Tenant's Health in Decline Family Staying Overnight

[Luke H.]

My tenant’s health has declined over the past few years, and her two grandsons (not listed on the lease) have started staying overnight regularly to help care for her. I’ve shifted the lease to a month-to-month arrangement to maintain flexibility. However, the tenant has expressed that she doesn’t want to leave and even said this is where she would like to spend her final years. The family is now requesting a new one-year lease.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? I want to be compassionate, but I also want to protect the property and ensure proper occupancy. Any advice on how to handle this—especially regarding long-term lease terms, unauthorized occupants, or potential liability?

[Chris Seveney]

Quote from @Luke H.:

My tenant’s health has declined over the past few years, and her two grandsons (not listed on the lease) have started staying overnight regularly to help care for her. I’ve shifted the lease to a month-to-month arrangement to maintain flexibility. However, the tenant has expressed that she doesn’t want to leave and even said this is where she would like to spend her final years. The family is now requesting a new one-year lease.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? I want to be compassionate, but I also want to protect the property and ensure proper occupancy. Any advice on how to handle this—especially regarding long-term lease terms, unauthorized occupants, or potential liability?

 We have dealt with this in the past. My recommendation is "Back to basics" - are they a good tenant, are they paying? 

The two grandsons, are they decent, quiet and assisting. Is it them staying overnight or coming and helping during the day? 

If its not problemmatic, then I would have ZERO issues with it and let the person who is a good tenant stay and not have to upend their life to move out especially with declining health.

Now if the kids are drug dealers and have other people coming and going, compeltely different but if its just them - I would have zero issues with it.