This week on the Hometown Rant, we’re talking lingerers. You know–boyfriends, girlfriends, and the occasional space-cadet friend with dreadlocks who’s just passin’ through, man. Entertaining guests at your house, apartment or loft is a normal, healthy way to build relationships, but at a certain point lines must be drawn, or renters and landlords alike are going to have a bad time.
When putting a property up for rent, landlords have a responsibility to rent to the correct (and legal) number of people for the house or apartment. Especially near colleges, it’s common practice to turn that study, garage, or that Harry Potter closet under the stairs into another bedroom to cheapen rent, but having too many people living in the same house can be problematic and even downright dangerous. Overcrowding a house is often against fire safety codes, and if anything does go wrong, you as the landlord might find yourself liable, even if you don’t think you should be.
Likewise, renters who are trying to cram in a few extra bodies without the knowledge or consent of the property manager should expect trouble. Even if you don’t get caught and evicted, do you really want three hairy dudes living in your closet and hogging the shower every morning when you need to go to work? Even if they’re totally down to chip in for rent, dude, it’s probably not worth the dimebag or hand-blown glass marble they’ll try to pay you with at the end of the month. Find yourself some roommates who don’t list their previous occupation as following Phish around on tour.
When it comes to relationships, things always get sticky. Rental-wise. Jeez, get your mind out of the gutter. Everyone wants to spent the night with their lady/manlyfriend, but once you’re outright living together you should probably be renting together. If you can’t handle that level of commitment then maybe it isn’t meant to be. Otherwise you’ll just alienate the roommates by taking up the only parking space at the apartment and leaving dirty dishes in the sink. One of the dread-y dudes might blame you for totally breaking up the band, dude, but come to think of it, it’s probably time he hit the road anyways.
Ultimately, communication is key. Renters, tell your landlords if you’re having problems with overcrowding at the apartment complex. Landlords, make sure your tenants know how many people it’s safe to have living in their house, and make sure they know that guests are welcome until they don’t act like guests anymore.
Do you have rental questions of your own? Comments? Concerns? Love letters? Hate mail? Get at us: Hometownrant@hometownrent.com