How to Handle Renewal of Tenant's Lease

Question

Hey BP!

I wanted some opinions on how to handle this. In our househack, our tenant (who's been great) wants to renew for 6 months while adding a roommate, but the roommate wants to stay for an entire year. How should I handle this? Would you just do a 6 month lease with the tenant and the new roommate, then another 6 month lease after the original tenant moved out? Or could I do a 12 month lease and just put in writing that the original tenant will be moving out and the whole rent will be charged to the remaining tenant after 6 months?

Any recommendations would be awesome!

Nathan Gesner · Answer

I try to prevent situations like this because they become revolving doors and you lose control over who resides there.

The most I would do is add the new tenant for six months. That gives you the opportunity to see how he behaves before locking him in longer. Make sure you screen him first and add him to the lease before he moves in.

Account Closed · Answer

@Brandon Allenczy as somebody who has tenants now in a month to month because the originals lease expired, I prefer the month to month. I can cancel renewal at anytime. I have good tenants and don’t plan to do that, but I feel like the lease locks in the landlord more than the tenant.

How will it benefit you to have a 1 year lease vs month to month and ride it out until you decide to change the terms.

Wesley W. · Answer

I agree with @Theresa Harris. Once they are in your place for 30 days, they will have full tenant's rights, regardless of what contract you have in place with either of them. Frankly, this sounds like your tenant is "doing a friend a favor" by getting someone into an apartment whom would not otherwise qualify.

Theresa Harris · Answer

The multiple collections is a problems, so good that you did the screening. I'd tell the current tenant, you can renew the lease with them on it, but that you won't rent to their friend.

Brandon Allenczy · Answer

Thanks everyone for the input! After running the persons application I don’t even know if I would want them as a tenant. They have multiple collections accounts open and their income is just BARELY 2.5x monthly rent.

Sergey A. Petrov · Answer

Does the other tenant (the one who wants to stay for a year) qualify based on tour criteria? If so, a simple addendum which would automatically release the other roommate in 6 months should do. Otherwise they better get on the same page or go look for a new place to live and you find new tenants who will happily adhere to your standard procedures

How to Handle Renewal of Tenant's Lease

How to Handle Renewal of Tenant's Lease

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