Leases & Leasing Information

Lease Contracts - The Meaning of Joint and Several


When you see the phrase "joint and several" in a legal document or contract it means that that the parties on one side of the agreement are responsible individually and collectively for the terms of the agreement.

Example: In the case of two tenants signing a lease agreement, "joint" means they are jointly responsible for the rent.

"Several" means that their joint relationship is severed.

In a contract it indicates that they have agreed that they are also responsible individually for the rent. If one does not pay his/her share of the rent the other is responsible for the entire amount.

Here's an example of a landlord who had a "joint and several" lease with the added provision that tenants must pay rent with a check, money order or cashier's check in the full amount every month.

Landlord allowed the two roommates to pay half the rent each month with two separate checks. Bad policy.

It not only creates accounting problems... but if one tenant pays on time and the other is late how do you handle the late penalty? And...

If you accept payment from one tenant and the other tenant fails to pay have you risked having accepted a partial rent payment and then not be able to evict?

Here's the good news. If you have in your lease a "non-waiver" provision it indicates that even if you allowed lease violations in the past you can at any time demand that tenants comply with the terms of the lease.

If the tenants continue to pay with two separate checks you can return the checks and give "notice for failure to pay rent".

If they then fail to provide you with a single check for the full amount of the rent you can file a forcible detainer action (eviction).

What if tenant #1 pleads that tenant #2 has moved from the property and tenant #1 should only be required to pay their own half of the rent?

Show them "joint and several" in your lease agreement and explain that tenant #1 is now responsible for the entire amount of rent.

Explain that tenant #1 can seek recovery of the other half from tenant #2 in small claims court.

If you rent property to more than one tenant be sure your lease has "joint and several" and "non-waiver" clauses.

Carefully explain each to every new tenant.

About The Author

Mark Walters is a real estate investor and author. His published works can be found at his web site: http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Short leases before redevelopment
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand - Jul 4, 2008
The two vacant sites are now being offered on short-term leases. Leasing agent Fraser Press, of Bayleys Commercial, said the sites were available for ...


August 14 is BLM sale date for Roan Plateau gas leases
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, CO - Jun 9, 2008
By Phillip Yates RIFLE — The Bureau of Land Management will offer natural gas leases on the Roan Plateau in its August 14 lease sale. ...
County looks at tax plan, hears from Bruce Colorado Springs Independent
Colorado loses in Roan plan Denver Post
Roan plateau open for natural gas drilling KJCT8.com
Aspen Times - Denver Post
all 21 news articles


Geothermal meetings set in energy-hungry West
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Jun 19, 2008
By JOHN MILLER AP WRITER BOISE, Idaho -- Geothermal energy prospectors' plans to develop vast swaths of federal land in the West are due for a boost, ...


Oil and gas seminar to be held at LSUS
KTBS, LA - Jun 18, 2008
A seminar to explain some of the basics of leasing land for oil and gas exploration will be held next Tuesday in Shreveport. The seminar will be hosted by ...


SustainableBusiness.com

The Truth About America’s Energy: Big Oil Stockpiles Supplies and ...
SustainableBusiness.com, NY - Jun 18, 2008
The fact is the US simply can't drill its way to lower prices at the pump. Other options, from greater energy efficiencies to the development of alternative ...


Letters: Jill is wrong about Rick's
Philadelphia Daily News, PA - Jun 16, 2008
Jill Porter's column ("Booting of Rick Olivieri has a Bad Smell to It," June 4) suggests that Reading Terminal Market's board may have been misled about the ...


Landowners pose mineral rights questions
Shreveport Times, LA - Jun 13, 2008
By Adam Kealoha Causey • acausey@gannett.com • June 13, 2008 The talk of the town was the topic of choice Thursday night when a panel of city, ...


Roan leasing prompts lawsuit
Glenwood Springs Post Independent, CO - Jun 17, 2008
By Phillip Yates RIFLE, Colorado - A coalition of environmentalists announced Monday that it plans to sue the Bureau of Land Management to stop it from ...
Leasing atop Roan facing court battle Rocky Mountain News
Enviros to sue BLM over Roan Grand Junction Sentinel
Lawsuit planned over Colorado gas drilling plans KRDO
Denver Post - Sky Hi Daily News
all 24 news articles


High energy prices upset balance in US West
Washington Post, United States - Jun 17, 2008
By Adam Tanner BIRNEY, Montana (Reuters) - The log cabins and dirt roads on Jeanie Alderson's isolated ranch suggest little has changed since her ...


Poor Economy No Problem For Businessman Who Leases Exotic, Vintage ...
Hartford Courant, United States - Jul 6, 2008
For one Connecticut businessman, the downturn in the auto market and general economy has basically left him untouched because he is catering to a high-end ...

Leases-Leasing - Google News

Good Credit Loans | home | site map | School Bus Clothing | Florida Pool Heating
© 2006