All Forum Posts by: Hud Hudson

@Stephanie Harris I read very similar language in Oklahoma. I would like to have the same clarification. Thanks for your question.

@Paul Ewing - he has been a tenant for a couple years now. These two have No kids together. Roommates/boyfriends/girlfriends all must qualify as individuals per my policy so if/when one leaves, the other can maintain the rent responsibility.  I would not risk having roomates collectively qualify because that means they depend on one another.  Roommates, BF’s, and GF’s have individual life events that are independent of one another.  Since collectively they would make up an uncertain one-half, one-third, etc. of the lease, it’s best to have each qualify for his/ her own separate lease. 

Thanks, everyone.  Each of you have provided valuable input.  I intend to allow the tenant to move people in on a lease agreement, but only if they qualify under my screening criteria.  I believe I can circumvent the unemployment issue by retaining one month of rent and one security deposit per additional tenant since the original tenant pays the rent each month. If the additional tenant moves out, I refund the retainers.  If the original tenant moves out and leave the additional tenant there, I will have one month if rents and an security deposit when the additional tenant lease is terminated.  That way if i need to evict, ive got some of the occupancy time covered. 

@Peter M. - how do I make sure she doesn’t move in? She showed up today (not with a moving truck, just with her car), and my guest policy allows a guest to stay for one week in a two month period. I know if she’s still there more than a week I can serve a “cure or quit” on the tenant, but at what point is she “moved in”, thus making it more difficult to remove her?

@peter - how do I make sure she doesn’t move in?  She showed up today (not with a moving truck, just with her car), and my guest policy allows a guest to stay for one week in a two month period. I know if she’s still there more than a week I can serve a “cure or quit” on the tenant, but at what point is she “moved in”, thus making it more difficult to remove her?

@Bob B. - In the past I’ve had spouses in a single lease ageeement.   Both had to apply and pass the screening but only one  needed to qualify financially for both.   This is a different situation than a stay at home mom.  This a tenant wanting to bring in another occupant two years after he signed a lease.  If I have threee individuals wanting to rent from me, all three must qualify individually so if two leave, one can still pay the rent. I think this is my situation, not a stay at home mom situation. And stay  at home mom is an occupation. This person is unemployed.

@Storm S. - I understand your point, but if he leaves and she cannot afford the rent, won’t I have a squatter until she is evicted?  I suppose that’s the case with any tenant who fails to pay rent.  I wonder if I can collect a months rent and security deposit form her to have a month covered in case of an eviction. 

Is it possible to have any additional, unqualified applicants sign a lease and collect a months rent and security deposit from each additional person?  In case the current tenant leaves (he has already paid first and last month rent), I would have an extra month of rent covered and holding an extra security deposit during the eviction process of any squatters. 

The risk I see is that the tenant leaves and the ex stays but can’t afford the rent.  I would think it’s more expensive to have someone living there, not paying rent, than to have a vacancy. 

@Storm S. - my policy is that each tenant must qualify as an individual so if they are left alone, they can afford the rent.  This individual does not qualify so if my tenant leaves, I could be stuck with a squatter.