As a roommate in an apartment, it is possible that you are not the main person on the lease. You may have gotten permission to live there by the landlord, but you are not the person who is on the lease. Maybe there is even an addendum that was opened later that would have your information inside of it to help you decide whether you are going to be on the lease and get some of the protections that come with it. But what happens when the primary tenant decides to move out of the apartment?

You may find that the landlord is aggregable to letting you take over the primary tenants lease when they move out. But remember that this is up to the discretion of the landlord. They will be able to decide whether this is something they want to allow or if there is something else they would like you to do. If your name is not one of the names on the lease as a primary tenant, you do not have the inherent right to take over that lease, but the landlord may find that, if you are a good tenant, this is a good course of action for them to take.

If you live in an area that is rent-controlled or rent-stabilized, your state or city may allow the residents of these units to have what is known as succession rights in some situations. Under this, the family members and on-relatives who lived in the apartment and had a close relationship with the tenant will sometimes have the right to take over the lease and keep the rental prices at the same amount that they had in the past. It will depend on what the laws in that area are at the time.

It is a good idea to sit down and discuss this with the landlord once you find out the primary tenant is going to move out. The landlord may be willing to do this agreement with you because it can simplify the process and help them not have to look for a new tenant. But it is better to ask about it rather than just assume.

When you are ready to find a new home that is right for you, come check out some of our apartments for rent in Seattle, WA. We know that you have a ton of apartment options out there to choose from, but none will provide you the comfort and style that you can get with some of our amazing apartments. Contact a member of our team today to take a tour and learn more.