Too Many Tenants...

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Too Many Tenants... (by Scott [MA]) Mar 22, 2015 2:40 PM

Too Many Tenants... (by Steve [MA]) Mar 22, 2015 3:58 PM

Too Many Tenants... (by Vee [OH]) Mar 22, 2015 4:06 PM

Too Many Tenants... (by Steve [MA]) Mar 22, 2015 4:56 PM

Too Many Tenants... (by Patrick [IL]) Mar 23, 2015 11:55 AM

Too Many Tenants... (by WMH [NC]) Mar 24, 2015 8:33 AM

Too Many Tenants... (by Scott [MA]) Posted on: Mar 22, 2015 2:40 PM
Message:

State Specific Question About: MASSACHUSETTS (MA)

Is it illegal for a landlord to refuse a prospective tenant because the landlord feels that the prospective tenant hass too many people in his group to fit into the apartment?

Thank you

Scott --198.7.xxx.xxx

Too Many Tenants... (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Mar 22, 2015 3:58 PM
Message:

The short answer is yes you can legally limit the number of occupants. The MA State sanitation Code has info on the size of bedrooms & the number of occupants as well as on the sizes of the other rooms. Google MA Sanitation Code for the specifics. If my grandkids weren't bouncing around on my knees, I would pot the actual info for you. --96.237.xxx.xxx

Too Many Tenants... (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Mar 22, 2015 4:06 PM
Message:

Fire code may be helpful for you also, in the states I have places it seems to always be 2 per bedroom and 1 on a sofa. What you want is a exclusive use clause so you do not end up with a bunch of overnite guests - get into your local and state tenant laws for more on that. --75.94.xxx.xxx

Too Many Tenants... (by Steve [MA]) Posted on: Mar 22, 2015 4:56 PM
Message:

Scott, IMO you should always allow all prospective tenants to have a rental application to fill out & return. Most applications won't come back completely filled out or they won't pay the application fee. Once you have the written application, I'm sure you could find a reason other than the # of occupants to have them disqualify themselves.

This is from the MA State Sanitation Code. How many SF in the unit & how many SF in each of the bedrooms?

410.400: Minimum Square Footage

(A) Every dwelling unit shall contain at least 150 square feet of floor space for its first occupant, and at least

100 square feet of floor space for each additional occupant, the floor space to be calculated on the basis of total habitable room area.

(B) In a dwelling unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor space; every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor space for each occupant.

(C) In a rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 80 square feet of floor space; every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 60 square feet for each occupant.

--96.237.xxx.xxx

Too Many Tenants... (by Patrick [IL]) Posted on: Mar 23, 2015 11:55 AM
Message:

Unless your rentals are in the rural area, most places have code has occupancy limitation. It may not be enforced but at least you know that you aren't breaking the law when denying people based on their family population size. --50.249.xxx.xxx

Too Many Tenants... (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Mar 24, 2015 8:33 AM
Message:

I think you can limit ADULTS no matter what as long as you are not interfering with FAMILIAL status. For instance, you can say no more than TWO ADULTS in this unit and not have to give a reason - I think. --173.22.xx.xx

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