Tenant Wants to Bring in Girlfriend
So I have a tenant, the tenant has been living here for more then ten years. About a week ago, the tenant informed us that they were going to bring in a girlfriend. Legally she is allowed to bring in the girlfriend. The tenant is paying way under market value for the apartment. I approached…
So I have a tenant, the tenant has been living here for more then ten years. About a week ago, the tenant informed us that they were going to bring in a girlfriend. Legally she is allowed to bring in the girlfriend. The tenant is paying way under market value for the apartment. I approached the tenant about including the girlfriend on the lease. The tenant is not willing to include the girlfriend on the lease. Personally as the landlord, I do not believe it is fair. That another person is allowed to move into the apartment without any rent increase. There will be an increase in cost to me. How do u folks feel about it.
If the lease is not yet expired and these two were legally allowed to get married, there wouldn’t be any questions on the table until the lease came up for renewal.
Wait, they can get married in Mass & it will be recognized in NY, no? So, I must not be understanding this point. Anyway, lots of unmarried hetero couples live together. I don’t think that’s the OP’s main issue.
Is there something in the lease about additional residents?
Why are they legally allowed to bring in a roommate, wouldn’t that be determined by the lease? I would work out a small fair increase ($25?). If the tenant has been there for 10 years you guys probably have a decent relationship.
I have rented the same apartment to a couple and a single person. Both great, but the more people the more costs. Higher heating costs (different work schedules meant that the heat was full blast all day); More noise, more garbage (fined a couple of times because the boyfriend couldn’t figure out the recycling).
Does the lease allow or forbid roommates?
Why is there an increase in cost to you? If its utilities (heat, electric, water), that seems to me to be marginal. But you are within your rights to ask for more rent (assuming no RC/RS) when the lease renews.
Bigger question – why do YOU want the girlfriend on the lease? If she is on the lease, she gets rights and privileges of a full renter (particularly valuable if the apartment is RS/RC).
Maybe even bigger question – if you have a tenant of 10 years, whom you’ve been happy with and who pays the rent, why do you want to upset the applecart over a few dollars.
i feel like you are an asshole landlord. WTF extra costs are you absorbing for another occupant? marginal utilities or electric at most. life isn’t “fair” you jerk so get over it.
Just raise their rent in tandem to how much happier they are. Nobody should be lucky enough to have below market rent AND a happy live-in relationship
Is this an all utilities included apartment? If not, why is there a surcharge for an additional tenant?
I agree with everyone else. The best thing to do is deal with your increased cost, if any, at lease renewal. Tread lightly, though. Since you’ve allowed your tenant to live there for 10 years, you clearly have a decent relationship with her. Good tenants are hard to find (so are good landlords).
How much of an increase in cost will you realistically incur? Chances are if this girlfriend wants to move in, she’s been there all the time anyways.
If the apartment is RS, the tenant is perfectly within her rights, and any legal rent increase at renewal would be the same for one or two tenants. If not RS, feel free to pass on any extra increase you feel fair when you renew the lease.
@Bobjohn, why doesn’t it make sense that a woman would want her girlfriend to move in? That’s what we lesbians are famous for.
@OP, I can see why you’d want everyone living in the apartment to be on the lease, but unless your utility bill spikes, I don’t see why you’d want to mess up a good relationship with a good tenant.
If the lease is not yet expired and these two were legally allowed to get married, there wouldn’t be any questions on the table until the lease came up for renewal.