Learn the essential steps on how to add a cosigner to a lease to strengthen your rental agreement. Is there any way I can indicate on my application that I will be using a cosigner?This allows landlords to determine how financially responsible you've been in the past. As a co-signer, you don't have to live in the apartment but your name will be on the lease and you'll be legally obligated to follow the terms of the lease. You might need a cosigner if you're legally an adult, especially if you have no credit history, limited income, or no prior rental history. A cosigner for an apartment takes on the financial responsibility for a lease. Learn how having a cosigner can help someone get approved for an apartment. If the other people named in the lease can't make rent or cause damages they can't afford to repair, the cosigner has agreed to pay instead. My daughter has bad credit and wanted to rent. That's different than just filling in their names as persons who will be living in the property.