I have a house with one tenant who’s lived there for several years. I suspect he’s got someone else there living with him. I had some work done on the place recently and the contractor told me he’d spoken with “both” of my tenants. Also, I saw a woman I didn’t recognize walking out of the place recently when I was waiting for said contractor to meet me for an estimate. My lease states that unauthorized tenants cannot live at the home until they’ve gone through the application process and been approved, and then, there will be a $500 monthly increase in rent upon approval. I did a reverse people search for the address, and nobody else came up besides the tenant. Any other tricks you you can share to find out if an unauthorized tenant is living at a property? --74.215.xxx.xxx

Reverse is only so accurate. Stop by, unannounced, and take a look around-call it a maintenance check if you want. You will know. --73.230.xxx.xx

In Ohio, landlords are required to give tenants a 24-hour notice. If they don’t, the tenant can legally refuse them entry (except in the case of an emergency). --174.193.xxx.xxx

Drive past the place at 10 PM. If you notice the second car, ask about the second car - not the second person. Have fun with the topic - One driver with two cars sounds more like a landlord than a tenant. Ask them if you need to raise rent to allow you to have a second car. --24.101.xxx.xxx

no wonder they didnt mention the other person at $500 month increase. typically i dont really care if it isnt creating a problem. how much you going to raise the rent for someone unauthorizd? --74.77.xx.xx

$500 a MONTH for a second person? What is the reasoning behind that, I wonder? --173.28.xx.xxx

Ken and WMH hit on exactly what I was thinking. --76.129.xxx.xx

One reason would be that in many places you have a hard time finding a ROOM for rent at 500 bux --172.59.xxx.xxx

The lease states that more tenants can be added as long as I am informed before they move in, and as long as they go through the application process and meet all qualifications. The only time I charge an extra $500 per month is if they do not ask permission first and I find out about it. Then, they must go through the application process AND be approved. If approved, they may stay - but for an additional $500 per month. If they aren’t approved, and they stay anyway, then that’s grounds for eviction for both the tenants. What’s the issue with that? It’s a nice house in a sought-after neighborhood, not a freaking flophouse on Skid Row, and I don’t want it treated as such. --72.49.xxx.xxx

Thank you for the added details. --76.129.xxx.xx

--47.155.xx.x

Robert J., that sounds like a nightmare. The Peoples Republic of California is its own country, if not its own universe. --72.49.xxx.xxx

--68.229.xxx.xxx

It must be current proof. --68.229.xxx.xxx

I too don't want anyone living in my places without a background check, either. I was just questioning the $500 but with further explanation I understand it. I have that in my lease for sudden dogs :) --198.54.xxx.xxx

DJ and WMH, thanks for those suggestions. I really like how everything is spelled out to make it simple for me to enforce. Will definitely add to my leases going forward. Just when you think you have covered all bases, something else comes up. My first lease, which my attorney helped me to draft over 10 years ago when I bought my first rental, was 2 pages long. Now it’s 5 pages long and still growing. --72.49.xxx.xxx

$500 is excessive. I wouldn't do that to a good tenant. They are too hard to find to risk losing over something like this. --107.141.xx.xxx

I agree. I’ve decided that if there is indeed another occupant, and if they do meet qualifications, I’ll only raise the rent by $250. A $250 per month increase still won’t put the property above market rate for the area it’s in. --72.49.xxx.xxx

My actual lease is 17 pages, and now there are also attachments like "Why to buy Renter's Insurance" and "How to Re-set a Breaker" and soon "Why Report your Rent to the Credit Bureaus." --198.54.xxx.xxx

My actual lease is 17 pages, and now there are also attachments like "Why to buy Renter's Insurance" and "How to Re-set a Breaker" and soon "Why Report your Rent to the Credit Bureaus." --198.54.xxx.xxx

I assume if the rent is initially $1000 it would be that for one or two people, possibly more if they have children. I advertise one rate for the unit, not per person. --98.237.xxx.xx

The rent increase is a consequence of not disclosing unauthorized tenants. For many people, stated consequences are the only incentive to follow the rules. --174.193.xxx.xxx

BB- if you are charging more if they dont tell you about them why do you only put on the lease it is $500 for an authorizd tenants, that seems like it will create a situation where no one tells you, why dont you put there is a charge of $250 or whatever for authorized addons and $500 for unauthorized? --74.77.xx.xx

As explained earlier, there’s no extra charge if they want to add a tenant, and I give permission, and the tenant passes all of my dackground and credit checks. The extra charge comes into play only if they try to sneak in another tenant. Some people really seem to think I’m running a flophouse and they can move as many people in as they like, whenever they like. I try to convey up front that that’s NOT the case. --72.49.xxx.xxx

Just saying a "hey I was in the 'hood and thought I would check the XX" is a surprise visit.Use the bathroom-count toothbrushes, don't snoop but snoop. Yes, charge at least $250 for the "guest"-wear and tear and sneak fee. Yes, you need an app if you determine they are there. Think about it-in case of a fire, who are you going to say lives there? --73.230.xxx.xx

They are not a good tenant if they are sneaking in unauthorized tenants and/or subletting --76.178.xxx.xxx

Oregon Woodsmoke, good point! --72.49.xxx.xxx

Open mailbox, take picture of contents, walk away --172.58.xxx.xxx

Now while I was checking for moisture I also made sure the mail was in the correct box as some of the new drivers dump it all in the wrong place. --107.147.xx.xx

If you think something is up, nip it now. Next thing, YOUR T will move out and whoever is still there. OR they will walk all over you. When you let things slide, that is what happens. --73.230.xxx.xx

Why are you renting the place for so much under market? If it's to attract good tenants, that strategy clearly isn't working. --73.2.xx.xx

He’s a long term tenant. I’ve raised the rent incrementally since he moved in, but the market value has increased so much since he’s been there that my $25 - $45 per month rent hikes haven’t kept pace. --72.49.xxx.xxx

You can pay a PI to search the address & see who gets mail at the address. --98.177.xx.xx