Anyone here have a kid who rented an apartment instead of college housing?

[Snoozan]

My DS and his DGF are going to be renting an apartment(off-campus)for school this year. Just wondering if I should rent the apartment in my name since I will be the one probably paying the rent? Or will they be able to do it in their names???

These 2 are quiet kids and I doubt there would be any damage to the apartment as they will probably be coming home most weekends, anyways.

 

[kerrynic78]

Well I don't have kids but my DH (then boyfriend) and I rented an apartment instead of the dorms. My father paid for my rent but we put the lease under our names, I actually think they made us put it our names since we were the ones living there.

 

[Patty3]

Both of my sons rented apts off campus. Their names were on the lease, but I had to sign as well.

 

[Meriweather]

My daughter and a friend had an apartment. Lease in their names....and they each wrote out and sent off half the rent each month.

 

[Beastlover]

Our DD is going away to instate college in Dec. They are renting, and we will pay 1/2....great idea having it in their names. I would not have thought of that.

 

[sue1013]

When DD rented apt off campus the lease was in her and roomate's names. We had to sign also, same with friends parents.

 

[jimmiej]

My oldest DD lives in an apartment in Austin, attending the University of Texas. Her name's on the lease. The $$$ used to pay for the rent is partly hers & partly mine.

 

[poohandwendy]

I think it would be a better idea to have it in their names so that they are liable for it and not you. It will also be a good reference for them in the future if they had their names on a lease, I would think.

 

[wdwfam]

We went through this last year with DS. While some places allow college students to sign leases, St. Louis did not. So, we had to sign and have a credit check as well as DS's roomates parents. We are equally liable for the payment of the rent. In case one should default, the other party is responsible. Not fun! Fortunately, we haven't had a problem. I had a real problem signing a lease with parents we didn't know. I am glad it's worked out so well, but one never knows for sure. If at all possible, I think the college students' names should be on the lease only.

 

[mikesmom]

A very slight digression: do NOT let them get a roomate and have both names on the lease. Let your child get his own place, either you or his name on the lease, doesn't matter. It really sounds good to let a couple or 3 of them share expenses but it may not work out like that. IF both names are on the lease or the bills and one person doesn't pay his half, the other is responsible for the entire bill!!

At least 4 different parents told me not to let DS do the roomate thing. I didn't listen. We aren't wealthy people, but not poor enough to get outright grants , just loans for college, so the whole family is on a careful budget to get thru college. Sharing expenses sounded like a great idea. DS and a guy who had been in a frat with him wanted to rent a house when they both left the frat. I thought roomate is actually a 2 years ahead of DS in school, good student, very ambitious, scholarships, had plenty of personal money (this should have tipped me off) seemed OK to let them do it.

Well folks, roomie was very good at being a con artist. Not only didn't pay his half of rent & utilities for several months, actually took DS half of the money to "go pay the water bill" and didn't pay it. His car and furniture had been bought on credit and he got behind. Even picked up his scholarship money and then dropped out of school. I found out when landlord called me about back rent. I tracked down DS and found he was in a panic, water had been shut off, collection agency had been by the house looking for the roomie, DS was afraid to call home and tell us, was trying to work extra hours to make up the money (and ruining grades in the process). Upshot was he dropped out of college for 2 semesters to catch up on the back bills, I put out a fair amount of money to keep his credit from being ruined and the whole thing was a mess.

On the up side, he learned some valuable lessons about trusting people, he took responsibility and got the problems taken care of (though I wished he'd called home for help sooner before it got so out of control) and is now back in college full time with a teeny apartment that he and we can handle just fine without a roomate.

My advice: don't go there!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We went through this last year with DS. While some places allow college students to sign leases, St. Louis did not. So, we had to sign and have a credit check as well as DS's roomates parents. We are equally liable for the payment of the rent. In case one should default, the other party is responsible. Not fun! Fortunately, we haven't had a problem. I had a real problem signing a lease with parents we didn't know. I am glad it's worked out so well, but one never knows for sure. If at all possible, I think the college students' names should be on the lease only.

I just wanted to say that I am from St. Louis and we went to school in Columbia...(go Mizzou)....
DBF (now DH) & I rented in our names. But then again it was a tiny, itty bitty, place that was $240 a month that included, furnished (a bed & dresser) and all utilities included.
You know the place...you better jump out of the shower when you here it flush from above otherwise you will be scalded to death by HOT water.

To the OP, have it in their name....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I rented in college--it should be in their name.

Unless the apt requires a parent to sign as well---they should lease it themselves.

 

[Beth76]

I just wanted to say that I am from St. Louis and we went to school in Columbia...(go Mizzou)

Me too!!!! Go Tigers!!!!

Back to OP, I lived in an apartment with roommates for 3 out of 4 years at college. We always had all names of everyone living in the apartment on the lease. I think maybe at one apt we each had seperate leases. My parents paid for all my bills and just put money into my checking account. We (roommates) made a verbal agreement about how the utilities would be paid each month. These girls were my friends and we never had any problem with bills.