House hacking in my primary house.

[Mark Berge]

Hello all, I have a primary 2 bd 1.5 bath fixer upper house that I bought a few years ago. I have done a fair amount of work on it while I  live in it. 

For a while I rented the extra bedroom on airbnb, one guest asked to stay while he worked and said he was going to buy a house. He ended up staying for a year when he got on my nerves and I asked him to go. 

About a year later I again put the extra bedroom on airbnb and had guests stay for a night or two. Then a guest saw my listing and said she was moving from Germany to New Jersey and needed a place to stay while she was looking for a job and an apartment. She moved in Oct. 2022 and asked to stay month to month for $850 per month which is below fair market rent. I said ok. She said she got a job at a solar company in Bedminster and was working there. Now it is March 16 and I asked her if she is saving for an apartment. She said she doesn't have a job so she can't save for an apartment. She said she is looking for a job everyday. She pays the rent by check on the 1st so no problems with that. 

The problem is that I didn't think she would stay so long. I really like to have the house to myself and hate to put someone out. I have checked and the fair market rent for a one bedroom here in North Jersey is $1016.

Any thoughts on how I should proceed?

[Shawn Mcenteer]

Hi @Mark Berge something super crucial with this is ensuring lease and occupancy is under 1 year.  If a lease or the occupancy is over 1 year a new set up laws will apply more favorable to the tenant.  Under 1 year you do not have to grant them the option to renew.  At this point you may want to issue 60 day notice to vacate.