Is it a problem renting to students next door to working adults?

Question

Students from a nearby college have rented one triplex unit. Another two units are still available and I am showing them. Four out of 5 inquiries are from other students from the same college, which is just 5 minutes away.  However, I am also getting a couple inquiries from a working adults as well. Based on the number of student inquiries, I was beginning to think all units will end up being rented to students. That aside, if I rented to a working adult, non-student, I am wondering how difficult it would be for working adults and students to be tenants in a triplex. Is it better for the tenants to be in the same situation, ie, all from the same university? Does it cause problems having working adults and college students as tenants? I'm imagining that students are going to be noisier, be up later, have more friends over, and have more cars pulling in and out, than most adults.  Any suggestions?

Thomas S. · Answer

You will have difficulty keeping non student tenants and will have to deal with possibly ongoing complaints if you do not inform all applicants in advance that there are student renters. This way if they choose to rent knowing there are students you simply advise them in advance that you do not want to hear any complaints about noise, rowdy behaviour or anything else related to the students. That should keep most working class applicants away.

Jassem A. · Answer

They will also probably do more damage.  I'd bring up the topic with the working adults and see if it might bother them.

Russell Naylor · Answer

There will always be the typical college student stereotype, but that doesn't always ring true.

When I was in college, I lived next to a professor in a quadplex and we never had any issues. I would think that any working adult in the area looking to rent a triplex understands the potential for being neighbor to a college student and is at least slightly prepared for it.

I definitely understand your predicament, you could explain the situation up front to your working adult would be tenants. "Just so you're aware, there are many college students around the area who are also wanting units in the building, blah blah." But that is up to you.

Good luck!

Jeff B. · Answer

Just advise(orally) all applicants that due to the proximity to the school, we seem to attract students.  The decision is then made with full knowledge of the situation.

and yes, students may get rowdy and you have a valid concern

Is it a problem renting to students next door to working adults?

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