Room renting tips (lease, security deposit, roommate, landlord)

[sonarrat]

I have early warning that I will have to move out of my home, and I've been pondering the ups and downs of a number of different housing situations, since there's no way I can get exactly the same as what I have now. Since my income has gone up, I was thinking about renting a 3 bedroom, using 2 of them and renting out the last one. Even without a tenant, I can still meet the 1/3 rent to income rule by myself. A few questions:

1) Do you typically have to sign a roommate onto the lease, or is it usually possible to draft a separate lease directly with the roomie, complete with deposit and stipulations - with the landlord's permission, of course?

2) If so, how would this sublease differ from my main lease? If I made it month to month with the stipulation that I could give a 30-day notice to leave if we were hugely getting in each others' hair, would that fly?

[virgode]

1) Do you typically have to sign a roommate onto the lease, or is it usually possible to draft a separate lease directly with the roomie, complete with deposit and stipulations - with the landlord's permission, of course?

You could have them listed as an occupant on your lease.

Draft a month to month written lease, keeps both parties options open.

Include your specifics and stay within state law. Common space, such as kitchen privileges any outdoor space, parking area. I would have a lawyer construct the lease.

2) If so, how would this sublease differ from my main lease?

Leases are state law statutes that a landlord follows and enforcable by law, such as security deposits, termination ect... ect, to answer the question the only difference will be your specifics.