Company housing offer

[Phil LoCicero]

I have a home that has come available since my previous tenant bought a house. She’s currently paying rent on the lease since she wanted out in winter but it’s sitting empty. I’ve been trying to get it leased out for the past few weeks but it’s been tough finding potential applicants who meet my credit requirements and/or income or who don’t own a dozen pit bulls. I’d like to get it rented quickly because she has been a great tenant. 

Today I got a call from a guy who wants to use the place to house a couple of foremen from the landscape company he works for. I’m not quite clear if it’s him who’s on the lease or the actual company since his English isn’t great. I’m pretty sure it’s the company. There wouldn’t be kids but they would have their wives with them. I He said the home would be empty during the off-season (winter) since the foremen would be back in Mexico during that time. I’m familiar with this practice since I’m also a teacher. Families from Mexico commonly take a winter break around here. Especially farm workers. 

Does anybody here have experience with this? I told him I would have to look into it. He said the company is based out of North Dakota. This is truly a first for me. I’m all ears. 

[Michael Peters]

Regardless of the situation that sounds like a lot of people in the property even if it sat empty for a few months.  Even if the company is used for leverage you have no way of knowing or controlling who is in the property.  There could be someone with past evictions or criminal records that you would otherwise have disqualified.  If you do move forward make sure each person that will be staying there is screened and approved.  I would also ensure your lease stipulates the total number of people who can reside in the property, typically 2x the number of bedrooms.