2 people in a one bedroom (lease agreement, house, legal, landlords)
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I'm currently in a 1bd apt with only myself on the lease. My GF is planning to move in with me and I am wondering what the protocol is usually... I know that all occupants must be on the lease but is the rent usually more if 2 people stay in a 1bd?
My GF stays over at my place most days of the week anyway and it's been this way for the last yr and nobody has said anything.
I am just concerned that if I ask to clarify the rules they will become aware of the situation and try to jack up the rent...
It doesn't necessarily mean that the rent will increase but if you took it as single occupancy then it wouldn't be unrealistic to expect the LL to raise the rent a little to cover the additional cost of utilities (if these are included in the rent). It very much depends on what your lease says but in any event the best policy is to be upfront and talk to your LL.
As a LL... my rule is that all adults must be on the lease (at least as occupant), if "sharing" then each
must be able to afford 75% of the bills (not 50%) and that there must be no fewer than ONE bedroom for EACH.
No morality... I don't care who sleeps with who or what is done with the 2nd BR.
But it must be there if the two adults aren't married.
I believe zoning laws allow at least 2 in each bedroom, I certainly haven't heard of maximum of 1 per bedroom...I know several couples living in 1 bedrooms, it's common... I am not asking if it's permitted because I know it is. I am asking if it's likely the rent will increase.
Utilities are not covered in my current place.
If the rent increases then it may not be worth it to me to continue here as I can spring a little more and get a 2 bedroom with a LOT more space. The whole idea of 2 people living in a 1bd is to realize a sufficient amount of savings...if I cannot achieve that objective then it's silly.
I believe zoning laws allow at least 2 in each bedroom, I certainly haven't heard of maximum of 1 per bedroom...I know several couples living in 1 bedrooms, it's common... I am not asking if it's permitted because I know it is. I am asking if it's likely the rent will increase.
Utilities are not covered in my current place.
If the rent increases then it may not be worth it to me to continue here as I can spring a little more and get a 2 bedroom with a LOT more space. The whole idea of 2 people living in a 1bd is to realize a sufficient amount of savings...if I cannot achieve that objective then it's silly.
As I said, it depends on what your lease says and of course is up to your landlord. You don't even know yet whether or not he would raise the rent for an additional person on the lease. Talk to him. You'll never know until you do and may be getting yourself all worked about nothing much at all.
As a LL... my rule is that all adults must be on the lease (at least as occupant), if "sharing" then each
must be able to afford 75% of the bills (not 50%) and that there must be no fewer than ONE bedroom for EACH.
No morality... I don't care who sleeps with who or what is done with the 2nd BR.
But it must be there if the two adults aren't married.
The first thing to do is look at your lease and see if it says anything about another person moving in.
Most occupancy limits allow 2 people per bedroom, plus 1. So 3 people in a 1 bdrm.
In my bldg, I don't care if someone else moves in. I figure what they do in their own apt is their business, as long as there are no problems (screaming fights, loud parties, whatever). As long as they're quiet and pay the rent, I just leave them alone. I'd rather they were happy and stayed.
But, lots of landlords are really anal about getting everyone on the lease, yadda yadda, and do charge more rent. So, I see your concern.
If you don't tell your LL about her, though, and you're on a lease, you can't just easily move out, and she wouldn't be able to easily move out once she moves in, I'm assuming. The landlord could give you a 3 day notice to have her leave, or be put on the lease, or even a 3 day notice to move out because you broke the lease agreement.
So, it seems like too much of a gamble to move her in and not clear it with the LL.
If you do get stuck with higher rent, you'll just need to do the math to decide if it's worth the penalties you may have to pay to break the lease - or if you're better off to pay the higher rent until the lease is up.
As someone else said, you may be worrying for nothing. Maybe your LL will be like me and not care and not charge more rent.
If/when housemates or lovers break up and both are on the lease...
I want the remaining parties to be able to afford to stay without the one who left.
Or at least manage until they find a replacement.
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