ULPT Request: My landlord might raise the rent if my siblings move in with me. How can I get around this?
Posted by flippinred@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 59 comments
I’m in the middle of a multi-year lease. It is a large home big enough for a family, but I live here alone. Rent has been at the max end of my budget.
I would like to have 2 of my siblings move in, but when I had mentioned this to my landlord before signing the lease originally, he had cryptically mentioned that he wouldn’t mind adding them to the lease but he might raise the rent since there are more people living in the house. Mind you, rent had already jumped up $900 between the last tenants (a family of 4) and me (a single person). So to increase rent further is just greedy and would somewhat defeat the purpose of having them move in to make rent more affordable for all of us.
I’ve already checked and this is absolutely legal in my state because adding someone to a lease is technically starting a new one, so the price can be changed. Is there any way I can get around this? I would probably just have them move in without saying anything to the landlord, but he’s the hands on type that comes by for ‘inspections’ periodically so hiding that there are other people living here wouldn’t really be feasible.
Form_86@reddit
So you are the authority on what’s greedy and what’s not? Just tell him the way it is then.
zer04ll@reddit
Landlords cant raise rent during the term of a lease its against the law. Dont know your state but many have laws that allow immediate family to live with you and your landlord cannot stop this. Ask a lawyer in your area but your land lord cant stop you in many instances like this. It only applies to immediate family though so mom dad brothers sisters.
AwwYissm@reddit
Look up the laws about subletting in your area, and read your lease agreement. You might be able to give your roommates a lease that will give them rights that the landlord will have to argue against in court if he wants to evict. He may decide it's not worth the legal fees and let it go, or you'll need a new place to live in a few months.
e11spark@reddit
Would the landlord raise the rent if you got married and your spouse moved in? If not, then tell him you're now a polygamist.
AwwYissm@reddit
Forget what I said, marry your siblings OP
flippinred@reddit (OP)
I should take it a step further and get my own TLC show featuring our poly incestuous relationship. That should pay the bills!
kittykatzen1666@reddit
Oof just dont get an eviction cause you'll have a mich harder time finding a home
OuttHouseMouse@reddit
Tell him you want to add them, but only because youre not gona make rent next month. You need them or the landlord is gona have deliquent payments on his hands. Between you and your siblings living together, $900 is the only thing thats gona work.
Maybe idk.
flippinred@reddit (OP)
Oh no, rent isn’t $900. Rent was $3100 for the last family who lived here, I’m paying $4000/month and I don’t need it going up any further!
That’s a brilliant idea though! I might say I’ll be out of work for a bit and need them to help cover the bills!
OuttHouseMouse@reddit
Yea, hardline that fucker. "Like, its either this or i cant make the payment".
Just put that in your head, if he raises the rent any further - they cant move in and youll be deliquent with payment
Great68@reddit
This sounds like an easy way to get an eviction notice...
OuttHouseMouse@reddit
After three months without payment, sure. Buttt id wager the landlord would much rather not eat the cost of 3 months rent of $4000, or go through the messy process of serving an eviction notice, and risk everything else that comes a bitter tenant getting kicked out.
I think he would much rather continue collecting the rent he is currently getting. That is what alot of this is going off of.
I sincerely just think you didnt know that. Which is why i explained, its really a neat process dictated by law. But i swear to god if you come at me with another rebuttal trust i just dont give a flying fuck what you got to say
Great68@reddit
Where I live a 10 day eviction notice can be served for non payment of rent.
Rental demand is high and a landlord can easily re-list the unit at even higher rent and find new tenants.
nicoleauroux@reddit
The notice can be served, but how long does it take for it to be enforced?
Great68@reddit
If undisputed the process to physically remove the tenant typically takes 2-3 weeks.
Yes the tenant can dispute the notice and slow down the process by probably a month by requesting a hearing (depending on the current caseload of the tenancy board) but in the end they would have no case (there are very few reasons a tenant can legally withold rent) and the eviction would certainly be upheld.
