing that. If you want to be lawful. Require each applicant to gross the same min to qualify as a leaseholder/responsible.

We require a minimum household income, and requalification if the members of the household change. I don't think it's wise to try and define what a household is.