How founders can share a lease without legal headaches
Read the lease together. Identify every signer, the rent, deposit, renewal, early termination, replacement, subletting, and joint-liability clauses. A company promise or co-founder handshake usually does not change what the landlord can enforce.
Write a roommate agreement covering internal rent shares, utilities, chores, guests, shared purchases, and a departure plan. Keep records of payments and condition photos. Do not put a founder on a lease merely because they may stay occasionally.
For a disputed lease or unusual entity arrangement, get local legal advice before signing.