Overnight guest policies

In my lease’s I have an addendum that reads “no more than 24 overnight stays by guests in a 6 calendar month period without prior written consent signed by the landlord”

My question is how do you guys/gals have similar clauses worded in your leases? After reading about a similar topic on another thread it got me thinking if I could be wording, (therefore protecting myself from future problems) better. --71.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by NE [PA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 5:44 AM
Message:

I would say 24 is a lot to govern. What about 3 consecutive?

Are the guest causing problems? --50.32.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 6:12 AM
Message:

I don't micromanage like that. I DO say, under clause heading, "Other Occupants Other Than Named Tenants" (or something like that) "NONE." --50.82.xxx.xx

Overnight guest policies (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 7:13 AM
Message:

NE [PA]. No there’s no one causing problems currently. In the past I had a tenants that were roommates, both on the lease, 1 of them had a girlfriend over here every night for several weeks. She was basically living there, she had a, was there when he wasn’t blah blah blah. So I sent them a letter saying there violating the lease, the lease states nobody other than those listed on the lease can live there without previous writing, signed consent from the landlord. I got a long letter back that basically said she wasn’t living there she was his guest, he invited her over everyday to visit and would leave the next day after he left for work and because the lease didn’t state how long a guest could stay before being considered a tenant. So I also had it in the lease no more than 2 cars could be parked on property, so I started an eviction for violating the parking, they had 3 cars with her parking there. Fortunately he didn’t fight it and left.

Ever since I learned my lesson and have put that in the lease so I’m covered should a problem like that happen again. My problem with saying 3 consecutive nights is a tenant can have a guest stay 3 nights, leave for a night, then back again for 3. I’m thinking of changing it now to no more than 6 nights a month and no more than 3 consecutive nights in a row. Any thoughts? I appreciate everyone’s help and suggestions. --71.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 7:31 AM
Message:

WHM [NC] I’m not micromanaging, I’m trying to prevent tenants from signing a lease, then having a “guest” also living in the apartment. Let me add that this is a 2 family house that I live in with my family, so I gotta be careful who’s living and staying here. --71.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 7:34 AM
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NE [PA] sorry I should have proof read that, it should read that “she had a key, was staying there when he wasn’t home, blah blah blah” --71.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Vee [OH]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 8:17 AM
Message:

By attending housing court in off time I learned the magistrates would repeat what they call -grandparents vacation visit- allowing 14 days in any 100 so I modeled that into my lease knowing it would make it through court without pushback, at the time I was managing over 100 places and met with sec8 inspectors often for stuff reported by tenants who had crossed the marginal line a few times, a senior inspector told me about taking a picture and counting the toothbrushes, requiring guests provide a utility or bank statement showing their real address solved the situation where guest lives with uncle Joe somewhere else but does not pay has or light bill.

--76.188.xxx.x

Overnight guest policies (by Ken [NY]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 8:30 AM
Message:

Why do some of you get so upset about a tenant having a friend over a lot? I could care less as long as I am getting the rent and they aren't causing problems,in most cases I wouldn't know anyway,not like I am going to my rentals every day anyway.I think a lot of landlords are just full of there authority and gonna show everyone who is in charge.JKL,what did you accomplish by chasing an otherwise decent tenant away? --72.231.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 9:03 AM
Message:

Ken [NY] #1 I gained the other roommate re-signing with his brother on the lease and they stayed for 6 years as perfect tenants. #2 I’m not full of authority and trying to show everyone I’m in charge. #3 I sign a lease with an individual that I have done a background check on, I try to know (as much as a LL in reality can) about that person. I know absolutely zero about “guests” that are staying for extended periods of time or living there. #4 If a guest policy is not outlined in the lease, what keeps a good tenant from signing a lease then having their child molesting guest from living there. #5 I have limited parking for the tenants, neighbors complain when cars are parked on their front lawn everyday . #6 I own a 2 family house, I live in 1 unit with my family and rent the other. I want to know who is living here. I cannot do that if I don’t even know who they are. Lastly I don’t “get upset a tenant has a friend over a lot” I get upset when a tenants guests become tenants also. The way I prevent that is by addressing it in my lease. I’m glad letting your tenants have guests stay as long as they like or live there works for you. I doesn’t work for me, it was a problem in the past and now I have a clause in the lease to prevent it if it becomes an issue again. I was simply asking others how they worded similar clause’s in there rental agreements. Thanks for you input though. --71.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by CJ [MO]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 9:05 AM
Message:

It is ok for them to have friends over, but most time it is boyfriend/girl friend. Sometime, tenant make money by bring mor epeople live in the home too. --97.91.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Martin [CO]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 9:23 AM
Message:

I agree with Ken [NY] that I don't care if my tenants have guests. In fact, I want them to feel like this is their home and having guests (friends, parents, etc) is part of having a home. If they feel like it is their home, they are more likely to stay longer (just my opinion, but I think it makes sense).

