When you see
phrase "joint and several" in a legal document or contract it means that that parties on one side of agreement are responsible individually and collectively for terms of agreement.Example: In case of two tenants signing a lease agreement, "joint" means they are jointly responsible for rent.
"Several" means that their joint relationship is severed and they are individually responsible for total amount of rent.
If one does not pay his/her share of rent other is responsible for entire amount.
Here's an example of a landlord who had a "joint and several" lease with added provision that tenants must pay rent with a check, money order or cashier's check in full amount every month.
Landlord allowed two roommates to pay half rent each month with two separate checks. Bad policy.
It not only creates accounting problems... but if one tenant pays on time and other is late how do you handle late penalty? And...
If you accept payment from one tenant and other tenant fails to pay have you risked having accepted a partial rent payment and then not be able to evict?
