Is It Okay To Refuse Rent To Roomates?

I have UC San Diego college students who are interested in renting my 4 bedroom house. They are 4 males who want to share the rent on the house.

Do I have a right to refuse rent to them based on the fact that I only want families to rent the house?

Comments(5)

  • bgrossnickle12th July, 2005

    No. You will get is big trouble declining to rent to them because of their age, familia status, occupation or any other non-objective criteria. If they have good credit, good rental history (payment, upkeep, and good neighbors) and have adequate income, why would you not want to rent to them?

    Brenda

  • bgrossnickle19th July, 2005

    I believe two per bedroom and in the case of an infant three per bedroom is generally accepted. But any layer of housing laws could determine otherwise.

    Brenda

  • royalfortune18th July, 2005

    Reading your post made my throat tighten up. I am dealing with nearly this same problem. Even the details seem the same. (Is this some kind of tenant scam?) One month, then nothing...

    Anyway, I have had to get my lawyer involved (tenant CHARGED ME with felony trespassing!) and, ultimately, had a signed agreement wherein the tenant will be leaving on 7/31... And hopefully the prop will be in okay condition when she does.

    This experience has caused me to re-evaluate my lease wording and everything. Protect yourself. (Another lesson learned: never go to your property thinking to open the door -- even if you are within your rights according to your lease -- without bringing a police officer with you.)



    Keep us informed of how this works out, and I am interested in hearing the input of other investors as to how to deal with this situation.

    MC


    _________________
    "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." (Groucho)[ Edited by royalfortune on Date 07/18/2005 ]

  • krish18th July, 2005

    I am facing the same problem.
    The tenant gave bad checks for the pro-rated rent
    for 17 days, (until the automatic electronic debit
    from www.nail-usa.com would kick in ) as well as the
    security deposit. I called them and they fixed it with
    a money order and had a friend collect and deposit
    it in my account( I moved out of state after renting
    out)

    Now, the tenant turned around and closed the
    account that was supposed to be used for the
    automatic rent withdrawl. I am told that they plan to
    pay it 15 days later on the 1st August. They have
    hardly stayed in the place for 20 days. I found out
    from their previous landlord that they owe him his
    last months rent.

    I turned around and send them out a 5 day pay or
    quit notice today by certified mail and at the same
    time, had a friend hand deliver it to the person and
    timestamp it.

    I am going to get their butts out in a month. Also they
    are in lease violation.
    a) Using the property as a day care, where my lease
    forbids any business use.
    b) Have not shown proof of rental insurance policy
    purchase.

    This is in addition to giving me bad checks on
    possession of property and slipping on the rent for
    the second time.

    Just go ahead and send the notice. No word of mouth
    exchange is valid.
    If the tenant mailed out the MO, the onerous is on him/her to prove they did.

    My 2 cents.
    -Krish

  • lp119th July, 2005

    they are looking for excuses.. start eviction proceedings pronto..

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