Unmarried couple wants to pay rent separately -NYC

[lyle12]

Jurisdiction

New York

Each wants to pay their have separately.
Is there any legal reason not to agree to this?

 

[Zigner]

What if one doesn't pay?

It would be more wise to only accept a single check if you are renting to them both.

 

[adjusterjack]

Former landlord here.

Two tenants - joint and several.

One rent check on the due date.

Full stop.

 

[lyle12]

Former landlord here.

Two tenants - joint and several.

One rent check on the due date.

Full stop.

Thanks @adjusterjack. I'll go with that. Is there a reason for one check from a legal perspective?

 

[Zigner]

Thanks @adjusterjack. I'll go with that. Is there a reason for one check from a legal perspective?

Legally, not really. One check, two checks, fifteen checks...as long as they add up to the total rent.
With that said, what happens if one of the checks bounces but not the other? Are you going to move to evict one tenant? Why should you worry about depositing multiple checks?

 

[welkin]

Thanks @adjusterjack. I'll go with that. Is there a reason for one check from a legal perspective?

While there is no legal reason that you can't accept multiple rent checks, it shouldn't be your problem to deal with the aftermath of one check bouncing and having to deal with collecting the remaining rent due from one of the tenants.

If the unmarried couple wants to pay by separate checks, they should open a joint account for that specific reason. Each could fund the joint account with their share of the rent and issue one check. That way, the each will have records of what was paid into the joint rent account. You either get the full rent in one check or you don't.

 

[army judge]

Each wants to pay their have separately.
Is there any legal reason not to agree to this?

Nothing in the law requires a landlord to receive rent from one source, or multiple sources.

That said, if you desire ONE CHECK to satisfy the monthly rent, YOU could so state it in the lease agreement.

Heck, if the payment desires of this whacky couple vex or annoy you, all you need to do is make sure your predilection is stated in your leases.

As a recovered landlord myself, all I wanted insofar as rent was concerned, that it be paid in full and on time.

Heck, I had one tenant who wrote 500 checks each month for $1.00 to satisfy his obligation.

I later learned that the guy had purchased a check writing machine that he thought was cool, hence he loved creating those 500 checks each month.

Me, I just loved getting ALL of the rent due on time. Heck, I'd even have accepted $500 in pennies, which would have weighed 27557.80 pounds!

 

[zddoodah]

Your post does not appear to raise any legal issue.

Each wants to pay their have separately.
Is there any legal reason not to agree to this?

Not sure I understand the question. First let's clarify the facts.

Are you saying that you're a landlord somewhere in the state of New York who is renting some sort of premises to two co-tenants who are not married? Is that correct? If so, does your lease provide that each co-tenant is jointly and severally liable for all obligations under the lease?

If all of that that is accurate, then I don't see what difference it makes if, each month, you receive one pile of cash or one check for the entire rent, or if you receive two piles of cash or two separate checks that add up to the total amount of the rent. If that doesn't answer your question, please clarify the question.

 

[adjusterjack]

Thanks @adjusterjack. I'll go with that. Is there a reason for one check from a legal perspective?

Just a matter of convenience for me.