When you see the phrase "joint and several" (j&s) in a legal document or contract it means that that the parties on one side of the agreement are responsible individually and collectively for the terms of the agreement.
Heres an example of a landlord who had a j&s lease with the added provision that tenants must pay rent with a check, money order or cashiers check in the full amount every month.
He allowed two roomates to pay half the rent each month with two sperarate checks. Bad policy.
It not only creates accounting problems... but if one tenant pays on time and the other is late how do you handle the late penalty?...and...
If you accept payment from one tenant and the other tenant fails to pay have you risked having accepted a partial rent payment and then not be able to evict?
Heres the good news. If you have in your lease a "non-waiver" provision that indicates that even if you allowed lease violations in the past you can at any time demand that tenants comply with the terms of the lease.
If the tenants continue to pay with two separate checks you can return the checks and give "notice for failure to pay rent".
If they then fail to provide you with a single check for the full amount of the rent you can file a forcible detainer action (eviction).
If you rent property to more than one tenant be sure your lease has "joint and several" and "non-waiver" clauses. Carefully explain each to every new tenant.
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