Fellow Triplex Tenant seems to be violating lease...

Fellow Triplex Tenant seems to be violating lease...

Specialist · Denison, TX · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 17 votes

Hey Folks! So I rent the upstairs of a two-story triplex from my brother-in-law, and I’ve been very involved with assisting him in managing properties before, though that isn’t a role I currently fill.

He just signed a lease with a new set of tenants, and as far as I can tell, it was with two ladies, only, and their two cats. His policy is for every adult who will be living in his property to submit an application - which, upon their signature and submission, authorizes him to do background checks, criminal and rental history, credit check, etc. I know every time a potential tenant asks if a fellow adult, who won’t be paying rent, but would live there, needs to submit an application, he tells them “Yes, Absolutely”.

It seems the two ladies have two adult men living there in addition to two large dogs not on the lease.

A.) I have half a mind to just keep to myself, and let things play out however they do. They seem like decent people and I don’t want to cause trouble for them.

B.) I feel obligated to inform my brother in law/landlord of my observations and leave it in his hands.

If you were the landlord in this situation, would you want to know? Or is it just annoying to get that kind of snitching (I’ll call it what most cynical minds would call it) from tenants on other tenants?

I plan to be a landlord myself, so I’m also looking to gain a bit of wisdom to carry with me into the future.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and any input you provide - feel free to speak as plain and bluntly as you please!

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Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
7y
Definitely tell your brother-in-law, right away.  In my state, if a guest lives in a rental for 30+ days, they have the same rights as those on the lease.  Meaning your BIL will have to file an eviction on those two guys if he wants to remove them from the house after 30 days.  If they've been there less than that, he doesn't need the court docs. 
The women may not have wanted them on the lease, because they have criminal records and couldn't get approved.  The extra dogs will cause more damage too, and should be charged for.
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  • Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    7y

    Hi Jon,

    It might be a good idea to mention it to your brother, because he's going to find out sooner or later anyway.

    Good Luck!

  • Rental Property Investor · Phoenix, AZ and Rehoboth Beach DE · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y
    Definitely tell your brother-in-law, right away.  In my state, if a guest lives in a rental for 30+ days, they have the same rights as those on the lease.  Meaning your BIL will have to file an eviction on those two guys if he wants to remove them from the house after 30 days.  If they've been there less than that, he doesn't need the court docs. 
    The women may not have wanted them on the lease, because they have criminal records and couldn't get approved.  The extra dogs will cause more damage too, and should be charged for.
  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    7y

    I would let your brother in law know.  You seem to have a good relationship with him and as others said he will find out sooner or later and may ask why you didn't say anything.

  • Specialist · Denison, TX · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    @Scott Mac Thank you for your response - I will certainly tell him first thing in the morning. I hope I’m wrong, that everyone and their dogs are on the lease, but I’m sure he’d appreciate me looking out for his interests.

  • Specialist · Denison, TX · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    @Lauren Kormylo - wow, that puts some urgency on the matter - thank you for your response!

  • Specialist · Denison, TX · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    @Theresa Harris Indeed, I think you are right! I’ll share with him my observations first thing I the morning. Thank you for your response!

  • Specialist · Denison, TX · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    Thank you folks for your input! I brought it up today to my BIL/Landlord and he will discuss it with his business partner. See you all around BP!

  • Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 546 posts · 227 votes
    7y

    Awesome! Happy to hear that you were able to connect with him on that. Definitely sounds like there are a couple of lease violations at play here; and if they'll bend the rules with the pet policy (ie. noted "two cats" were moving in and now there are two dogs living at the apartment), they're likely to continue to push the edge of the envelope. I hope everything works out! @Jon Penton

  • Specialist · Denison, TX · Member since 2017 · 22 posts · 17 votes
    7y

    @Rob B. Thank you!

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