Should my name be on the tenancy agreement when sharing?

Sharing · 4 min read

Should your name be on the tenancy agreement?

Written by CribCheck, reviewed by the CribCheck inspection team. Last reviewed 18 September 2026.

Part of Shared apartments and flatmates in Lagos: how to do it safely

Short answer

Yes, in some form. As a joint tenant you have rights in the property and shared liability for the whole rent. As a named occupant you have weaker rights but a record of lawful occupation. With no mention at all, you can be removed by the tenant or landlord with nothing to rely on.

Joint tenant

Both names on the agreement. You hold rights in the property, and you are also jointly liable for the full rent — if the other person stops paying, the landlord can look to you.

Named occupant

The tenancy stays in one name, but the agreement or a landlord letter records that you live there. Weaker than joint tenancy, but far better than nothing when a dispute starts.

Unrecorded sharer

No document mentions you. You depend entirely on the goodwill of the tenant, and you may have no claim on the deposit you contributed.

Whichever applies, write your own agreement

Amounts paid by each person, and to whom.
How and when a contributed deposit is returned.
Notice each of you must give before leaving.
What happens to the room if one person leaves mid-term.

General information, not legal advice. For a large deposit or a long term, have a lawyer look at the wording.

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