Can a minor sign a lease on an apartment?

Minors and Contracts. Since minors can’t make legally binding contracts, landlords usually require the applicant to find an adult, usually his parent or guardian, to co-sign the rental agreement.

Can a 17 year old sign a lease?

As such, you can legally sign a lease as a 17-year-old college student. However, the law also frequently allows minors to get out of contracts they entered into before reaching the age of majority.

How old do you have to be to lease an apartment in the US?

The Law Says No. The vast majority of teenagers are not going to succeed in trying to lease an apartment. Most laws across the U.S. set the minimum age for being considered an adult at 18 years old. There is, however, an exception to that rule – emancipation.

Who is responsible for renting an apartment to a minor?

Parents and other adults who want to help a minor rent an apartment should be aware of the risks of co-signing a lease. Co-signers are responsible for paying rent for the entire term of the lease, as well as for the cost of repairing any damages.

As such, you can legally sign a lease as a 17-year-old college student. However, the law also frequently allows minors to get out of contracts they entered into before reaching the age of majority.

Do You need Your parents to sign an apartment lease?

If you’re a student who wants to live in your own off-campus apartment, you may need your parents to cosign a lease for you. So long as you’re of legal age to sign a lease agreement, you may do so with or without your parents.

What happens if an adult child does not sign the lease?

If an adult child does not sign the lease there are risks for the landlord and adult child. The risks for the landlord is that there is one less responsible party on the lease. The adult child wouldn’t be bound by the rules of the lease and it makes enforcing those rules more difficult.

Can a college kid co-sign an apartment lease?

Decide if you’ll co-sign a lease. Nothing wrong with this in theory, since you may have little choice. Many landlords and apartment companies are reluctant to sign on a college kid who doesn’t have a full-time job, has no credit history and isn’t co-signing with his or her parents.

What are the rules for renting an apartment to a minor?

You will probably have to pay your first and last month’s rent, as well as a deposit, just as any other renter would be required to do. Many renters will be reluctant to rent to a minor, even an emancipated minor. You may have been lucky renting a garage apartment, or a room in the home of a private individual.

Can a landlord rent to an adult child?

Even though you are renting to your adult child, you cannot violate the tenant/landlord laws. While a month-to-month agreement typically does not have to be written, writing down the term of the rental can prevent problems in the future. Ask your child to read and sign the lease showing her acceptance of the rental terms.

Can a landlord force a minor to rent a house?

Few minors have a credit history, or have lived with anyone other than relatives or guardians. While minors can sign contracts, the other party of the contract can’t force the minor to comply with its terms. Many landlords refuse to rent to minors because of worries about irresponsibility or immature behavior.

Can a minor rent an apartment with parental consent?

But, if permission for renting is granted with a parental consent, than the minor would have the same rights as any adult. It should all be lined out in the rental agreement. The rental agreement should outline time period that apartment is required to remain rented, amount of monthly rent,…

Can a landlord ask a minor to sign a lease?

If a landlord is worried about renting to a minor, the landlord can ask the minor to find an adult to co-sign the lease. If any problems occur, the landlord can look to the adult for the unpaid rent or other problems.

Can a landlord rent to an underage person?

Without a co-signer, underage renters have no rights. It is quite difficult to find a landlord that would rent to the underage. But, if permission for renting is granted with a parental consent, than the minor would have the same rights as any adult. It should all be lined out in the rental agreement.

What happens when a tenant is a minor?

Lodging is considered a basic necessity (Corpus Juris Secundum, Infants, § 240). If a tenant is a minor at the beginning of his or her tenancy and continues to live in the rented property after reaching age 18, s/he can then be held to the terms of the lease as an adult.