New Tenant on existing lease increase (apartments, house, legal, landlords)

[wellsussed]

What would be an appropriate increase for me to move into my BF's apartment.

[Ms_Christina]

You will have to ask the LL if you are even allowed and if the LL is willing to draw up a new lease.

[wellsussed]

He said yes but asked us what we think out new rate should be considering wear and tear and increased water usage. Truthfully, i am always here anyways and the wear and tear will actually be better considering I am a much better housekeeper than BF. ;-) Landlords son lives in the other part of the duplex. We were thinking 50-100$ or 10%.

[Informed Info]

Originally Posted by wellsussed

He said yes but asked us what we think out new rate should be considering wear and tear and increased water usage. Truthfully, i am always here anyways and the wear and tear will actually be better considering I am a much better housekeeper than BF. ;-) Landlords son lives in the other part of the duplex. We were thinking 50-100$ or 10%.

Has your LL ever rented to more than one tenant (in that specific apt.) before? Is this property in a town that has rent control?

I ask because that is just a really odd question to ask a tenant/future tenant. I have a one bedroom apt. that is legal for 2 tenants. The rent is what the rent is no matter if one person or two move in. What happened once was the BF of the tenant on the lease ended up moving in a few months in to the lease and all I asked for was that he sign an addendum to the existing lease. I also don't pay utilities, my tenants do.

How did the LL advertise the property? If one tenant moves in the rent is "this much", if two tenants move in the rent is "this much + a little more"?

My quarterly water bill averages about $80. That is for 2 adults, one teen, and one tween who take a minimum of one shower a day. We also have a pre-schooler who gets a bath every night. We run the dishwasher every day, run the washing machine a minimum of 2 times a day - usually a lot more.

Wear and tear is not usually something a LL charges for based on the amount of people who are on a lease. Tenants are charged at the end of their lease for damages done OUTSIDE of normal wear and tear.

With respect to the possibility of there being a significant increase of water usage, ask to see the water bills since your BF moved in, average them out and agree to pay the amount above the average $$ when the next water bill comes due after you move in.

[thebunny]

Sawdustmaker has a very valid point. I moved into my apartment and 3 years later my fiancee moved in. There was no rent increase, as 1 bedroom apartments are "zoned" for lack of a better word for a maximum of 2 people and there is additional rent if I move in extra people.

Honestly, 2 people in an apartment shouldn't really justify ANY rent increase.