Our typical residential leases run 4 pages plus house rules and other associated docs. It simplifies record keeping, or at least researching of files, to have the major points on the front page, which will be the first page you see when opening any tenant file. Term, dates, occupants, late fees and dates they kick in, security deposit amount, type of agreement (MTM, fixed term, auto roll over to MTM, etc.) All the rest of the necessary drivel is organized on following pages of the lease, with TENANT RESPONSIBILITIES a key section, as is MOVE OUT REQUIREMENTS. Make sure ALL the adults initial each of these pages.
All application paperwork and the movein condition form are kept under the lease documents. Other side of file contains tenant correspondence, newest on top, including late notices, complaint letters, letters FROM tenant, any and all docs…
I have a house that a section 8 tenant is interested in. The neighborhood is lower middle class but, decent with no crime. Everyone keeps their yards and homes looking good. Perfect for a Section 8 renter.
This tenant is a single Mom with 3 adult children, who are all 18 and older.
According to the section 8 office, they all must be on the lease. 2 of the adults have children ages, 2 & 3.
I?m wondering what liability I have here with these tenants?
And because there are so many adults on the lease, are they Jointly responsible?
Typically, with Sec 8 you will actually have two contracts. The first, YOURS, with your lease terms and spelling out every adult and minor that is authorized to reside there. The second, the HAP contract, which will be provided to you. The dates and dollars must match for Sec 8 to approve, but otherwise your lease is the one that matters if you need to go to court.
Keep in mind, however, your Sec 8 payments are “guaranteed” ONLY as long as the person remains on the program, and in my fairly extensive experience, you will never get anything over and above the security deposit from Sec 8 for ANY damages or past due tenant portion rent. If you complain to Sec 8 about tenant not following the rules or paying their portion, it is not unusual for them to kick them OFF the program. They do NOT evict for you.
The Adult with the Section 8 voucher is the responsible party if they or the other parties on the lease default. Are you referring to defaulting on their share of the rent payment? Of course the majority of the rent will come from HUD.
Actually the kids a young adults in junior college, so section 8 gives the mom a credit for that. 1 adult working full time, the kids are working part time and going to school.
Maybe i’m getting this wrong but the kids have to go on the lease as leasee’s.
It has been common practice at several PM firms over the years to include all authorized occupants on our lease as such:
John Doe
Jane Doe
Jack Doe (Guarantor only)
Johnny Doe (a minor)
Janice Doe (occupant only) --this for perhaps a live-in elderly parent or adult child (either student or special needs etc) with no or minimal income not included in household gross income when the primary head of household is “golden”, that is, very good credit, high income, stable, etc. Otherwise, ALL adults are jointly and severally accountable.
If the household is NOT “golden”, that is, if they are stretching, in any way, to meet your income requirements, the only notations would be for minors. And, be sure to change their status when they reach legal age at the first renewal opportunity.
By doing this, you document exactly who is supposed to be residing there so there can be no argument when “friends” or “relatives” are spending too much time there. You also have a good list of names to include in the eviction, along with the ever popular “et al”.