Tenant adding roommate

Curious to hear what people think of this. I rented my garden apartment a few months ago to a youngish (29?) single woman. I was a little hesitant as her salary was insufficient for rent, but her parents co-signed so I went ahead and did it. Recently, she informed that a “dear friend” would be moving into a very large closet in the apartment. I don’t want to be an ogre landlord, but I feel weird about this and she has does seem to have an endless stream of “dear friends” coming and going. I guess I should just suck it up, but I am curious what others think.

Cobblekrill

in About Brooklyn 12 years and 1 month ago

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cate | 12 years and 1 month ago

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As a renter, I once had a lease that specified it was for two people, specified that everyone living in the apartment had to be on the lease, and then set out staggered rents for increasing numbers of people.

snowman2 | 12 years and 1 month ago

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Due to the roommate law, you’re pretty much stuck with it. The law regulating the number of sq ft per person specifies a really tiny amount of space so that is useless. If it’s something you can’t live with then do not offer her another lease and let her know in writing at least 2 months in advance of the lease end. (“Your lease ends on x date. In order to ensure that you receive your entire security deposit back, please be sure to leave the apartment clean, in the same condition in which you received it and return the keys by that date.”), etc. The best you can do is try to prevent it in the future. I’ve been renting my garden apt for 25 years and never had that issue. It’s a nice apt. I do not accept co-signers or guarantors. I set the rent slightly below market to start (and the longer they stay the more below market it gets). I tell them up front that I am renting to one (or two as the case may be) person and although I would not object to the occasional overnight guest (emphasis on occasional and guest) I do not expect anyone else to be moving in. If they want to continue living there they’ll go with the program.

cmu | 12 years and 1 month ago

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What’s unsaid? If it’s a true roommate (not a couple) and there’s no second bedroom, I’d think you can object. Also, can you not specify number of occupants on the lease (I do, but it’s always been 2 because I’ve rented to couples)? And finally, if there’s space and the tenants not bothersome, what’s the issue?

ventilated | 12 years and 1 month ago

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You have some rights and choices, depending on variables (living space, for example). There’s an apartment sharing section in Attorney General’s tenants’ rights guide: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/attygenguide.html#7 Also read the “roommate law” at: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/nycode/RPP/7/235-f And Sec. 27-2075, maximum permitted occupancy at: http://www.housingnyc.com/html/resources/hmc/sub3/art4.html Since your tenant’s parents co-signed (but didn’t guarantee?), I would be sure they had knowledge of their daughter’s plans, because they’d be legally liable for any headache that might grow out of the arrangement.

Goatcrapp | 12 years and 1 month ago

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You have no choice but to suck it up. State law allows a tenant to have a room mate. If the room mate’s behavior significantly violates the house rules (as defined in the lease) then you can attempt eviction of one or both parties… but good luck with that.