The cosigner trap nobody talks about

Know someone like this?

Swears they "don't need credit."

Says cash is king.

Drives a '98 Ford Ranger with a cassette deck and brags he's never had a car payment.

Cute until he tries to rent an apartment.

Landlord runs his credit — and it's bad.

Not because he skips bills. Because he barely has credit at all.

So the Landlord does what feels safe:

"You're in... but bring me a cosigner."

Here's the catch.

If the credit report is why you required the cosigner, the law says you just took "adverse action."

And that comes with homework:

If a credit report makes you treat them different, you owe them an Adverse Action Notice.

Yes, even if they got the place.

If the credit report triggers the extra hoop, the notice has to go out.

By Landlord Legal

All rust, no record — that's issue #166 of The Brief.

FYI — Anytime a credit report makes you treat someone different, you owe them the notice. Cosigner? Notice. Bump the security deposit? Notice. Tweak the deal in any way because of that report? Yep… still notice.

DISCLAIMER: Heads up - none of this is legal advice. We share stories and laughs about legal stuff for Landlords.  Do your own homework and stay safe out there!