Do I include the unemployed roommate on the apartment application?

May 13, 2009 1:43 PM

I am planning on moving in with two of my sisters. One of them lost her job and has been unemployed for the past few months. Should we include her on the apartment application / lease?

We will be able to cover the rent for the apartments we are looking at without her financially contributing, so should we just not put her on the application? I don't want to defraud anyone, but I also don't want her unemployment being a determining factor when we apply for apartments.

Everything I have seen online is about kicking out an unemployed roommate, not moving in with someone unemployed or very newly employed.

We are in New York City (Brooklyn specifically) if that matters. I am worried about some scenario wherein her not being on the lease could lead to us being evicted or her not having access to the apartment, etc.. does this happen?

posted by Julnyes to Work & Money (5 answers total)

In most cases you can include someone as an occupant without making them a lease signer (think about minor children, etc.). If she's not a lease signer, her employment status probably will not negatively effect your application. When the time comes to renew the lease, you can add her if she has a job by then.
posted by paulg at 1:49 PM on May 13, 2009

I'd lean towards putting her on the lease so that she can easily deal with the super/management company/etc. If she's home all day anyway, that would be ideal if something goes wrong.

If you have the money to cover the rent, it shouldn't matter whether she's employed. Are you working with a broker? Ask the broker what they think.
posted by peanut_mcgillicuty at 1:56 PM on May 13, 2009

In my experience, tenants not on the lease but cleared with the landlord can easily deal with management and the super etc.

+1 for just leave her off the lease.
posted by shownomercy at 2:46 PM on May 13, 2009

Best answer: (Minnesota here) All of the places I have applied to have looked at the total income of all roommates to make sure it is 3 times as high as the rent. They have never cared if it's all one person or spread across all of us equally. The plus to putting her on the lease is that she builds/continues to build her rental history.
posted by soelo at 3:28 PM on May 13, 2009

Best answer: Check with the landlord. Assure him/her that you are able to pay rent without her contribution, and you would like to have financial responsibility for the property. They will probably ask you to list her as a resident without holding her financially responsible as a lessee. Careful with not listing her at all, as this is a violation of many leases I've seen, and yes, that could result in eviction. When in doubt, read the lease thoroughly, because the landlord shouldn't (ethically, anyway) be able to kick you out for it if it's not on the lease.
posted by emilyd22222 at 3:37 PM on May 13, 2009