17 Yo Tenants In Florida
Hello,
We have a couple - boyfriend and girlfriend, both are 17 yo, applied for tenancy. We live in Florida. And I really want to rent to them (my guts tell me it will be OK). The question is, do we need anything from the parents? Are considered as minors?
Thank you,
Yulia
Not sure what the age of consent is in Florida....I'm sure I wouldn't rent to anyone as young as these two. What happens when they break up?? Sure, you'll have a lease to fall back on, but the small claims court may have a question or two about your bad judgment call. No way I would do this. It reaks of problems down the road.
I'd first have a good look at FL L/Tenant laws to make sure it is not illegal discrimination, because of their age...then, if it's not, tell them no, or you want their parents on the lease...IF the parents themselves are creditworthy.
Age of majority in most states is 18, but if any male/female couple holds themselves out to be H&W, which might constitute common law marriage, it could be a younger age.
For instance, if a state's laws still recognize C/L marriage, a 13 yr old might very well be considered married, and therefore of legal age for contracting.
In a number of states, legal C/L marriage might still be 13, 14, etc.
Any discriminating you or I might want to do here probably should be based on their creditworthiness, which we all have a right to do.
The law might make you or I rent to anybody of any religion, race, gender, nationality, etc....but it sure gives us the right to be picky about the probability and likelihood of their paying us!
I suggest you do your due diligence and make sure as to what their source of income is.
With young ones you will always insist that a parent, family member or other "responsible person" co-sign your lease.
Make sure they understand your "house-rules", and require renters insurance.
There's quite a few landlords in Broward who supply student housing; you might want to check with them as to how they handle this.
Happy investing.
[addsig]
Think of this way: Would you turn your brand new Infiniti I-30 over to a bunch of 17 year olds? Then why would you turn over a property worth over $100,000 just so they can play house?
Cordially,
Alice
I tried to buy a property when I was 17 with no avail. I look and acted much older. Under Iowa law it is nearly impossible for anyone to live on their own before 18. The people who do are typically the type of people involved with the juvinile courts, etc. You may very well have found some good tenants though.
Are they living anywhere now? I'm not sure how you can do this but somehow try to see the inside of the place they are living now. If it is clean, picked up, etc then you likely have a good deal. If you see the remains of using methamphetamines or the place is a mess I might think twice....
It is rare that you have compentent 17 year olds in my opinion but I was one of the few that was very competent so I wouldn't rule anything out.
Dear Myfrogger,
I wish the 17 year olds we have dealt with were as mature as you. Here is their ,or my story:
The girl was 1,7 and the boy was a little older. The girl's parents gave her the big wedding. Everything went wrong almost from the beginning. The mother came to me after only three months lamenting that that terrible boy was beating her baby. The girl moved out, and the boy stayed amother three months. The mother was right. The boy was bad news.
Get the parents to co-sign! But first, make sure the young "adults" have a current job and income and some sort of job history. Just make sure you require that of all your tenants. I don't think that's too much to ask. Business is business.
Cordially,
Alice
Hey,
I would not touch this with a ten foot pole and I don't care how many parents sign the lease.
In the history of the world, there have been 4 responsible 17 years old. I have not been lucky enough to meet them, but legend has it they exist.
And please...do not tell me how responsible YOU were when you were 17. You weren't and neither was I. You thought you were, but you weren't.
Do you remember how excited you were when your friend said his/her parents were leaving town and they had two kegs for a party? You do, don't you?
Do you remember waking up the next morning and not remembering how you got home? You do, don't you?
Do you remember sneaking in to the house, three hours past curfew?
LIke I said, 17 year olds are not responsible.
But what is the value of a parent's signature, who allows their 17 year old to go live with their boyfriend/girlfriend???
If my daughter was 17 years old (she is 2 ,right now) and she wanted to leave home and move in with her boyfriend, here is the conversation:
Daughter--"Daddy, I love Billy Bob so much and we are moving in together. "
Me--"mmmmhhhhmmmm"
Daughter--"I know you think I am throwing my life away. But just as soon as Billy Bob gets a job, I can quit sweeping floors and go to college."
Me--"uhhhhhh"
Daughter--"Daddy, why are you getting the shotgun out of the cabinet?"
Me---"mmmmhhhh"
Daughter--"Daddy, why are dragging me downstairs and handcuffing me in the basement? Daddy, Daddy...Come back here!!"
off topic, but as a new father of a baby girl, i'm taking my parenting advice from bruce
Dear Mcollins and Bruce,
Amen! You will be much better parents than the mother of my tenant. Just think what it was like running into her at the beauty palor. She acted like nothing had ever happened. ( I never dreamed we would have the same hairdresser). It was very hard for me to be a lady Landlady that afternoon.
Cordially,
Alice
Check your local laws in your area.
If you think outside the box, who else if going to rent to them? You might have some long term tenants on your hands.
Best of luck,
Jeff Adam
[addsig]
Bad Move!
Any person(s) under the age of 18 in Florida is considered not of the majority. Simply put, anyone under the age of 18 cannot sign a valid contract which would oblige them to act in accordance with such document.
Do not put yourself in the position not to have any recource ie. (consignor), in the event of any unforeseeable mishap.
No a 17 yo in most states cannot sign a contract and it be valid. Bruce,I liked your conversation with your 2 yo daughter at 17 yo,instead of handcuffs build a jail cell. At least with boys you only have to worry about 1,with girls you have to worry about all the boys.
As a Property manager in Indiana, I have had this situation come up a few times. The one time I went against my better judgement was when one applicant was 17 and the other was 18. I had the lease cosigned by the 18 yo parents but it was a disaster. The 17 never signed onto the lease and they had huge fees when they moved out. The parents of the 18 yo tried to get us to have the 17 yo pay and got quite pissed when we explained that the 17 yo couldn't be help liable. Also I have been lurking here for a few days and have read alot of stuff about trusting your gut or going with your instincts on applicants. I would say don't. Have firm guidelines set inplace for applicant screening. If you don't then you can easily run into fair housing violations. I am not 100% sure how the fair housing guidlines affect private landlords vs say apartment companies but I am pretty sure they still apply even if you are just renting out one house or apartment. Just my 2 cents worth