New Tenants Not on Lease

[Milton Granados]

Hi BP!

I'd like some advice on a recent situation regarding some new tenants.  We recently showed one of our apartments to a young couple who said that they were looking on behalf of the guy's mother who was moving out of her house to downsize.  The guy's mother went through the application process, background and credit checks and signed a 12-month lease with only her name on it.  She did tell us her grandkids would be visiting her frequently but that's understandable.

Now that they have moved all their furniture in, I'm suspicious that the young couple moved in this past weekend with their kids instead of their mom - which is a clear violation of the lease clause for who can live at the premises.

Since they just moved in a couple days ago, it seems like evicting them would be a bit extreme but I'd like to know what you guys think.  Do I confront them and ask them to do background/credit checks and sign new lease?

There must have been a reason for them to lie up to the last minute about who was actually going to be living at the property.  They've paid their first months rent and security deposit but it's the uncertainty about who actually your tenants are.

Thanks in advance for your responses!

[Thomas S.]

They are not your tenants since they did not apply and you did not approve them. They will however be your tenants very soon if you do not issue a eviction order. Confirm they have moved placing the mother in violation of her lease and issue the eviction notice to the mother et al.

You do not want liars for tenants, do not waste your time screening them as they will not pass. Good luck, you are probably in for a battle if they have moved in.