Student Legal Services

A lease is a valid contract. Your signature on the lease commits you to its terms. Before you sign the lease, it is essential that you consider several factors:

Have you thoroughly read the lease?

Is the rental amount correct? Who is responsible for paying utilities? When does the lease end? Do you have to mow the lawn? Are all promises in writing? Verbal promises may not be enforceable.

Your roommates!

Choose your roommates wisely—you may be responsible for the full monthly rent even if your chosen roommate doesn’t return to Ann Arbor. You cannot terminate your lease just because you and your roommate no longer want to live together. Almost every lease makes all of the tenants “jointly and severally liable.” That means each of the tenants is responsible for everything. If one tenant doesn’t pay rent, the other tenants are still responsible for the full rent.

Paying a Deposit?

Don’t pay a deposit to hold the property unless you are sure you want to rent or the deposit is refundable if you decide not to rent.