moving to Austin Jan 11th, need a place 4bd 2ba (Bryan: apartment, rental)

[movingboys333]

So im moving with 3 guys and we are in the process of looking for a 4 bed 2+ bath place with easy access to downtown (via public transit). Looking to keep rent $1500 or below. Any help or insight on areas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[TexasHorseLady]

Are you looking for a house or an apartment? Are you all working downtown, or attending UT, or something else entirely? (That'll help in pointing you in the right direction.)

[orbius]

Be sure to check how many non-related people you can have in one house. Most neighborhoods arent going to allow 4 non-related people to live in one house.

[TexasHorseLady]

orbius, I'm assuming you're talking about HOA's and some having specific regulations, right? Otherwise, the neighborhood doesn't have any say, far as I know.

[orbius]

Cities can set up certain rules for certain parts of the city. I know in some neighborhoods in Bryan, TX that the city didnt allow more than 2 unrelated people to live in a rental house. This was without a HOA. It would be wise to determine if theres anything like that in the neighborhoods you're looking at in Austin. I'm not sure of the specifics here.
I'd be willing to bet a lot of neighborhoods in Austin though have rules like that to stop say 6 rowdy, partying college students from moving into a small house. Clogging the streets with cars and making noise.

[TexasHorseLady]

Well, I'm not aware of any regulating the number of unrelated people in a household, but it wouldn't hurt to check. Seems to me that would be skirting violation of the federal Fair Housing Laws regarding familial status, though.

I know a landlord can limit the number of people living in a house, but not their familial relationship. This usually applies to not saying that one can't have children in the household, but I can see that being used if someone wanted to make a (literally) federal case out of it.

I'd want to see the specific Bryan city statutes to see how they read, myself.

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Well, I'm not aware of any regulating the number of unrelated people in a household, but it wouldn't hurt to check. Seems to me that would be skirting violation of the federal Fair Housing Laws regarding familial status, though.

I know a landlord can limit the number of people living in a house, but not their familial relationship. This usually applies to not saying that one can't have children in the household, but I can see that being used if someone wanted to make a (literally) federal case out of it.

I'd want to see the specific Bryan city statutes to see how they read, myself.

Unfortunately, if I remember my property law correctly (it's been a few years) orbius is correct. Cities can make laws regulating how many non related adults can live in a home.

[TexasHorseLady]

I'll have to check that, see if I can find any statutes. Not that I don't believe you, just given the restrictions on what a landlord can do vis a vis specifying how many related people can live in a house (they have to specify the number of people, NOT the relationship, to avoid running afoul of fair housing laws regarding familial status), it just sounds odd. This is the kind of thing we have pounded into our heads in our property management classes, but, of course, those pertain to what the landlord can and cannot do. I suppose its an assumption to think that the same fair housing restrictions would apply to a city.

[TexasHorseLady]

By Jove, you're right! The City of Austin does have a regulation that no more than 6 unrelated people can live in a residence, and there is a minimum square footage requirement per occupant, as well.

Now I need to find the actual statute and the history of it and how they get around the fair housing laws.

[orbius]

Since a new zoning designation was created in April, almost 30 Bryan neighborhoods have petitioned for the residential neighborhood conservation zoning, also known as "RNC," which says no more than two unrelated residents can share a single-family home.

Here it is.