Current tenant want to add boyfriend with questionable background
Member since 2022 · 115 posts · 22 votes
Current tenant want to add boyfriend with questionable background
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Hi. How long has she been a tenant? When does her lease expire? We've been down this road a few times. Female tenant moves in. Boyfriend soon appears and starts living there. They play this game because the guy has a criminal record so the woman applies for the apartment alone. I don't care what my tenants do in their personal lives and they can have an occasional guest but when the "guest" is staying there on a regular basis, they are no longer just a guest. Do you have language in your lease about guests and how long they can stay? We also have a strict policy that anyone 18 or older living on the premises must be properly screened and approved. How recent are the charges? Although they may seem like only driving violations, it shows a pattern of disrespect for rules and responsibility. ALL of the times we have given people the benefit of the doubt and overlooked similar things, it has come back to bite us. Remember this is not personal, this is a business.
Best advice: Keep strict screening requirements and stick to them.
Be prepared that if you tell her he does not qualify to live there, she will probably sneak him in anyway. If you can prove he is living there (which can be difficult), you can then serve her with a notice to quit based on your state's laws. If you can't prove it but he continues to live there, do not renew her lease. They can always move into his apartment! Wink wink!
Good luck!
16 Replies
- 2yAbel CurielBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Queens, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votesI'd likely pass.
Quote from @Albert Johnson:
My current tenant wants to add their boyfriend to the lease. But upon looking at court records this person has multiple driving violations and charges of criminal trespassing. Would you pass on this potential tenant or look pass it?
some of the charges are driving with a suspended license
criminal littering/ pollution on private property
no mandatory insurance
unsafe lane change
criminal trespassing...showed bonded out and later dismissed
disorderly conduct...later dismissed
driving with no head lanps
How recent were these incidents?
If they were over 10-15 years ago, finances checked out, and he has landlord references, I might consider overlooking the incidents.
REbuild Team - eXp Realty5239 Reviews Hi. How long has she been a tenant? When does her lease expire? We've been down this road a few times. Female tenant moves in. Boyfriend soon appears and starts living there. They play this game because the guy has a criminal record so the woman applies for the apartment alone. I don't care what my tenants do in their personal lives and they can have an occasional guest but when the "guest" is staying there on a regular basis, they are no longer just a guest. Do you have language in your lease about guests and how long they can stay? We also have a strict policy that anyone 18 or older living on the premises must be properly screened and approved. How recent are the charges? Although they may seem like only driving violations, it shows a pattern of disrespect for rules and responsibility. ALL of the times we have given people the benefit of the doubt and overlooked similar things, it has come back to bite us. Remember this is not personal, this is a business.
Best advice: Keep strict screening requirements and stick to them.
Be prepared that if you tell her he does not qualify to live there, she will probably sneak him in anyway. If you can prove he is living there (which can be difficult), you can then serve her with a notice to quit based on your state's laws. If you can't prove it but he continues to live there, do not renew her lease. They can always move into his apartment! Wink wink!
Good luck!
- Flipper/Rehabber · Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes2y
Quote from @Albert Johnson:
My current tenant wants to add their boyfriend to the lease. But upon looking at court records this person has multiple driving violations and charges of criminal trespassing. Would you pass on this potential tenant or look pass it?
some of the charges are driving with a suspended license
criminal littering/ pollution on private property
no mandatory insurance
unsafe lane change
criminal trespassing...showed bonded out and later dismissed
disorderly conduct...later dismissed
driving with no head lanps
The driving issues. Heck I drove on a suspended license 40 years ago.
that said the other issues are a red flag. My experience is that these issues coupled with love turn good tenants into bad tenants.
I would not allow the occupancy. Be prepared to evict since they both will be living there soon.
if you feel inclined to allow get her parents or grandparents as a co guarantor. His won’t matter. They already know his issues. - Member since 2022 · 115 posts · 22 votes2y
Quote from @Abel Curiel:
I'd likely pass.Quote from @Albert Johnson:
My current tenant wants to add their boyfriend to the lease. But upon looking at court records this person has multiple driving violations and charges of criminal trespassing. Would you pass on this potential tenant or look pass it?
some of the charges are driving with a suspended license
criminal littering/ pollution on private property
no mandatory insurance
unsafe lane change
criminal trespassing...showed bonded out and later dismissed
disorderly conduct...later dismissed
driving with no head lanps
How recent were these incidents?