And at the end of it, Landlords can sue the tenants for all unpaid rent during this process, as well as all legal fees.
If I were a landlord, it would be absolutely worth sticking through this process even with a short term financial hit. I would no longer want a tenant that wants to dick me around, the tenant has literally admitted said that they no longer have the fiscal ability to remain in the unit.
I would no longer have a problematic tenant and would be able to raise rent on the unit to current market rates.
Meanwhile, the tenant better be looking for a new rental unit, which in our area would more than likely mean they would be paying an increased rent, and the costs and hassle associated with moving.
So yeah, OP play "hardball" as /u/nicoleauroux suggests at your own peril, and be ready to move if the Landlord calls your bluff.
Aware_Economics4980@reddit
Not that long. People are crazy thinking you’re just gonna tell your landlord you’re not paying rent and then just live there for another 3 months
abooth43@reddit
That's literally the rental law in my area.
My neighboring house had tenants pay the first months rent and security deposit, then never paid again.
It actually took 5ish months to get them out.
Gurtzdaork@reddit
Sounds more like you should investigate employment in a lower cost of living area. 4000$ a month for renting is an insane number for someone who's stating they are at the top end of your budget.
Jthundercleese@reddit
That's a pretty insane price. California? New York?
ActualProject@reddit
Rent is $4000 a month? Holy fuck, that's more than my mortgage
e11spark@reddit
But the landlord wants you to break your multi-year lease so he can increase the rent even more fro the next tenants. He wants you out. There's got to be a better way.
quinoa@reddit
I used to rent out my old place when I traveled and this could def work. And lol at your ending. Redditors love getting on their soapbox to tell you why you’re wrong or something isn’t guaranteed to succeed
OuttHouseMouse@reddit
Thank you yes, peeps on here just love sucking the air out of the room. I hate i always gota be in guard with posting, but hey it beats becoming fake by adopting whatever is most politically convenient.
But yea, i think landlords all unlocked the fear of not getting the rent check. Certainly believable, especially if they know the law AND wont do anything unethical when deliquent checks come into play
BSye-34@reddit
if there's anything the internet loves its being told what not to comment lmao
superdpr@reddit
The rent raise might be reasonable. For example if your landlord is paying sewer, water, etc… then additional people cost more money.
If he’s asking $100/month per person or something it might not be such a killer. Every apartment I’ve ever lived in charged slightly more for additional occupants but typically wasn’t a ton more.
flippinred@reddit (OP)
I am already responsible for all utilities. Hell, the fridge just broke and I’m responsible for that too!
4ever_lost@reddit
Was the fridge there when you moved in or was it yours? If it’s there’s then that’s normal wear and tear and is his responsibility. He sounds like a dick and I wouldn’t be looking for UPLT I’d be looking for legal advice
flippinred@reddit (OP)
Fridge was already there, but the lease specifies that it isn’t covered. So if it breaks, he won’t fix or replace it
4ever_lost@reddit
Honestly I’d be looking to move, your landlord sounds proper greedy. I dunno about your state but in the UK if it’s accidental damage you’re liable but wear and tear is all up to the landlord
superdpr@reddit
That’s crazy that you’re responsible for any repairs. That lease is fucked
Khriss1313@reddit
Landlords are parasites. Fuck them
AwwYissm@reddit
Landlord is charging OP more than he was charging a whole family, the rent hike is opportunistic horse shit
xredgambitt@reddit
Don't tell landlord/. If he asks they are just visiting. Can't you be a close family that like to hang out together? Plus guy has to give 24 hours (in most if not all places) for inspections. Just make sure they are gone for the day or something when that happens every other time at least. If he mentions anything about their stuff, say it's yours. Check your lease for info about guests and make sure you only mention things that are in the lease. So like they are there overnight like once a week because you all got drunk. Their cars are there because they went drinking with friends and your house is a good starting off point. Your landlord doesn't want them out drunk driving?
