4 Adults and 2 un-related kids under 18 applying for condo

[Ron Rohrssen]

Hello. I'm looking for some feedback on a group of potential tenants that are pooling their resources to live in a 4 bed, 3.5 bath condo. There are 2 adult females and 2 adult males along with 2 17-YO males. Cummulatively, I think they will pass background checks. I'm only asking the 4 adults to apply and appear on the lease. I know that one of the 17 YO guys is a brother to one of the older males. I'll know more once I have the applications and background checks. The condo has a driveway and 2 car garage. I believe that everyone drives and cummulatively there appears to be 4 vehicles. Parking on the street is a little tight in this area, but manageable. I've had 4 vehicles in this particular unit before and everyone managed without complaints from neighbors. As far as I'm concerned, the adults are taking legal responsibility through the lease for rent, damage, etc. I'm viewing the 17 YOs as long-term visitors. Anything they may damage is no different than a related minor or a visitor. The adults on the lease are responsbile. Here's what I'm questioning: 1. When the 17 YOs turn 18, turning the lease period, do I need/want to add them to the lease and put them through a background check? 2. Am I thinking of the minors correctly as visitors or minors? 3. I normally do a 12-month lease. In this case, there may be advantages to a month-to-month. Thoughts?

[Nathan Gesner]

Tell them you will not rent to them, period. Any other answer is incorrect and you are 90% likely to regret it badly.

When people pool their resources in order to qualify, it is a recipe for disaster. One or more of them will eventually lose a job or leave and the remaining tenants will be unable to qualify.

My policy is that I will not rent a single unit to more than two unrelated persons. By related, I mean that I would count a married couple or blood relatives as one person and then I would allow one unrelated person. Some examples of what I permit:

• Husband/wife and a friend
• Two friends, a boyfriend/girlfriend
• Two guys that work together or date each other
• A guy and his girlfriend, plus his brother

If you do allow more than two unrelated people to rent together, consider increasing your qualification standard. For example, I require an applicant to make 3x the monthly rent. If it's a couple, I combine their income. But if I'm renting to three unrelated individuals, I require each of them to make at least 2x the monthly rent. This way, one of them could move out and the remaining two could afford the place by themselves.

Long story short, I wouldn't touch this deal with a ten-foot pole.