Renting out rooms - Owner Occupied - What’s Allowed?

[Trey DeJohn]

Hi BP,

Admittedly, I’m new to this. I purchased my first property and moved in at the beginning of May. It’s a single family 4 bed home with the intent to rent out the additional rooms.

My girlfriend and I will be occupying the master, but we’re curious on what “house rules” you’re able to put in place and what’s illegal?

Ive searched landlordology and BP for state specific laws, but it seems like owner occupancy is a bit of a different beast.

Topics were curious about:

1) shoes in the house (for instance, could we say prefer to take your shoes off when walking in?)

2) keeping the common area relatively clean

3) etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Trey

[Jerel Ehlert]

There is no different set of rules for leasing a room than there are leasing an entire house.  Texas Property Code Chpt's 90 and 91, plus chapters on FED (eviction), etc.

But to be honest, it is more of a pain in the butt when you live there, too.  Can you imagine living with your boss?  What seems like a mild request to you comes across as a landlord demand because of the difference in power.  Based on the topics you are curious about, I'd say you don't have the temperament to have roommates.  

If you have rules, they should be few, short, concrete, clear, concise, non-discriminatory, and applied equally.  

Each rule creates an opportunity for conflict.  

If you cannot state the rule in 1 sentence, you don't understand what you are requiring.  If a stranger cannot read it without questions, they don't understand what is required.