Weird home lease request on part of landlord (Post, Roanoke: leasing, HOA)

[nitaant]

Hi,

I just moved to the mid cities area. I have a leased home in southlake where Me, my daughter and my wife live. I am renting another home which I will work out of (small business owner), and where my son will live for awhile. I will only be going there to work 3-4 times a week, if that, so its almost like it is more residential than anything.

I am applying for the lease not on my company's name but on my and my wife's joint application.

This is a home in Roanoke, and the agent just got back to me saying the client will lease only on the following request: That I get a PO box and show them proof that I have got one, and do not use the address for any of my mail.

This is highly inconvenient for me and for my son, both in terms of receiving business mail as well as regular.

Moreover, it is simply a very odd request...why would they request something like this?

[momof2dfw]

If there is an HOA it may forbid that a business is operated out of it. They don't want to get stuck w/ a fine from their HOA for a business operating out of a residential home. Especially if it is a rental. Which some HOA's do look down upon. The request and proof of a PO BOX is to cover their behinds in case they should get hit w/ a fine from their HOA or the city for a business operating out of their property. It could also be required by their insurance. Their insurance might not allow it or have strict stipulations about it.

You might also call the city in which this house is located and ask them about operating a business out of a residential home that you are leasing.

[Rakin]

mom, makes a good point. Also, what happens if the city or HOA cracks down on your business ? Do you still want the lease ?

You may be stuck with a 12 month lease on a place that does not allow you to operate.

[FarNorthDallas]

You want to use a residential rental address as a business address? Is that the plan?

[nsumner]

Another likely reason is package deliveries. In case in the scope of your business you have to receive deliveries too often. They don't want the neighbords to be disturbed by trucks, fedex or UPS.

Naima

[austinhome]

Where there is smoke there is fire RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

[MaryS80]

Seems like a very strange request to me.

[JS1]

I wonder if Postal regulations would override a silly lease like that.

For example, if a lease says that you can't have a satellite dish, that portion of the lease is unenforceable because FCC law says that you can have a satellite dish.

To say you can't receive any mail there is just stupid and I would not be surprised if such a clause would be unenforceable.

For what it's worth... the post office will give you a free PO box, and the IRS will let you use that PO box as your residential address, if the post office doesn't deliver mail to your home (e.g., you're in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road). If you have a mailbox, you HAVE to use that address on your tax return, lease be darned!

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by JS1

I wonder if Postal regulations would override a silly lease like that.
For example, if a lease says that you can't have a satellite dish, that portion of the lease is unenforceable because FCC law says that you can have a satellite dish.

To say you can't receive any mail there is just stupid and I would not be surprised if such a clause would be unenforceable.

For what it's worth... the post office will give you a free PO box, and the IRS will let you use that PO box as your residential address, if the post office doesn't deliver mail to your home (e.g., you're in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road). If you have a mailbox, you HAVE to use that address on your tax return, lease be darned!

Not if the homeOWNERS insurance says that the properties intended use is for single family residential only. If their insurance, the HOA or the city regulations have anything that could possibly bring them fines, insurance cancelation, loss of coverage or such they would have every right to ask for such. I know darn well that if I were renting out a SINGLE FAMILY HOME to someone that wanted to operate a business out of it as well I'd be checking everything under the sun to make sure my arse was covered before I accepted the lease agreement. The key here is that the property is for residential purposes NOT commercial.

If you OWN the property and can run a business out of it if it is allowed per city regulations and an HOA if applicable then that is a lot different than being a renter and doing so. I'd be willing to bet the owners insurance is the one wanting proof of a PO BOX.

FYI, a landlord can also request proof of renters insurance before renting out their property to you.

[JS1]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Not if the homeOWNERS insurance says that the properties intended use is for single family residential only. If their insurance, the HOA or the city regulations have anything that could possibly bring them fines, insurance cancelation, loss of coverage or such they would have every right to ask for such. I know darn well that if I were renting out a SINGLE FAMILY HOME to someone that wanted to operate a business out of it as well I'd be checking everything under the sun to make sure my arse was covered before I accepted the lease agreement. The key here is that the property is for residential purposes NOT commercial.

If you OWN the property and can run a business out of it if it is allowed per city regulations and an HOA if applicable then that is a lot different than being a renter and doing so. I'd be willing to bet the owners insurance is the one wanting proof of a PO BOX.

FYI, a landlord can also request proof of renters insurance before renting out their property to you.

I was talking about the part where the renter couldn't use the mailbox. The OP didn't say that the agent said he couldn't run a business there.

Obviously it would be difficult to run a business without a mailbox (especially for deliveries since FedEx can't deliver to a PO box), but if the only prohibition in the lease is just the mail, then the OP can rent the house and run a business, and if the landlord complains, too bad, go talk to the post office and ask them for permission to rip out the mailbox (LOL).