All Forum Posts by: Mary Lou Zolko

thanks Kevin. I would suppose that the cousin might not pass the financial screening if she moves to PA without a job lined up.  Would that be grounds for denying the request?  Should I charge more for rent to cover additional repairs?

My municipality only required an occupancy permit when I moved out and rented my home.  That did entail a safety inspection for smoke detectors and GFI's, and cost about $100.  That will happen any time we change tenants.

Thanks for the input. So the house is 3 bedrooms, with one being rather small, but they put a loft bed with a full size mattress on the bottom in there.  There are 1+1/2 baths, and they had made the basement into an office with a curtain separating it from the laundry area.  It is no longer needed as an office, so the extra adult could sleep there.

I suppose the HUD rule would allow it, but I still think that its asking for trouble. My lease agreement states that I need to give written permission for anyone else to move in, and that all adults must be on the lease.

I have a small home, about 900 sq. ft. that I rent to a man and woman and their two boys, ages 10 and 14.  The tenant recently asked if I would allow her to let her cousin move in with her two children, a 16 yr. old boy and an 8 yr. old girl for 6-8 months until she can get on her feet and get her own place. She wants to be close enough to help her since the son is rehabbing from a gunshot wound. My initial reaction is to not allow it due to the extra wear and tear on the appliances and home in general, not to mention the stress the overcrowding would cause her family.  I called my homeowners insurance and the municipality to see if either entity would have an objection, but both said that as long as I don't separate the home into two units, they don't regulate occupancy per sq. ft.

A friend suggested that if I allow it, that I should increase the rent substantially to account for the potential repairs and replacements that might need to be made.  I currently get $1200/month rent, tenant pays all utilities.

I am coming up on the first anniversary of renting my house and my renter wants to stay a few more years.  Is there a specific short form for renewal that we should both sign?  I am not raising the rent, and she has been an excellent tenant.