Should I set the max number of adults?

Question

I am trying to rent a brand new 4 bds 3 ba 2,230 sqft house in a new development in Austin.

Should I limit set the maximum number of adults?

The HUD + local zoning rules allow 6 unrelated adults.

Would it be wise to limit the number of adults to a lower number (3 or 4)?

Thanks in advance.

Colleen F. · Answer

The biggest issue with adults  is  vehicle parking in my experience so I limit vehicles.  We don't have an unrelated adults ordinance.  Are you expecting to attract college students?

Account Closed · Answer

Is the property on well and septic or public water and sewer?

Six individual young adults... household population increases when they have their friends over and/or sleepovers...

Kyle Kingma · Answer

Family = six related or unrelated individuals acting as a single housekeeping unit (i.e. sharing kitchen, bathrooms, common areas, etc.). Code allows it, but code likely doesn't allow parking on grass, the street, etc. which if it's a SF neighborhood...you'll get called on all the time. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should max out. Four adults is good and that's completely up to you to limit them so long as you aren't saying four [insert specific race] adults.

Lynn McGeein · Answer

It's my understanding that you can be as restrictive as you want in matters other than protected classes.  If that was a family with children under 18, then you'd be in trouble, but unless unrelated adults are a protected class locally, you can decide if you prefer unrelated roommates or related family members.  I think he's saying the rules are that the max unrelated adults allowed per home in that area is 6, not that you are required to rent to them.

Russell Brazil · Answer

So you want to be more restrictive than the HUD guidelines? Seems like you are asking for a HUD complaint to me.

Gabe Chime · Answer

It's public water an sewer.

Lynn McGeein · Answer

It depends on if there are local overlays to the fair housing laws.  For instance, I found out in Annapolis that in addition to federal fair housing laws, I cannot discriminate on marital status or source of income and must follow the square foot requirements (listed so much per adult, child under 12, child over 12), so if they met the sq ft and my standard income and credit requirements, then I could not deny them.  In my Virginia rental, that's not an issue, but they've added elderly to theirs, so I have to be careful (like can't tell an elderly person with obvious mobility issues that I'd rather they not rent my townhouse with only second floor bedrooms.)  So read up on the local laws, if any, to protect yourself.  I like the idea of limiting number of vehicles and will use that in the future.  There is a new rental near my mother's home where cars are lined up around the corner with all the roommate's vehicles, and it creates a huge hazard when turning there.

Brad M. · Answer

Based on my interpretation of Fair Housing law, you are not being discriminatory. For occupancy limits, Fair Housing is primarily concerned with discrimination based on familial status, which does not apply here. You are within your rights to limit the number of adults beyond the limits set by local ordinance. I'm not an attorney, so consult one if you have more concerns. This link provides some more understanding of HUD's interpretation of occupancy as it pertains to Fair Housing.

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/documents/huddoc?i...

Gabe Chime · Answer

6 young professionals wanted to rent the house.

The local ordinance allows 6 unrelated adults, however, I didn't want to have problems with the neighbors and said no.

I hope it's not discrimination on my part.

Should I set the max number of adults?

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