Lease dictionary
Co-tenant
One of two or more people who are all named on the same lease and share its rights and obligations.
Co-tenants usually share full responsibility for the rent and for damage under the lease. If one roommate stops paying, the landlord can typically ask any or all of the others to cover it.
Adding or removing a co-tenant normally needs the landlord's written agreement, and leaving the apartment doesn't release you from a signed lease on its own.
Watch out
A roommate agreement doesn't change what you owe the landlord. It only helps you recover money from each other.
See it in action
The Roommate agreement builder puts this term to work for you.