ANSWER
At Ohio State, roommates are generally jointly and severally liable for rent if the lease says so, which means one roommate’s nonpayment can leave the others responsible for the full rent. The practical fix is to check the signed lease and use a roommate agreement to spell out who pays what.
YOUR NEXT DECISION
Use the answer to prepare your next conversation
- Read the signed lease now and note whether it says roommates are jointly and severally liable.
- Put each roommate’s rent and utility share in writing before the next payment is due.
- Ask Ohio State Student Legal Services for a lease review or roommate agreement if you’re an eligible student.
HELP WITH YOUR NEXT STEP
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Discuss housing optionsWhat Ohio State says about roommate nonpayment
Ohio State Student Legal Services says many Columbus leases include a clause making all roommates responsible if one roommate does not pay rent or causes damages. Ohio State’s roommate agreement page explains that the agreement is between the tenants, not the landlord, and can document each person’s rent and utility share and how rent gets paid.
- The Roommate Agreement PDF says roommates are jointly and severally liable for all rent owed.
- That means the landlord can seek the full rent from any signing roommate if another roommate doesn’t pay.
- Student Legal Services recommends a roommate agreement to set payment rules and house rules in writing.
What to do next
Review the signed lease first, because the lease controls the practical result. If you’re an Ohio State student, Student Legal Services offers lease reviews and a sample roommate agreement, and the Off-Campus Housing Network points students to legal advice before signing.
- Check the lease language for joint-and-several liability or any different payment terms.
- Use a roommate agreement to record each roommate’s rent and utility share.
- If you need help, Ohio State Student Legal Services can review the lease and provide a sample roommate agreement to eligible students.
Sources
- ROOMMATE AGREEMENT - Ohio State University ↗
- Off-campus housing legal advice | Ohio State ↗
- Roommates | The Ohio State University - Student Legal Services ↗
- [PDF] lawyers - Student Legal Services - The Ohio State University ↗
- The Ohio State University Off-Campus Housing Network ↗
- 360 properties found : Off-Campus and Commuter Student Engagement ↗
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