In a 3/1 sfh rental, we have 3 young women (in their mid 20s) who would like to rent the home.

To me, it feels like student housing. Can I raise the rent even though the rent has been stated on the post?

I don’t take roommates unless the “primary” tenant has at least 3x the rent in income on their own. This way when the relationship falls apart the qualified one has a chance of staying and affording the rent.

"What's the best strategy for this case?"

If they meet your criteria for approval, rent to them. If they don't, move on. Be careful with "feelings." If you ever wind up facing a fair housing complaint, you are going to have a difficult time explaining that you didn't rent to someone because if the way you felt.

elly,

Roommates are low on my list due to 3x the issues.

In my experience these situations either don't meet approval, or after we spend time screening and one out the three changes their mind.

A few do work out just fine BUT mine have not been long termers. They tend to stay for a year then soon after moving in, somebody moves in with her BF or loses a job and the remaining 2 cannot carry the home.

We have sober living homes and the manager told me he would never do a female home - too many "issues" among/between female residents. (HIS words not mine so don't beat me up!)

Not so with his male homes.

Everyone signs the lease JOINT AND SEVERALLY. ALL communication is by text with everyone on the thread every time. One person is designated "Admin" to make certain bills are paid, etc. I also suggest they sign a ROOMMATE AGREEMENT spelling out how much each person pays and when. Son20,000 was clever and charged his roommates by the SF of their bedroom. He chose the smallest so he paid the least!

I can appreciate the idea of pooling resources to be able to afford a place.

People get roommates so they can afford a better place than they can on their own.

I would make sure that two of them can handle the financial load. That way if one goes bad they can still keep the place.

But I would make sure that they know you are renting to all three of them. If they start bickering amongst themselves you are not there to sort it out. They all have to leave if they can not agree for one (or two) to leave without your input. Deposit stays with the property also. One moves out that person deals with the other tenants not you on the deposit.

I have increased rent when another person moved in before, but it was a 2 bed with mother and two daughters then the aunt and niece moved in. It was over capacity and I paid the water.

In this case I knew it was actually short term.

If the capacity is above what I would normally have had then I either increase the rent or deny because of it.