Tenants in Duplex asking to use garage as storage.

[Frank Martinez]

Hello, Just acquired my first duplex. It has a detached garage, two separate, one car spaces. I had plans to use one as a gym, and one for a recording studio. The tenants in the front one bedroom are asking to use one as a storage as they have a second baby on the way. 

My gut says no, but I wonder if its just a few plastic bins with baby stuff, maybe charge them a few bucks to store them against the wall near the opening door. 

Is this a problem waiting to happen? Should I just say no? 

Is it tacky to charge them money just to store a few plastic bins? How much should I even charge?

This is all new to me and I really don't know anyone who has experience on this. Thank you. 

[Colleen F.]

If you plan to rent the garage you set a local price and rent the whole garage. For price check local storage options. If they rent it they do what they want with it (within your limits).  If you don't want to rent it don't rent it.  The thing about garage rentals is depending how old the garage is you can get squirrels or mice in them so when I rent garages I tell the tenants that to set expectations.  I have a lease addendum. The apartment is this much extra for the garage and when your lease ends, the garage lease ends. If you can't seperate the two garages you may not want to rent them separately.  

Also if you plan a recording studio soundproofing and whose electric the garage is on will be issues.  I suspect they are looking for more then a couple of bins if they are asking. If you let them store their stuff in part of your garage it might get touchy if something happens to their stuff.  Consider the economics of a shed or converting another area to storage if you don't want to rent the garage.