What to do when a child turns 18 - Landlord Forum thread 337767

What to do when a child turns 18 by Beth (CA) on July 31, 2015 @11:50

Five years ago I rented a single-family home in California to two adults and a 13-year-old. The now 18-year-old will continue to live in the house with his parents for an undetermined amount of time.
I will add him to the rental agreement and obtain his SS# and CDL but I'm not sure about doing a credit check.
What do you do n this situation?

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Re: What to do when a child turns 18 by Bill (MD) on July 31, 2015 @12:03	[ Reply ]

Since he obviously doesn't have any credit I would get a SSN and License/photo and add him/her as either an occupant or co-tenant. Suggestion is a a co-tenant, however they become equal responsible for the rent.

Re: What to do when a child turns 18

Re: What to do when a child turns 18 by John Brayton (Massachusetts) on July 31, 2015 @15:16	[ Reply ]

Unless you have bad history with these tenants or unless one/both of these tenants is moving out, I wouldn't do anything. He is still an occupant. His parents are still responsible for the rent. The only thing that has really changed is that he can legally agree to be held responsible for rent. Hopefully, in the five years these tenants have been renting from you, they have earned some trust? If you are in the middle of a fixed-term lease, you probably can't do anything until the lease is up for renewal. I absolutely would not do a credit check. If he just turned 18, he wouldn't have had time to build up delinquencies anyway. John

Re: What to do when a child turns 18 by Garry (Iowa) on July 31, 2015 @16:33	[ Reply ]

REALLY??? Do you really expect a child of a long term tenant should be equal in responsibility to his parents, JUST because he turned 18. WHY do you want to upset the apple cart, just because of an age change ? Have your 5 year Ts become such poor Ts that you feel the need for another person to be on the lease ? If you insist on this, don't plan on your Ts staying with you much longer. Resentment and a new T will be what you will get out of this if you proceed.

Re: What to do when a child turns 18 by MrDan (Georgia) on August 3, 2015 @09:05	[ Reply ]

There are several unseen problems that can occur if you add the 18 year old to the lease; The 18 year old would be entitled to a portion of security deposit The parents would loose leverage over the 18 year old as he is on the same equal footing as the parents as a tenant If you suddenly found something that "might" have disqualified them at the time of their application, you might not have the legal standing to force the 18 year old to sign the lease and/or evict the parents. You knowingly allowed this person to live there as a minor, so the fact that he turned 18 doesn't all of a sudden give you grounds to run checks and evict based off what you find. In rent control areas, adding the 18 year old can limit your options to bring a rental to market rates Besides the 18 year old is already an authorized occupant under the lease. According to the 'Pew Research Center', “Among 18- to 24-year olds more than half (53%) live at home or moved in for a time during the past few years.” We utilize an addendum, that any minor who turns 18 during occupancy and is enrolled as a full time student living at home, will remain listed as an occupant under certain conditions. (only applies to 18- to 24-year olds)

Re: What to do when a child turns 18