All Forum Posts by: Laura Simmons

Hello Josh,

The township told him even though he owns the home and he IS living there, he can’t rent out rooms/ have roommates. 

Family is acceptable of course but maybe they can’t have lease agreements. 


Quote from @Josh C.:

My guess is it’s illegal to rent out rooms in a house you don’t live in. Typically, if you live there you can do anything you want. You can even discriminate against anyone for any reason. Example: a female owner can advertise they only want a female tenant.

I’d double check that he doesn’t fall under an exemption as people have lived with roommates forever. Pretty much guarantee any city won’t come after him for asking for money from a roommate.

I would recommend getting the insurance updated.

My boyfriend (who lives in the house he owns) wants to rent a room to one tenant in his house In Upper Darby PA (Delco). He is looking for the tenant online and will do a criminal background check and ask for paycheck stubs.

Upper Darby said renting a room is against township rules (we asked anonymously) but he is doing it anyway to help with $7k property taxes.

Could he get in trouble somehow? Could this affect his homeowners’ insurance? (The mortgage is paid off.)

My boyfriend (who lives in the house he owns) wants to rent a room to one tenant in his house. He is looking for the tenant online and will do a criminal background check and ask for paycheck stubs. 

Upper Darby Township said renting a room is against township rules (we asked anonymously) but he is doing it anyway to help with $7k property taxes.

Could he get in trouble somehow? Could this affect his homeowners’ insurance? (The mortgage is paid off.)