Suspecting a person living in apartment.

[pixelrogue1]

PA

I am a landlord, and suspecting a relatively new tenant has moved in their partner into the the unit, yet not sure what steps would legally 'prove' the extra person living in the apartment (vs., say, "visiting").

Reasons for suspicion:

- partner wanted to move-in, however refused to sign the lease. this person then stated they would live separate, apart from one another. I took what steps I thought were necessary to be clear in expectation and law that the person would not be living at the apartment.

- the suspected individual's vehicle is always there, nearly any time of day or night.

- tenants in the building are friendly and familiar with this person who is not on the lease.


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How can this be proven? Any tips for working through this issue w/o upsetting the tenant and partner?
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For those who think it is not a big deal, you've never had been in a situation where the one on the lease left, and you end up w/essentially a squatter and w/o a lease it makes evictions twice as difficult, lengthly and expensive. ALL adults living in an apartment should be on all your leases.

 

[Zigner]

Serve the tenant with appropriate notice to cure or quit (check your state's laws).

 

[HRZ]

Is your lease pretty darn clear about other tenants and definitions. ....I address in mine that guests of more than three days require written permission from LL and being added to lease .....but I've never had to test it in DJ court ...and would not give good odds . PA law favors a cure...and like a no dog provision, the tenant shows up in court and testifies that XX left at 8:50 yesterday morning ...and lives at YYY . Of course a week later guess where XX may be ?

OF course if the named tenant moves on he or she cannot unilaterally surrender the unit until it is emptied out of others ...and the named tenant remains on the hook for all rents and damages....I agree, collection is yet another matter

 

[adjusterjack]

For those who think it is not a big deal, you've never had been in a situation where the one on the lease left, and you end up w/essentially a squatter and w/o a lease it makes evictions twice as difficult, lengthly and expensive.

I sympathize. I had three rentals for twenty years. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Got rid of them 20 years ago and never looked back.

partner wanted to move-in, however refused to sign the lease. this person then stated they would live separate, apart from one another

You should have seen this coming and not rented to that tenant in the first place.