How many unrelated people can live in SFH?

Question

Hi everyone

Hope you all having a great weekend. I'm really excited since I'm under contract for the first time for a single family property in Tampa. We are still in inspection period.

I'm planning to split this property into two units as currently it's 3 bathroom and 4 bedroom And total rent income from two units would be higher then renting one big house. (that's my assumption based on rent estimates)

However, it's in zone rs-60 which states that no more than 4 unrelated people can live together. Anyone knows how this work in reality?

In the future, if I split this property into two, and have two families renting each side. One family of 3 people, and the other family of 2 people. Does that make more than 4 unrelated people? Or each family is considered as one entity? Maybe I'm not even supposed to split a single family home into two?

So I may not even split the property. But then, it can still be rented to 5 people (I can see that 4 bedroom can easily accommadete 5 people). Anyone has any experience with this situation?

Any input and feedback is highly appreciated!

Alecia Loveless · Answer

@Halil C. I just don’t have instances of more than 2 unrelated people living together. If I do get 2 unrelated people living together it’s a couple who are dating.

Be sure to check your zoning laws to make sure you can split the property into two units. I have 6 towns I invest in and that wouldn’t be a problem but I know in many areas it is an issue.

While I wouldn’t expect any real issues with unrelated tenants living together you never know.

For instance I currently have one troublesome inherited tenant who keeps turning my contractor and myself in to the town and various agencies for things she knows nothing about that areNOT ILLEGAL or an issue because she is unhappy about imaginary things  which has set us back by weeks and we keep having to spend wasted hours debunking these accusations.

So you never know when someone may turn you in to the “regulators” for something that shouldn’t be an issue.

Carlos Ptriawan · Answer

In all practicality, all these regulation may be there but *may not be enforceable* unless the city itself is very strict. However, In some neighborhood it's just very common especially if your location is located very near to multfamily zone. For example, I used to live in very "diversified" C+ class neighborhood Single Family zone (still very expensive LOL) but next block is all multi-family 3 story apartment. At this instance, nobody really care how many family are living in one physical unit. But if you live in A++ gated community (even without HOA) then that could trigger an issue.

It's all come back in common sense and location.

Kristina Kuba · Answer

University Square near USF is a C class neighborhood in my opinion.  It appears you are trying to do a PadSplit rent by the room model?  The rent by the room model is flourishing in Tampa and the investors I have helped have told me that code officers/Tampa has not caught on yet about a max amount of people living there.  In my years of being a realtor and investor, I have only seen max occupancy become an issue when a neighbor calls because there is a plethora of cars on the street and/or parked on the grass/right of way.

If you are renting the room, I would recommend that each bedroom has an egress window, smoke alarm and there is a central fire extinguisher to lower your liability and keep a safe environment.

I would not physically split the property unless you get approval from the zoning and the building department.  And University Square is outside of the City of Tampa so you will need to get in touch with Hillsborough County offices.

Theresa Harris · Answer

Check your local laws. If you split it into two, do it legally.

I don't know there, but where I am my insurance only covers up to 3 unrelated individuals living in one unit.

Halil C. · Answer

Hi Carlos. Thank you for your response. It's very helpful.

No, it's not an A+ neighbourhood. It's "university square". Seems like B- class to me but I'm not an expert.

Carlos Ptriawan · Answer

yes the potential problem is the neighbor rather than the city, but if parking is *already* a problem like in most campus location or in most SF/MF zone intersection, then it would not be a problem, also as matter of fact this is common in a very diversified neighborhood ( it is a politically correct way to say when the majority of home owner there didn't use English as main language at home).

also this is very common in the location where housing affordability is an issue (such as in CA city).

Halil C. · Answer

It's 4 in Tampa. But I was planning to split it into two so it wouldn't be 4 in one unit

Halil C. · Answer

Thank you. Last thing I want is to deal with tenant issues.

How many unrelated people can live in SFH?

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