New tenant tries to move fiancé in

[Gage Coffman]

I signed a tenant who has her and her daughter on the lease. Soon after moving in a see a man moving in with her who turns out to be her fiancé. I spoke with her and let her know per lease if he’s going to be there 10 days or longer he would need to fill out an application to be on the lease. She gave me this story about how relationships don’t always workout and how she doesn’t want him on the lease. I told her regardless if he stays for over 10 days and I find out about it I would have to evict. I currently house hack so I live on the other side of the duplex. I see now he parks his car out on the street in order to pretend he does not live there. I’ve never been in this situation before so how do I approach it? Should I just send over an application to her and tell him to fill it out? I obviously don’t want to go down the eviction road but if I have to I must. They’ve been in the apartment for less than 2 weeks. Thanks everyone for the info!

[Nathan Gesner]

Quote from @Gage Coffman:

I signed a tenant who has her and her daughter on the lease. Soon after moving in a see a man moving in with her who turns out to be her fiancé. I spoke with her and let her know per lease if he’s going to be there 10 days or longer he would need to fill out an application to be on the lease. She gave me this story about how relationships don’t always workout and how she doesn’t want him on the lease. I told her regardless if he stays for over 10 days and I find out about it I would have to evict. I currently house hack so I live on the other side of the duplex. I see now he parks his car out on the street in order to pretend he does not live there. I’ve never been in this situation before so how do I approach it? Should I just send over an application to her and tell him to fill it out? I obviously don’t want to go down the eviction road but if I have to I must. They’ve been in the apartment for less than 2 weeks. Thanks everyone for the info!

 I strongly disagree with some of the advice you've been given. If she is willing to violate such an obvious rule the day she moves in, then you can assume she will violate all the other rules whenever she feels like it. This is your opportunity to educate the tenant and show that you are a professional and not a pushover landlord.

summer suggesting you send the application, but I disagree with that. You've already told her of the requirement to apply yet she ignores your requirement. At this point, I would serve her with a lease termination for failure to comply. If she contacts you and protests, then you can give her 72 hours to complete the application or move the boyfriend out. If she completes the application within the 72 hours and he is approved, then you add him to the lease and move forward.

I do not let tenants dictate what rules they will enforce or not. And if you have a rule, then you better be prepared to enforce it. If you don't intend to enforce it, then get rid of the rule.