If they were over 10-15 years ago, finances checked out, and he has landlord references, I might consider overlooking the incidents.They were within the last 2-3 years
- Member since 2022 · 115 posts · 22 votes2y
Quote from @Sandy G.:
Hi. How long has she been a tenant? When does her lease expire? We've been down this road a few times. Female tenant moves in. Boyfriend soon appears and starts living there. They play this game because the guy has a criminal record so the woman applies for the apartment alone. I don't care what my tenants do in their personal lives and they can have an occasional guest but when the "guest" is staying there on a regular basis, they are no longer just a guest. Do you have language in your lease about guests and how long they can stay? We also have a strict policy that anyone 18 or older living on the premises must be properly screened and approved. How recent are the charges? Although they may seem like only driving violations, it shows a pattern of disrespect for rules and responsibility. ALL of the times we have given people the benefit of the doubt and overlooked similar things, it has come back to bite us. Remember this is not personal, this is a business.
Best advice: Keep strict screening requirements and stick to them.
Be prepared that if you tell her he does not qualify to live there, she will probably sneak him in anyway. If you can prove he is living there (which can be difficult), you can then serve her with a notice to quit based on your state's laws. If you can't prove it but he continues to live there, do not renew her lease. They can always move into his apartment! Wink wink!
Good luck!
Thanks.
The violations are all recent. We were thinking the same thing. He has disregard for city and state laws and it shows a pattern.
We did serve notice prior to him requesting an application to be on the lease. We will likely deny him and serve them notice again, as I always see him when I'm up there. The neighbors said they would testify in court if they were evicted.
- 2yAbel CurielBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Queens, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
Quote from @Albert Johnson:
Quote from @Abel Curiel:
I'd likely pass.Quote from @Albert Johnson:
My current tenant wants to add their boyfriend to the lease. But upon looking at court records this person has multiple driving violations and charges of criminal trespassing. Would you pass on this potential tenant or look pass it?
some of the charges are driving with a suspended license
criminal littering/ pollution on private property
no mandatory insurance
unsafe lane change
criminal trespassing...showed bonded out and later dismissed
disorderly conduct...later dismissed
driving with no head lanps
How recent were these incidents?
If they were over 10-15 years ago, finances checked out, and he has landlord references, I might consider overlooking the incidents.They were within the last 2-3 years
Thats pretty recent. I wouldn't accept this tenant.
Agreed with @Sandy G. and @Michael Quarles.
REbuild Team - eXp Realty5239 Reviews - Investor · Milwaukee - Mequon, WI · Member since 2010 · 5k+ posts · 7k+ votes2y
Pretty much every time I talked myself into making a compromise on our minimum standards I regretted it later. This could be the exception, that proves me wrong, but I would not take the risk. Let her out of the lease so they can move in in his place.
- Member since 2022 · 115 posts · 22 votes2yThanks.
Quote from @Marcus Auerbach:
Pretty much every time I talked myself into making a compromise on our minimum standards I regretted it later. This could be the exception, that proves me wrong, but I would not take the risk. Let her out of the lease so they can move in in his place.
- Real Estate Broker · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 6k+ votes2y
I am surprised how concerned people are getting over mostly driving violations.
Yes, it could be the signs of a certain personality defect, but it just as likely could be the sign of a young 20 something being "young n dumb" making poor choices.
Odd's are he already lives there, that's just how these things go. So I would start by asking myself how long is left on her lease, how much I want to keep her or how happy I am to end this lease term and search for a new tenant.
If it matters to any degree to retain this tenant, if listing for new tenant is a pain, I'd simply call this guy up, I'd be upfront and ask him about all this. I'd be direct, saying I don't put up with any BS, and I see a lot of BS on his record, recent BS, tell me about this, is this just you being you or are you turning a page realizing poor choices lead to poor results and a poor life. And weigh him by his response.
Some people just don't have good mentors in there life, and/or need to learn through mistake. I assume he has some redeeming qualities is this women would have him in her life. I'd at least give him the opportunity to explain himself.
Now keep in mind he at least did 1 correct thing, applied to be added to lease. Many never make that attempt, so there might be redemption there, maybe.
Quote from @James Hamling:
I am surprised how concerned people are getting over mostly driving violations.
