Author Topic: Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?  (Read 1325 times)

BlueHouse

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Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?
« on: August 30, 2019, 10:18:06 AM »
My tenant has asked if his GF can move in.  I don't have a problem with it -- he's pretty responsible.  Probably means that they'll move out after the lease is up though. 
Do I just need to modify the lease and have her sign onto it?  (as in hand write her name and then have her sign...even though they're different dates and everything?)

Lucky Recardito

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Re: Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2019, 10:29:11 AM »
Do they want her to be named on the lease, and legally responsible for rent payments?

Our rental unit has been rented by the same person for years; there has sometimes been a GF living there, and sometimes not. While the GF hasn't been named on the lease (or responsible for rent), we've had a clear statement in the lease that [GF name] is an allowed occupant of the premises. We've always updated this at lease renewal time and had it be a part of the main lease, but it seems like an easy thing to just write up a one-page agreement for and both sign (rather than amending the actual lease)?

Another Reader

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Re: Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2019, 10:30:31 AM »
She should be vetted as you would any other new tenant.  Credit, criminal, job/income verification.  Once she passes, add her in an addendum.


macmoneysaver

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Re: Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2019, 04:00:23 PM »
What @Another Reader said.

Dicey

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Re: Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2019, 05:30:52 AM »
If they split up and she's not on the lease, she's out. If they split up and she's on the lease she still has a place to live, provided she can afford the rent. If I was the GF, I'd insist on it, for my own protection. Vet, as AR wisely suggests, then decide what you want to do. BTW, your lease should have a clause that no one else can move in without your approval.

electriceagle

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Re: Additional tenant. Should I add to lease?
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2019, 09:19:32 AM »
You have to know the laws in your area to know if this is a good idea.

Are you in rent-control territory? Adding her to the lease might entitle her to low rent even if he moves out.

Do you have a no-subletting clause in the lease? Letting him sublet to her (her not on lease) in a non-careful way may void this.

Do you want to be legally responsible to her as a landlord? Do you want her to be responsible to you for rent?