Rented to one tenant, now have 4

[woadtoad]

What is the name of your state? Massachusetts

My one tenant signed a year lease in my owner-occupied two family house, which is up at the end of this month. She had great credit, has been a responsible tenant, paid rent on time, and I would definitely renew the lease and keep her around for another year. It sounds like she wants to stay. However, she also has two kids in college who seem to have moved in with her, and one of their boyfriends is now also living with her. That's 4 people in a small apartment, 3 of which may or may not qualify for the unit, since I run a credit check and thoroughly verify each applicant (this is the only apartment I own and rent out, and I must be careful).

What options are available to me or my tenant if her college age children and significant other don't qualify? I don't want them living in my home without legally being on the lease, because if the primary tenant should move out her children could be in limbo and responsible for the rent--or would they, not being on paper? I prefer to do things above-board and follow the law since that protects both them and me.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Cvillecpm]

Have a very frank discussion with your tenant about her continuing to have people in the apt....let her know that if she is to continue as your resident, you will limit overnight guests to 10 nights during a 365 day period and that no one is to stay overnight if she is not at home....her kids need to move on.

In future, you need to limit occupants in your lease wording to make what she has done a lease violation

[woadtoad]

I do have a section in my lease that states no guests are to stay more than 18 days, so she is in direct violation of her lease. However, I would like to keep my tenant if possible. It's obvious she intends to house them at least the majority of the year, which I hadn't bargained for when I rented to her initially. That's why I was considering putting them on the lease as well if they could pass credit verification. It's if they can't that I'm concerned, because I don't want to have an eviction on my hands...especially when I actually want to keep the one tenant I initially rented to.

In this situation would most landlords switch to a tenant-at-will rather than a year lease if they're less sure of the other three tenants? What might be a better option?

[FarmerJ]

Send her a written letter sent with a method that gives you a rct and keep a copy, in the letter quote your lease and tell her that she is violating the lease and increasing the wear and tear on the unit by doing so. Tell her you expect her to correct the violation and have some of the extra bodys leave or you will have no choice but to follow thru with a eviction.

[Alaska landlord]

If you’re willing to put up with it, then lease or no lease the effect is the same. And daughter with child will make 5.