Non licensed rental property question.

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by dontwannamove

We are renting a house from a couple. Been there almost 2 years. Never had a problem. A week ago the basement flooded due to the boiler, a crew came and removed carpets. Before their insurance agent showed up we were told to tell them we were "roommates" and that the owners lived there.
Impinge some research I discovered the house is not licensed for rental.
Between that and being asked to lie I'm feeling real uncomfortable. Whatever are laws for things like this? Should I be worried?
Thanks

I have never heard of any requirement that rental property be licensed for rental. It wouldn't surprise me if NJ, NY or CA had some laws to that effect, but I have not encountered it anywhere else. You will have to check the laws for your state and city.

[PacificFlights]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I have never heard of any requirement that rental property be licensed for rental. It wouldn't surprise me if NJ, NY or CA had some laws to that effect, but I have not encountered it anywhere else. You will have to check the laws for your state and city.

Its actually more common than most think. Usually its more a local code "registration" type thing. It may be a city requires all rental property to be registerd so they have the name of a responsible party (since renters can't take certain legal actions) Some require it as they may impose a renter tax that the owner is supposed to be collecting. Where I am they require it and thats forwarded to the fire and building dept to make sure the type of code the place is to follow are adhered too. There was something I saw in a newspaper a while back that the #1 violation in one county was failure to register a rental property.

[STT Resident]

Although I believe it's not uncommon in some states I think that in those jurisdictions which require it, a LL with just one or two units is exempt.