DIRECT ANSWER
At BU, once you sign a lease with roommates, you’re jointly and severally responsible for the full rent each month. If one roommate doesn’t pay, the landlord can still pursue the unpaid balance from the other roommates, and can start eviction on the apartment if the total rent isn’t paid.
WHAT TO VERIFY NEXT
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Confirm everyone named on the lease.
Read the rent-payment clause and any sublet term.
Review payment records and talk to the landlord before the rent is late.
RENTAL JOURNEY · HOUSING CONTEXT
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RENTAL JOURNEY · CURRENT PROPERTY CONTEXT
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Fenway · 0.3 miles to BU · 6 min walk
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DETAIL 01
What the BU housing resources say
BU’s Medical Campus housing resource says roommates on the lease become co-tenants, and “jointly and severally” responsible for paying the entire rent each month. It also says each roommate is individually liable to the landlord for the full rent, so if one roommate can’t or won’t pay, the others have to cover the shortfall up to the total rent.
- This is a lease obligation, not a roommate promise.
- If only part of the rent is paid, the landlord can start an eviction process on the apartment regardless of which roommate missed payment.
- BU’s off-campus listings site also says it does not resolve roommate disputes or guarantee listing accuracy.
DETAIL 02
What that means day to day
In practical terms, you should treat the rent as everyone’s shared legal problem, not one person’s. The lease controls the exact outcome, so the signed lease still matters, but BU’s guidance makes clear that a missed roommate payment can become everyone’s problem fast.
- Check who is named on the lease and how rent is supposed to be paid.
- If you’re already in a lease, review the rent clause before the next due date.
- If money is already short, contact the landlord right away and document payment records.
Sources, freshness and verification
These sources were checked for this answer on September 17, 2026. Time-sensitive costs, program rules, lease terms and property conditions should be reconfirmed before acting.
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