Are there restrictions to be an occupant?

[Maria G.]

What is the advantage of listing someone on your lease as just occupant (vs. tenant)? Can an occupant stay as many night per year as he or she wants? I have an applicant who listed someone else as occupant, but I understand it is pretty different to have someone stay over for 5% of the time vs. 90% of the time.

Thanks.

[Patrick Liska]

4 tenants would mean that all 4 are responsible to pay the rent, if you have 1 tenant and all occupants then only the one tenant is responsible for that rent and you can only go after that tenant. depending on where the property is, if you are Evicting, you may still have to serve notice to the Tenant and any Occupant 18 and over, but you can not go after the occupants for rent. some states do limit the amount of occupants ( usually one per tenant) so if you have 2 tenant that would be 2 tenants and 2 occupants ( plus any children under 18) best to look up the State law on that, where the property is.