Are Virginia Landlords Obligated to Approve Roommates?
The objective of any landlord should be to secure a tenant who will remain in their rental property for an extended period of time and who can be counted on to pay the rent regularly. But what do you do if one of your tenants decides that they want a roommate to split the cost of the rent and the responsibility of the property with them? Are you compelled to grant such a request if it is made? When thinking about your tenant’s request for a roommate, you need to exercise extreme caution in Virginia even if there are a number of positive aspects associated with accommodating roommates in rental properties.
You are not compelled to, However, There Might Be Some Benefits to Doing So
There are a number of benefits that come along with agreeing to a roommate’s request for your Virginia property, despite the fact that you are under no legal need to do so. For instance, having a second tenant enables you to do the following:
• Work on increasing your income from rentals. If your renter wants to add another person to the lease, you may want to consider increasing the rent even if you have rent control on your property.
• Raise the required amount of the security deposit. You may want to consider raising the amount of the security deposit that your tenants are required to pay if you plan to have more individuals living in your rental property.
• Have more reliable rent payments. Let’s imagine that one of your tenants is having trouble paying the monthly rent and that they want to add another roommate so that they can split some of the obligations. If you have two individuals living in the apartment with you, it is more probable that you will always receive the full rent payment on time each month.
Doing one’s research before deciding whether or not to accept a roommate is quite necessary because it is possible for the addition of a new renter to result in an increase in the likelihood of existing issues.
Requests for Roommates May Be Denied Depending on Occupancy Limits
In the state of Virginia, the maximum number of occupants permitted in a single bedroom is two. This indicates that if you have an apartment with one tenant and there is a request for a roommate, you have the option to grant that request if you so want. If you currently have two renters in your apartment and they want to add a third person as a roommate, the same rules apply to your situation even though you have a two-bedroom flat.
Nevertheless, let’s say you already have four people living in your flat and it has two bedrooms. If this is the case, you cannot accept a roommate request since, according to the law of the state of Virginia, doing so would put you in violation of the occupancy limit. Keep this in mind when evaluating requests for roommates!
Examine the New Possibility of Sharing Living Space with Your Tenant.
If you ever have a tenant who is interested in adding a roommate, it is in your best interest to have a section in your lease that addresses roommates. You might want to insist that they submit a written request for permission, and you should make it quite clear that they can’t just let someone move in and then ask for your blessing at a later time.
You should go through the screening procedure that you normally would with any prospective tenant. Even if you know and trust the person who is already renting from you, you shouldn’t take their word that the person who wants to move in with them will be a dependable and responsible tenant. As you would with any prospective tenant, verify employment, run a background and credit check, and follow up with references after the initial screening.
Get Hold Of Them Put Your Name on a New Lease
In the event that the application is accepted, it is prudent to have the new roommate sign the most recent version of the lease and become a co-tenant. This indicates that they are held to the same standards as your regular tenants in terms of making on-time rent payments, taking care of the property, and providing advance notice of any plans to vacate the rental unit.
You could also want to think about letting your tenant sublease your property, which can assist reduce the amount of time between tenants. Your current tenant can take on the role of landlord to a new renter through the practice of subleasing. This new renter will be responsible for paying the rent and will live in the unit in place of your current tenant. Because subleasing can be a bit of a hassle at times, it is important that the leasing agreement you sign include explicit guidelines regarding this business activity.
We Are Here to Assist You
Even though you are under no obligation to accept roommates, you are free to do so if you so wish. Which option represents the best course of action for you? At Woods Property Management, we are here to assist you in making a decision. To help property owners in Northern Virginia make the most of the potential of their rental properties, we collaborate with them.