Does Mom Sign the Lease?

When your son or daughter goes off to college, the transition can be hard. Each year brings different “firsts.” When it’s time for the first off campus apartment, a lot of parents panic.

On one hand, it’s exciting to see your college student venturing off into a more independent living situation. On the other hand the issues of leases and roommates and safety and security can leave you lying awake at night.

The best advice for parents of first time college apartment renters is this:
1. Make sure you, and more importantly your student, are comfortable with the safety and security of the off campus housing. Many campus apartments are really nice, but you’ll also find the “student slums” surrounding many campuses. Make sure you’re comfortable with your student’s college apartment rental.
2. Find out whose name is going to be on the lease. (Many college apartment complexes will require the lease holder to be 21.
3. If a parent’s name is on the lease, the parent is legally responsible for the rent. Decide how you want to handle that. Will your child be responsible? Will you pay the rent? Will roommates pay you or the landlord?

Once you have the safety and financial issues figured out, you’ll be ready to help your son or daughter move into their off campus housing.