Shared Garage for Storage

Shared Garage for Storage

Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 0 votes

ust got a new tenant from section 8, after months of searching, finally , we settled on these three sisters. We thought since they are young, maybe they would not have much experiences.  They only qualified for two bedrooms voucher, but i have a three bedrooms  singles house.  So on the rental agreement, I had wrote its a two bedroo0m house ,then on a separate agreement, I wrote one bedroom for the remaining portion  of the rent.  They agreed and signed both rental agreements.  But the garage is not included since I need it for storage of my tools and supplies.  They agreed.

Before they started moving in, the oldest sister asked if they can store something in the garage ( something they don't use)  I thought since it's so little, I let them .  

Yesterday, we went to the garage to store more supplies, we found out they8 were using my patio chairs for their thanksgiving party without even asking me if they can borrow them.  Then i looked at inside the garage, it was half full of their belongs inside.  Now, I realized I made a mistake by letting them using the garage, since now they are starting taking over.  I planned to have my power equipments, tools, and other supplies stored in the same garage but afraid they might use them without asking.  What if they get injured, I would be liable for it.  Besides, anybody can just come and take whatever they want, I would not have any proof.

I would like to get my keys back by giving them a legitimate reason without getting our relationship gone bad.  How should I go about it?

Or, did I made a mistake by giving them access in the first place?

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  • Malcomb StapelPro Member
    Investor · Topeka, KS · Member since 2020 · 669 posts · 488 votes
    1y

    @Roy Lam you made an honest mistake with the garage. You should not have allowed access and now you are going to live the old adage of "it's easier to give slack later than to real it in." 

    As for your lease, I'd be careful with what you are doing there. You don't want to get caught in some fraud. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    1y
    Quote from @Roy Lam:

    They only qualified for two bedrooms voucher, but i have a three bedrooms  singles house.  So on the rental agreement, I had wrote its a two bedroo0m house ,then on a separate agreement, I wrote one bedroom for the remaining portion  of the rent.  They agreed and signed both rental agreements.  But the garage is not included since I need it for storage of my tools and supplies.  They agreed.

    This is confusing. Are you saying that together the 3 sisters qualify for a 2 bedroom unit, but you're charging them more on a separate agreement for that third bedroom? If so, you've violated S8 rules. 

    I knew someone who did this. This was also Los Angeles. He told me S8 would never know so he wasn't worried. He had a problem with the tenants and they notified S8. S8 threatened him with criminal charges. He ended up having to pay back all the extra money to the tenants AND pay back all the money S8 paid for rent since the beginning of their tenancy. 

  • Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    1y

    Take all their stuff and put it outside the garage and make sure they dont get back in. Tell them that is not what you meant. Tell them if you meant for them to share the garage you would have put it in the lease. Take your chairs back too. Grow a pair and dont take any crap.  Study more being a landlord and the importance of agreements and especially sec 8. Call the sec8 case worker and tell them what your doing with the bedroom. Tell the case worker they are illegally in your garage. Dont let time pass, fix it now. 

  • Member since 2024 · 222 posts · 161 votes
    1y

    This is confusing on several accounts.  There are three sisters and they only qualify for a 2 bedroom house, does Section 8 have all three listed?  What happened at the time of inspection, did the inspector not notice 3 bedrooms as opposed to 2?

    You have opened yourself up to many problems with section 8.  You may also want to review your lease as well regarding access to the garage.

  • Member since 2023 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    1y

    At the time of the inspection, the inspector did noticed it was a three bedroo0m house.  She asked me about it, so I told her I know they have a two bed room voucher, so she put one of the bedroom as home office room.  But the tenants agreed to pay the difference to the three bedroom rent amount.  

    As far as the garage concern, it was not included in the lease.  But they asked for a little space to store their Christmas items.  So I agreed. But the other day I went to the garage to store my tools, I found they had took my patio chairs out for the thanksgiving party.  But they didn't even ask.  Also I found they moved my things around in order to store their things. o  That's what alarmed me, what if they get injured with my tools.  Or my power equipments or tools, or any of my belongings missing?  I am sure nobody would admit it.

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