adding a roomate in my studio

[phillychic]

I currently live in a large studio apartment. I am a college student, and my rent is very high because my old roomate dropped out of school. A friend of mine is probably going to move in with me, however, I had her call up my landlord and ask, just in case, if two people may occupy a studio. They said no. I assume this is because they would rather have someone rent a one or two bedroom. There is nothing in my lease that states only one person may occupy my studio. It does say that all adults need to fill out an application and credit form and be added to the lease of residing for more than seven days. My question: Is there any way that my landlord can deny her residence to my apartment even though there is nothing in the written lease about how many people may reside in the apartment? She has perfect credit.

 

[Tracey]

If landlord accepted 2 people on the lease before (you and old roomie), L can't refuse to let the new roomie sublet old roomie's portion on the lease. Changing the lease from 'double occupancy OK' to 'singles only' likely constitutes a significant change in the lease which would subject L to a suit for breach of the lease or allow you to terminate the lease for L's breach.

You can read the Penn Landlord-Tenant act in Title 68, ch. 8 of the Penn statutes. Your library has them.


This may all be a tempest in a teacup. Take new roomie and the old lease to the manager's office and ask to have her added to the lease as a sublet. They'll probably make her fill out an application & sign the sublet when she passes.

Good luck

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This is not legal advice and you are not my client. Double check everything with your own attorney and your state's laws.