Code Violation w/Number of Renters

[David E.]

Hi all,

This isn't an HOA issue as much as it is a city/county issue, but I just learned from my city inspector that the county my rental property is in (Prince George's County, MD) has a law stating that no more than five unrelated people can occupy a single family home. Of course, no one told me this when I bought it (through an real estate broker/investor), when I began renovating it (through a contractor/investor), nor when I applied for a rental license at the town's public records.

The long and short of it is that my wife and I have poured $75K into renovating the property, including the installation of egress windows and smoke alarms in every sleeping area, all with the plan to rent out 6 of the 8 bedrooms to university students because the University of Maryland is right down the street. Problem is, that's over the 5 limit.

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to fight this? The tenants are already in the house on 12-mo leases and half of them are coming from areas far away from here. I've followed all the rules, made safety and security the number one priority, and it's an excellent rental. It just violates this one code.

While waiting on replies, one suggestion I thought of was just tearing up the leases of two of the tenants and officially renting to only 4 others (my wife and I count as one person because we're married), treating the other two folks as guests in our home. Would that work?

Thanks now for any advice or suggestions you may have.