Landlords- A question from a non-US citizen (foreign student) Tenant

Hi all, Landlords, I would love to hear what do you think about this: I co-signed a lease with my roommate (also a student but she is a US citizen) last summer. We put down a $4000 deposit EACH, $8000 in total (Monthly rent is $2600 for the place) because the landlord accepted us based on her credit (not a very good one- she’s 26 unemployed student) although I had an NYC guarantor with perfect credit. She might be leaving the apartment in the end of the lease and in that case I would want to be the only one signed on it. We are on time every month with the rent and keep the place in great condition. What would you do if you had a tenant like me? Would you let me sign the lease on my own? What would you think if I’ll ask for some of the deposit back (Is that an acceptable request to make)? Keep in my mind that I will be staying in nyc at least until the end of 2019. Thanks in advance!!

brooklyngal888

in Landlord 10 years and 1 month ago

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resident2 | 10 years and 1 month ago

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If your NYC guarantor is qualified to sign for the whole rent, you will need to make the whole security deposit whole for the lease if you do not want a roommate on the lease. As a landlord, so long as the guarantor is willing and qualified and the security deposit is whole, I would have no problem with one roommate taking over the whole lease.

landlord | 10 years and 1 month ago

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A resonable landlord would not object to you being the only one on the lease. The landlord can give your roomate her deposit back….however, you will have to give him that deposit back when you take over the lease. or………you can give your roomate her deposit back and get the full deposit from the landlord when you leave.

catboot | 10 years and 1 month ago

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I would think so. Speaking only for myself (we own a brownstone and rent the garden apartment), I would prefer to have a trustworthy tenant and work on the terms of the lease so that they are agreeable to all, than having to screen new tenants and deal with the possibility of ending up with a less than ideal person. Talk to your landlord. See what they say.

brooklyngal888 | 10 years and 1 month ago

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So the deposit was First, Last and security. I’m wondering if the landlord will let me sign the lease after and if my roommate leave- I guess one of the conditions will be that I will have to put down my roommate’s deposit?

catboot | 10 years and 1 month ago

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It seems like a non-issue to me. Have to talked with your landlord? As for the deposit, what was it for? First/last month plus security deposit? If so, seems unlikely that the terms would change.