In case of long-term guests, the landlord needs to be careful as, like the tenants, the landlord can’t screen or keep a check on the those guests. And in case they damage your property or violate any rules as mentioned in the agreement, you as a landlord cannot evict the guests.
The long-term guests may include
Family member or relative visiting the city on a vacation
A friend who is new to the city and trying to settle down
A girlfriend or a boyfriend moving in together
Retired parents moving in with the tenants for months
Your tenant giving a room on rent to other people such as travellers
Tenants having a sub-letterHere are some useful tips for the landlord using which he or she can handle a situation of long-term guests:
A proper rent agreement: the landlord should remember that while making the rent agreement he or she must include a clause related to long-term guests. Add details about the duration beyond which a guest shall be considered as a long-term guest and if the guest is staying beyond the mentioned duration then the tenant must take permission of the landlord. The landlord should make sure that in the agreement he or she mention about the rules to be abide by the guest.
Speak to the tenant: the landlord should always communicate with the tenant be it any issue. If a situation arises see where the tenant contact landlords and inform him or her about a guest who will be staying at the premises for more than 15 days, then the landlord should inquire about the guest like who is the guest, how long he or she will be staying and if possible about the background of the guest before granting the permission to the tenant. If the request seems genuine, then the landlord should give the approval.
Put a sub-letting clause: it has been seen that many times tenants sublet the premises or rent out a room to other or travellers to earn some extra money from it. Hence the landlord should include a clause prohibiting sub-letting the property or make some rules related to it.
However, once the duration gets over, the landlord should follow up with tenant whether the guest has left or not. But the landlord should also check that this does not become a habit or practice.