Can I raise rent if tenant move 2 parents in?

[Adam Lee]

My tenant currently has six people living in the property that has four bedrooms there are four adults and two children. The tenant has applied to add his two parents to the agreement. Bring the total to eight people for four bedrooms. I’m in the state of Idaho, can I legally raise the rent when this amendment takes place? Am I allowed to deny it?

[Henry T.]

Quote from @Kevin Sobilo:

Quote from @Henry T.:

Quote from @Kevin Sobilo:

Quote from @Henry T.:

In Seattle you definately could not. In Idaho it would depend on what you have written in your lease.

Please explain why you could not in Seattle.

To me this is a very basic thing where the tenant is requesting a lease change and the landlord can accept it, deny it, or try to negotiate it.

In Seattle, what would the landlord say "I'm sorry, but since I am not allowed to raise rent to compensate for the extra utility usage I have to deny your request." Then if they sneak the people in, just evict them?

 In Seattle you could not deny the request, screening the  the new "Family member" is pointless, and you cannot raise or change fees if they move in.  Here is a screen grab from the Seattle/Landlord tenant laws. Btw, I am currently selling and getting out. This is just one of many examples why.

 VERY interesting. Without researching the state's laws my guess is that this ordinance is not legal.

MANY MANY MANY times municipalities create ordinances that THEY KNOW aren't legal KNOWING they can get away with enforcing them for a good bit of time before they are challenged and struck down in court.

Also, this doesn't address occupancy limits. There are limits to how many people can occupy a property and a landlord is allowed to set a limit LOWER than that limit but reasonable. So, if the occupancy limit for this unit was already met then this ordinance would not be applicable at all because no roommate could be added.

I guess a lease in that city should have a per capita clause. Where for each additional occupant $XX per month is added to the rent. In this way the lease terms would remain the same and you just can't change any "move-in money" like additional deposit etc. Sounds like that would conform to the ordinance and allow increases. 

Yup, but who wants to be point-man and fight this crap? There's another ten laws equally disturbing. I love your creativity, but in the event of a problem professional tenant, you and I both know this is going to court. Personally, I have better things to do. Seattle allows for a renter to move in ANY number of room mates they want to. Non family/screening allowed, Immediate Family/cannot use screening. No changes to rent $$$ allowed. I can't recall if that law adheres to HUD occupancy limits or not. I don't really care, I'm out. But it's mind blowing isn't it?