Tenants that are not related

[Karla Simmons]

We have been landlords for over 20 years and have mostly rented to married couples and traditional families (parents and children). I’ve always been a little hesitant to rent to unrelated groups, i.e., 3 friends or two brothers and a fiancée. My reasoning is if one of the 3 friends no longer wants to live in the house, will the other two be able to continue paying the rent. Will they try to fill that vacancy on their own without asking permission? I can see potential for problems.

I appreciate any advice or stories from personal experience.

Thanks in advance!

[Mike Dymski]

The way to avoid the land mines is to require each resident to qualify for the full rent; so, when breakups happen, the remaining resident(s) can afford the rent.