Yes, it could be the signs of a certain personality defect, but it just as likely could be the sign of a young 20 something being "young n dumb" making poor choices.
Odd's are he already lives there, that's just how these things go. So I would start by asking myself how long is left on her lease, how much I want to keep her or how happy I am to end this lease term and search for a new tenant.
If it matters to any degree to retain this tenant, if listing for new tenant is a pain, I'd simply call this guy up, I'd be upfront and ask him about all this. I'd be direct, saying I don't put up with any BS, and I see a lot of BS on his record, recent BS, tell me about this, is this just you being you or are you turning a page realizing poor choices lead to poor results and a poor life. And weigh him by his response.
Some people just don't have good mentors in there life, and/or need to learn through mistake. I assume he has some redeeming qualities is this women would have him in her life. I'd at least give him the opportunity to explain himself.
Now keep in mind he at least did 1 correct thing, applied to be added to lease. Many never make that attempt, so there might be redemption there, maybe.
Yep I totally get not being hung up on driving violations. And yes people can turn their lives around. It’s just after being burned several times you find it harder to take that risk.
In this case, it seems that this guy only asked to be added to the lease after the landlord served a notice because they were caught. If he’s on the lease, tenant is no longer in violation.
Depending on the amount of months left on the lease, you could add him and if it doesn’t work out, serve a non-renewal notice.
We had a woman move in her (multiple offenses) registered sex offender (of minors) boyfriend so not everyone looks for good qualities in a man. Be glad it’s pretty much only traffic violations in this case. Plumber went in one day and reported back there was a guy there with ankle monitor playing video games all day. Dude was wearing shorts. Guess he thought no one would notice ??
Tenants eventually tell you who they are by their actions.I had a "no headlights" once when I was 18. I disagreed with the cop, it wasn't dark yet, dusk maybe. I went to court and lost of course.
My first question is are you in a state where you can easily jettison the guy if you don't want to continue? If no, hard pass. If yes, then I would look into it further and lay down the law if I decided to take the risk. But in Seattle you can't say no.
- Member since 2022 · 115 posts · 22 votes2y
Quote from @James Hamling:
I am surprised how concerned people are getting over mostly driving violations.
Yes, it could be the signs of a certain personality defect, but it just as likely could be the sign of a young 20 something being "young n dumb" making poor choices.
Odd's are he already lives there, that's just how these things go. So I would start by asking myself how long is left on her lease, how much I want to keep her or how happy I am to end this lease term and search for a new tenant.
If it matters to any degree to retain this tenant, if listing for new tenant is a pain, I'd simply call this guy up, I'd be upfront and ask him about all this. I'd be direct, saying I don't put up with any BS, and I see a lot of BS on his record, recent BS, tell me about this, is this just you being you or are you turning a page realizing poor choices lead to poor results and a poor life. And weigh him by his response.
Some people just don't have good mentors in there life, and/or need to learn through mistake. I assume he has some redeeming qualities is this women would have him in her life. I'd at least give him the opportunity to explain himself.
Now keep in mind he at least did 1 correct thing, applied to be added to lease. Many never make that attempt, so there might be redemption there, maybe.
This makes sense, but this guy is not 20. He is 35. Other neighbors has seen him around and already don't like him...we will talk to him about this.
- Member since 2023 · 69 posts · 44 votes2y
Quote from @James Hamling:
I am surprised how concerned people are getting over mostly driving violations.
If it was JUST driving, I'd agree. But there is disorderly conduct and criminal trespass as well. That reads drinking problem or belligerent personality to me.
- 2yJake KnightPro MemberProperty Manager · Indianapolis · Member since 2017 · 303 posts · 146 votes
You have every right to turn this down, for any reason. I would ask, what's the upside to adding him to the lease at this point? If you can't find an upside, I wouldn't. Like another said, almost every time you make a compromise, youregret that later. I would be as consistent as possible.
- Real Estate Agent · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes2y
I mean, they look sort of minor, but the problem is this person didn't learn the first time. It's one thing to have a mishap (insurance lapped and forgot) but having a string of issues shows a level of irresponsibility.
Plus this is only what they got caught with. Who knows what else has happened. I would pass.
- Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes2y
@Albert Johnson
Would not add him...but the reality is he'll still be there often enough to basically live there.
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