ANSWER
If you’re on a joint and several lease in Boulder, one roommate not paying can leave the other roommates and their guarantors responsible for the full rent, unless the lease says otherwise. CU Boulder also says to review the lease, because the exact result depends on the signed agreement.
YOUR NEXT DECISION
Use the answer to prepare your next conversation
- Read the lease’s rent, guarantor, and liability clauses.
- Confirm whether the lease is joint and several or individual.
- Check any roommate agreement for how one roommate’s missed payment is handled.
- If you’re a currently enrolled fee-paying student, book CU Boulder lease review help.
- If there’s an eviction notice or active dispute, contact Student Legal Services right away.
HELP WITH YOUR NEXT STEP
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Discuss housing optionsWhat CU Boulder says happens
CU Boulder’s Student Legal Services says most Boulder leases are “joint and several,” meaning all tenants and guarantors are responsible for all lease obligations if one roommate doesn’t pay. CU’s Off-Campus Life office also warns there is no standard lease, so the written lease controls the practical result.
- If the lease is joint and several, the unpaid share can become everyone’s problem.
- If the lease is individual, the lease language may limit responsibility to each person’s own share.
- The signed lease is the first thing to check before you assume who owes what.
What to check in the lease right away
CU Boulder says to look for the rent payment process, due dates, late fees, and whether the lease is joint and several or individual. Their roommate agreement template also says a roommate who pays late is responsible for any late fees assessed, but that does not replace the lease itself.
- Find the exact rent clause and any late-fee clause.
- Check whether the landlord or lease requires a guarantor or co-signer.
- Review any written roommate agreement, but treat the lease as the controlling document.
Who can help at CU Boulder
CU Boulder says currently enrolled fee-paying students can get a free confidential lease review and advisement through Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations, and Student Legal Services also offers confidential lease review and advisement for a small fee. If rent is already overdue, CU’s Student Legal Services says to contact them immediately if an eviction notice arrives.
- Use Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations for a free attorney review.
- Use Student Legal Services for a confidential lease consultation.
- If there’s already a notice or dispute, act on the written lease and get advice quickly.
Sources
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