Prior to the Term, when Does a Lease Becomes Legally Binding

[RazorEdge95]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: South Carolina

Two other students and myself are looking at an apartment in South Carolina. However, neither one of us live in the city in which we are attending school, and were away. One of the roommates was shown an apartment, reported it was in excellent condition, and was informed to go ahead with drawing up a lease by the other two. At this time, he signed the lease. However, when the two others looked at the apartment, it was unsatisfactory for the price and have elected not to sign. Is the roommate who signed still bound by the contract even though all parties have yet to sign? If it is legally binding, is there an effective way to resolve the dispute, perhaps by allowing the landlord to keep the security deposit?

[RazorEdge95]

This takes place in the state of: South Carolina.

If one potential tenant, out of three, has signed a lease, the other two have not (and desire to back out), and all three tenants are listed in the Lease as "Tenant", is the Lease a binding contractual agreement for anyone involved, or can the tenant who has signed the Lease back out without a penalty?

Is anyone else liable?

Finally, can the landlord sign that particular Lease, which includes all three tenants names, if not all tenants have signed? (Thereby not making both parties able to sign, and rendering the contract null and void.)

Much appreciated!

[lill]

The lease is only binding to the person that signed. The only legal option is to negotiate a buy out with the landlord or get new roommates.

[Mr. Knowitall]

You can orally contract in New York for a lease term not in excess of one year, so it's quite possible that the other roommates are on the hook to the roommate on the lease even though they're not directly liable to the landlord.