Can You Remove a Roommate From Your Lease
Andy Hunziker • September 27, 2019
Renting with roommates means many things, including paying less in rent, splitting utilities, and having someone to help keep the apartment tidy. Though having a roommate has many benefits, things don’t always work out, and you may find yourself looking for a way to remove a roommate from your lease.
Review Your Lease Agreement
First things first: review your lease agreement before you make any rash decisions. You and your roommate should each have access to your lease agreement, and on that agreement you will find what your options are. All of HPM’s leases are joint leases with your roommate, meaning that you are both equally responsible for the entire apartment and the cost of rent, so you will still have to pay their portion of the rent if they break their lease.
Can You Evict Your Roommate?
Despite your situation, you cannot force a roommate out of your apartment or remove their name from the lease simply because you want them to leave. You have to consult with your landlord or property manager and be sure that everything is done the right way.
Your Options
1. Try to mend fences with your roommate
If the situation is fixable, it’s probably in your best interest to smooth things over. This way, you won’t have to deal with the consequences of finding a new roommate. If the two of you cannot come to a resolution, then you still have other options.
2. Sublease your room and move to a different apartment
Getting out of the apartment (if your roommate isn’t willing to leave) is a legitimate option. Unfortunately, this means you’ll be forced to attempt to sublease your room. Until your current lease has been signed by a new tenant, you are responsible for the unit (and the rent).
3. Suggest that your roommate move out
If you don’t want to break the lease yourself, you could suggest to your roommate that they move out instead. If they agree to this, and are equally fed up with cohabitating, then you can be free of this roommate situation for good. You can help your roommate find a subleaser for their room, so they will not be forced to pay the rent, although they are not residing there. This will also give you the chance to find someone you would like to room with!
The Roommate Change Process
All roommates must fill out and sign the Roommate Change
form in order for the roommate change to be approved. All roommate changes must be approved by Hunziker Property Management.
A roommate change is when at least one roommate is staying in the apartment while one of the other roommates are leaving, before the end of the lease. We treat all tenants within a unit as “one”, so the lease will stay the same when at least one of the original tenants stays. When all tenants on the current lease decide to move out before the lease expires, a sublease is needed. If any of the tenants decide to stay and find a new roommate, then it is considered a roommate change.The security deposit stays with the lease. On a roommate change, the new tenant will fill out an application, but does not need to pay us a security deposit. The new tenant and old tenant work a deal out themselves as to how to handle the security deposit. We do not give any money to the tenant who is leaving in a roommate change.
Are you trying to decide whether to live in a dorm or off campus in Ames next year? The Hunziker team weighs the pros and cons of on- and off-campus living.
Daylight savings time came and went, and spring has arrived. Find a day or two this spring and take the time to clean your apartment. Follow our tips for a successful spring cleaning session.
One of the biggest decisions you will make in college is where you will live, after all, this is where you will spend most of your time! There are apartment listings all over your social media, and Apartments For Rent signs everywhere you drive. How will you know if you’ve chosen the right one? Follow our tips below to guide you to your perfect home!
Ideally, working from home means you have a designated office. However, as quarantine is creeping on, this isn’t the case for many people. Add some certainty to these uncertain times by making the most of your time and space. Take a look at our top tips for working from home!
Wintertime in Iowa can seem to last forever, but living in an apartment means you get to avoid a few of the most miserable parts of winter. Let's take a look at some of the perks of apartment living during these long and cold months!
With the holidays just around the corner, many of you may be getting ready to travel! Use the winter tips below to stay warm and minimize your bills while you’re away!
Renewals have started, and it is time to start thinking about where you want to live next year. With over 1,100 units all over Ames we have something for everyone, and we would love to help you find your next home!
Halloween is over, and the rest of the holiday season is fast approaching! You might still be working through your Halloween treats, but it is time to put the skeletons and pumpkins away because Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Time with family and friends is always great, but if it is your turn to host the festivities, you might be feeling some pressure. To make things easier on yourself, here are four tips to help you get through Thanksgiving dinner relatively stress-free!
Getting your dream job, graduating, or moving across the country can be so exciting... until you remember your lease goes until next summer. No need to worry though! Our sublease options are meant to help you transition into your next exciting stage of life as smoothly as possible!
We are so excited to be welcoming and getting to know our new residents this autumn! Whether you just moved to your Ames apartment or have been a resident for years, there are many great things to explore and learn about! We hope you love Ames as much as we do!