-tacostacostacos@reddit
Tell your landlord that your siblings are minor dependents.
CarrotofInsanity@reddit
Move.
Naka_kuro@reddit
If you are in the USA, Check your local laws about rentals For example on San Francisco is illegal to modify the rent payment cause you add or take out people from the lease. Even if you agree to pay extra, still illegal. Unless if is a 3 bedroom house, and you want to add 3 persons more, and no sharing bedroom, meaning that ( for example) someone is using the living room as bedroom. And that cause you are “adding” an extra bedroom.
In Wisconsin, if you have a lease it cannot be raised during the period of time the lease is active, except for inflation and can not exceed a 10% of the actual rent. Meaning if you have a 2 years lease, he can not rise the rent after the first year. ( again with exception of the inflation) , but at the end of the 2 years, if you want to renew the lease, and the landlord wants to renew it to you, the landlord could increase as much he would want.
So depending where you live things can be differ, so go and check
4ever_lost@reddit
They’re not going on the lease, they are just living with me. Feel free to note they live with my however I am still going to be the sole person in charge of rent and bills. So therefore there is no reason to change the lease and raise my rent when it’s already at the maximum I can afford
Although I do hope your siblings will be chipping in and not just living off you
flippinred@reddit (OP)
Unfortunately my landlord is pretty ‘by the book’ and would definitely require them to be added to the lease. The standard lease agreement here doesn’t even allow overnight guests for more than 14 days due to the ability to establish tenancy
4ever_lost@reddit
He’s not by the book he’s greedy. Tenancy is generally who’s responsible for the bills and if anything goes wrong, not just who’s living there. What area are you in? That would help massively
justacoacher@reddit
Depending on the laws in your area, they can be considered as subletters and therefore dont need to be on the lease.
North-West-050@reddit
This was my thought too. Siblings would have no power to request fixes and be responsible for rent etc..
N_S_Gaming@reddit
$4000 a month!?
Surely there's legal stuff somewhere about the amount one person should be able to pay, as opposed to a fucking family.
quiddity3141@reddit
Being unethical... they're your medical caretakers.
Crotch-Monster@reddit
Whenever they get seen by the landlord or anybody else. They're "just visiting". Yes it works. It's how I'm living right now. I was homeless for five years because I was addicted to drugs. After I graduated from treatment last year. My folks let me move in with them. They live in a senior citizens apartment community. Whenever anyone, including management sees me. I'm just visiting. Nobody thinks any different. Mostly because I'm quiet and mind my own business.
AusilBB@reddit
Move them in secretly but always wear matching clothes so your landlord thinks you are all one person.
flippinred@reddit (OP)
Hahaha that would actually work since they are twins and we all look pretty alike!
TaylorSwiftScatPorn@reddit
Then you have your answer. Never let the landlord see more than one of yous at the same time.
e11spark@reddit
This is the way
pipebomburmom@reddit
Pipebomb
Soithascometothistoo@reddit
3 adults in a trenchcoat
rtmfb@reddit
Find another place for the three of you, move there, then let this one burn to the ground.
climaxingwalrus@reddit
You got no power here. Rent is being raised.
randomresearch1971@reddit
Sounds like whether they move in or not, this landlord’s a greedy dick looking forward to raising your rent even more in the future.
WharbGharb21@reddit
It sounds like some of your relatives are in the process of squatting at your current residence and may or may not finally leave, coincidentally, when your lease is over.
Imaginary-Brain5985@reddit
Easy. Fuck his dad if he raises the rent.
flippinred@reddit (OP)
Then I would be fucked in more ways than one 😢
crash866@reddit
In my area they do not have to be added to the lease. You rent the property and no business of the landlord how many people are staying there as long it is not overcrowded. If you are paying the utilities there is no difference to the landlord if there is one or 4 people staying there.
waterborn234@reddit
Threaten to walk away from the lease if rent is increased.
Kiefy-McReefer@reddit
Piss disck EVERYWHERE if he raises the rent! Then move!