With that said, I put a clause in my lease that says nobody stays longer than 14 consecutive nights without my approval. This is to make sure that a "guest" doesn't turn into a new roommate. I want to know about new roommates so I can vet them. I want to do a background and credit check. By pointing out that nobody stays longer than 14 consecutive days, that helps distinguish between a guest and a roommate.

Now, if a tenant said that their brother or sister was coming out for a month during the summer, I would have no problem with it. And if found out about it afterward, I wouldn't be all that upset, I would just remind them of the lease clause without making a huge deal about it. If they asked why, I would be happy to tell them about my roommate concerns.

That's how I handle it. YMMV. --75.166.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 10:22 AM
Message:

Occupation of the demised premises during the term of this lease or any extension shall be limited to the following _________ persons:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Visitors of more than 14 days during the term of this lease shall be deemed occupants of the demised premises.

--47.139.xx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by CJ [MO]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 10:40 AM
Message:

I will add visitor cars from 9pm to 9am is proof of overnight stay.

--97.91.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by WMH [NC]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 10:44 AM
Message:

Give them one key each, landlord locks that can't be duplicated? --50.82.xxx.xx

Overnight guest policies (by CJ [MO]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 10:44 AM
Message:

I will add visitor cars from 9pm to 9am is proof of overnight stay.

--97.91.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 12:36 PM
Message:

" I will add visitor cars from 9pm to 9am is proof of overnight stay. "

What makes you think that it is up to you to say what is proof and what isn't proof? The judge gets to decide that.

And, are you suggesting that visitors cars cannot stay past 9pm? Does it depend on where car is parked? What about visitors themselves? What business is that of yours? Better check on the meaning of tenant's right of quiet enjoyment.

--47.139.xx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by AllyM [NJ]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 1:29 PM
Message:

I don't bother people about that unless a problem arises. That is because it seems nitpicky. It's only a little extra water, and they will move. --73.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 1:51 PM
Message:

Yes, but does the language of the lease affect your rights? Without appropriate language, can you do whatever it is that you want to do?

--47.139.xx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by JKJ [MA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 4:20 PM
Message:

Moshe [CA] That’s exactly what I’m saying too, I don’t care if they have guests over, people have their girlfriend/boyfriends, family, etc stay overnight I get that. I care when it’s not just staying overnight now and then, I care when it becomes an issue. Then the only way I can deal with it is if it’s spelled out in the lease. If I was just to say I don’t want to be “micromanaging” and I’ll deal with it when it becomes an issue and not have a clause in the lease, I can’t deal with it, it’s to late at that point. --71.248.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Moshe [CA]) Posted on: Mar 16, 2019 9:38 PM
Message:

In CA, we have machinery that allows us to limit occupants of a dwelling. We have no such machinery to limit visitors.

I suppose that I could add something about requiring landlord's consent.

--47.139.xx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by CJ [MO]) Posted on: Mar 17, 2019 6:09 AM
Message:

Most visitor problem is boy friend/girl friend or tenant bring in roommate for rent. --97.91.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Judi [CA]) Posted on: Mar 17, 2019 11:46 PM
Message:

My month-to-month rental agreement specified guests could be accommodated no more than 14 days in a 6 month period. I lived on the same property in a different dwelling so I knew exactly who was staying and how long they were there. In this case, reasonable use of utilities was provided for ONE person. It was a big deal if there were 'guests' because they used extra water, and here it costs about $8 to fill up the bathtub. So if 'guests' were getting near their 'pull date', I would remind the tenant of the OTHER clause in the lease that said any overnight guests beyond 14 days in a six month period, even just one night, would automatically incur on the tenant a $100 per person 'extended guest' fee.

In one case, my tenant from the Phillipines asked to have her mother, father, and sister from another country stay with her for an extended visit of one month in her tiny little rental cottage (350 sq ft). It wasn't open-ended; I knew exactly when they'd be arriving and when they'd be leaving. She was such a wonderful tenant I had no qualms about negotiating her family's stay. I asked for a one-time utility supplement of $100 to cover the extra water which she eagerly agreed to. We had the best month! Her family was awesome and a huge help around the property. Even though they were 'guests', they constantly worked in the gardens and landscaping, as well as inviting me to home-cooked meals every day that were some of the best food I have ever eaten. They became good friends and we were all very sad to have to part when the month was over. --24.176.xxx.xxx

Overnight guest policies (by Pmh [TX]) Posted on: Mar 18, 2019 4:13 PM
Message:

I stayed overnight many times at my gf rental. I don’t get involved with my renters personal affairs. I rent houses and so long as rent paid on time not my concern who is sleeping with who. --166.137.xxx.xxx

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Overnight guest policies

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