Tenant moving in kids without consent from landlord

[Tyler Davis]

Hello, everyone!

I recently learned from a neighbor that one of my inherited tenants is planning to move in three additional children into her apartment. According to the lease, only individuals listed on the lease are allowed to live there, and any changes must be reported to the landlord. The property is a three-bedroom unit, and there are already four occupants: two children and two adults.

I reached out to the tenant after learning about this situation, and they explained that they had obtained emergency custody of their nieces and nephews from CPS. However, one of the bedrooms is quite small to accommodate two beds.

I have some concerns regarding code compliance, as it seems there may be too many people staying in the property, and the rooms may not be suitable for that many children per bedroom.

What should I do in this circumstance?

[Corey Conklin]

I would ask a few questions. Do they have a good track record as your tenant? I know they were inherited so you may not know much but I would start there. If they have taken care of the place and pay their rent that would sway how I handle the situation.

I would try to put myself in their position. How would you handle taking on 3 kids? They are obviously in a tight spot and trying to make the best of the situation. I would try to understand as much as you can. Do they know how long they think they'll have the kids? 1 week? 1 year? If it's a long term change, do you have any other properties to accommodate them? Are you able to let them out of their lease with minimal costs? I'm sure they would be thankful for your help in this situation.

You have an opportunity to help a family in a tight spot or be a cold hearted landlord. At the end of the day it's your call and only you can make that decision.