Can my landlord tell me I can't have friends stay at my house?

[colfre]

I have a friend who is pregnant and was living in a vary stressful inviroment and was having complications. So I have let her and her sons move in with my family, in my apartment, till they can get an apartment of there own. It will be about a month. I informed my landlord so he would hear it from me and not her old roommate. He told me she had to leave ASAP ( in a matter of days ) because we had to many people in the apartment. ( It is crowded 8 people in a 2 bedroom) but we are making it work and it's not permanent, and it's an emergency. An other friend who is a property manager at a different property said that my landlord has no right to dictate who I let stay at my house for a short time. Is this true or can he cause trouble for me and my family?

[delton]

Nickie, state law determines whether your landlord can do this.

Where I live, New York state law is clear in stating that a tenant may bring in one additional occupant and that occupant’s dependent children, if any. The occupant’s name must be provided to the landlord within 30 days.

So you'd need to find out the law where you live. Is there a rental council or a landlord-tenant council? They'll know the law immediately.

[vipponah]

The lease you signed will tell you what limits you agreed to.

Most leases limit guests to no more than 2 weeks--after that the guest is either added as a tenant or can be arrested for trespassing.

Your city may also have an ordinance governing the number of people in a 2 bedroom apartment. Often that is a limit of 4, based on 1 bedroom for the adults and 1 bedroom for 2 children of the same gender.

[larry]

He can kick you out and/or charge you more... Any duration over 3nights is considerd residency and if anything is outlined in the lease (how many people per the appartment or on the lease or even just city/state regulation) he can do what ever he wants since 8 in a 2 bed room is 99% chance that it's breaking a rule/law

[dodya]

Your landlord definitely has a right to limit overnight guests and length of their stay with you. And you have too many in there. Too much wear and tear on the apartment. Read your lease for clauses pertaining to overnight guests. Since it is urgent for them, you could let yourself be evicted, at least that will give your friends a month more to stay there. I am serious.

[chason58]

Yes, landlords can dictate how long "guests" can stay. It may even be in your lease. You could be subject to an eviction if you ignore your landlord.

realtor.sailor

[ayize]

He's the landlord he can do whatever the hell he wants

[brenn15]

Unless it's in the lease, no. The rules vary from state to state but generally anyone staying longer than 30 days is considered to be a nuisance and can be asked to leave.

How many people allowed to occupy an apartment depends on the size of the apartment. The typical number is two per bedroom but that can get a little more complicated when you have children. There are different laws for different states but most states will say that boys and girls cannot share a bedroom after a certain age.

I suggest that you offer him additional rent while your visitors are there.

[delrico]

Yes, he has the right. If you signed the lease, you made an agreement to rent the place for yourself. He may be willing to overlook one extra person for a month, but 8 is really pushing the envelope. Technically you are in violation of your lease, & can be evicted. Depending on where you are, that can take 3 months or longer, usually with a trip to court. And, if you lose, it goes on your credit history, ya gotta pay court costs, & if you refuse to go the sheriff can have all your belongings set outside on the nearest public land (like the side of the road).