View Full Version : Writing a Lease between my girlfriends son and myself!?
RavingEagle
Jan 1, 2011, 02:50 AM
In a month and a day my girlfriend's son will be eighteen. He lives with us where we currently rent, but I am trying to prepare for move in to my own place. As I pay all the bills I have come to the conclusion that I will need very defined boundaries and responsibilities with him. So here are some of the things that may be included in his "Lease"
1. Responsible for all expenses related to his cat.
2. Flexible rent and utility payments
3. Responsible for maintaining the "His" bathroom, supplied cooking and eating utensils to my satisfaction.
4. Responsible for helping maintain the property overall.
5. Required to have a job, and pay gas if I need to transport him.
I am looking to see if this is A) legal B) reasonable C) if anyone has been in this situation is there something I am missing.
Thanks
ScottGem
Jan 1, 2011, 06:18 AM
Other than the job requirement which would be unenforceable, and is covered by the requirement to pay expenses, it should fly. The only problem MIGHT come if you try to evict him for violating the lease. But if you make it a month to month you can terminate it at almost anytime with a months notice.
joypulv
Jan 1, 2011, 06:55 AM
'Renting' part of your home to your daughter's boyfriend opens up a whole world of potential problems if he and she break up and it takes you at least a month (depending on what state you are in) to evict him, should he choose to refuse to leave.
If he's not paying you a dime now or even exchanging for help around the place, I would be inclined to tell him he can't even go with you unless he has a job. Enforcing your list, especially flexible rents, is going to be tough. Plus, just my 2 cents, it sounds awfully cushy for him. Feeding an 18 year old guy alone can be $200+ month.
Granted more and more adult children are living at home, but couples need to act like couples and be on their own, and if your daughter isn't old enough, then he needs to show a lot more responsibility using his own initiative, or not live with you.
ScottGem
Jan 1, 2011, 07:14 AM
'Renting' part of your home to your daughter's boyfriend ... and if your daughter isn't old enough, then he needs to show a lot more responsibility using his own initiative, or not live with you.
What daughter? The question is about the OP's girlfriend;s son.
joypulv
Jan 2, 2011, 05:59 AM
OP's daughter. We don't know if she is even out of high school, old enough to get a place with her boyfriend.
joypulv
Jan 2, 2011, 06:03 AM
Thanks for the no vote. Good luck; I tried; people I know have had bad experiences in this situation.
joypulv
Jan 2, 2011, 09:46 AM
I DID read it wrong, at least twice, sorry.
Thanks ScottGem.
Fr_Chuck
Jan 2, 2011, 10:15 AM
The clause about the job will not hold up
The "keeping the property up over all" is too vague and would never really be able to be inforced.
If he has his own bathroom and his own "eating items" they only have to be clean to HIS satisfaction, you wll have to be a lot more specific as to what your satisfaction is. You could declare tomorrow rules that could not be followed as to what is acceptable
And no flexable rent is not allowed, you need to inforce rental payment have a specific amount, it can be a percent of yours. Based on his income with a min amount due,
But you can not have an amount that you can change without a reason to change
Basically I see no way that this could be enforced
cdad
Jan 2, 2011, 12:59 PM
Maybe you should consider the move to be on your own and not with your girlfriend and son. It seems your having issues with how she allows him to live and your trying to correct it in a manner that really isn't appropriate. You should talk to her first about corrections needed.
Fr_Chuck
Jan 2, 2011, 02:41 PM
And of course if the girlfriend is living with you , the girlfriends child can not be evicted if the girlfriend does not agree, since once she moves in, her chld is also her guest too.
dontknownuthin
Jan 3, 2011, 10:26 PM
I'd be very clear and specific about what you want from him. Phrases like "to my satisfaction" are very vague and will lead to misunderstandings.