Legalities of multiple renters

[FlyerInHi]

Fair or not, people always want to keep undesirables out of their neighborhoods.

The more expensive the neighborhood, the higher the standards of behavior.

You’re supposed to inform your neighbors before having a party. Ask them to excuse the noise and inconvenience.

I once lived in a neighborhood where a family had a party almost every weekend. The guests parked all over. They kept their garage door open and people wandered in and out. That family was quickly labeled low-life.

[spdrun]

You’re supposed to beg permission before throwing a party in your own back yard now? News to me, assuming we’re not talking about a party on a work/school night.

[njtosd]

[quote=spdrun]If breaking the rules harms nobody, why exactly “should” they be followed? We’re talking about people sharing a house, not a toxic waste dump.

Live. Let live.[/quote]

Yes, live, let live, and live up to the obligations that you have agreed to. If you want the opportunity to let multiple renters share your home, choose a home where that is permitted. I shared a home with 9 other students when I was in college; we were what I would consider well behaved but I wouldn’t want a similar house next door to me.

[spdrun]

Stupid laws and rules are meant to be broken, and in general, rules should only be enforced if someone is actually being harmed by them being broken.

Ratting on the owner of the house next door just to be a stickler serves no constructive purpose except to irritate the neighbor, and is a game that two can play at. I’m sure everyone breaks some regulation or rule at some point.

Besides: would you rather have an owner who is having a financial hard time rent out a few rooms, or have a foreclosed home sitting in limbo next door?

This country needs a bit more anarchy and fewer busybodies in order to run smoothly.

[njtosd]

[quote=spdrun]Stupid laws and rules are meant to be broken, and in general, rules should only be enforced if someone is actually being harmed by them being broken.

Ratting on the owner of the house next door just to be a stickler serves no constructive purpose except to irritate the neighbor, and is a game that two can play at. I’m sure everyone breaks some regulation or rule at some point.

Besides: would you rather have an owner who is having a financial hard time rent out a few rooms, or have a foreclosed home sitting in limbo next door?

This country needs a bit more anarchy and fewer busybodies in order to run smoothly.[/quote]

If it’s a stupid rule, the idea is to change it via the political system – not resort to anarchy. Unless you are a preschooler.

And the trend seems to be against renters. See: “Many towns tightening “no rental” rules”

http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=18246184

According to MSN: “In May, in a ruling that upheld rental restrictions, the Indiana Supreme Court observed that it is “undisputed” that “an owner-occupant is both psychologically and financially invested in the property to a greater extent than the renter.”

I make my choices carefully and live up to the representations that I make to others. I think too many people just sign things and expect to weasel out of the parts that they don’t like.

[spdrun]

I think we’ll never here. Americans (outside of NYC, at least 😀 ) are far too law-abiding and rule-following. Simply turning a blind eye to the more onerous and idiotic of regulations is just fine in my book.

As far as making representations to others, I’m happy to live up to a contract signed with an individual I know and like. But if I’m dealing with a governmental or quasi-governmental entity run by a clique that might change the rules on whim, my first thought is “SCREW ‘EM.”

And I certainly wouldn’t be a damned rat and report my neighbor’s activities to such an organization unless I was being directly harmed by them. Better to be a weasel and a supporter of weasels than a rat.

It’s also self-interest. If you intrude into a neighbor’s affairs, what makes you think that said neighbor won’t start intruding into yours and ratting you out for minutiae? Rules are always subject to interpretation, and you’re probably breaking a few without even knowing it.

The saying about glass houses and stones … everyone lives in a glass house, whether they realize it or not.

[CA renter]

Spot on, spdrun. I’ve known a few people who stick their noses into everyone else’s business in the neighborhood, either not realizing or not caring about the fact that they, themselves, are the worst offenders in some respects.

As long as nobody is being harmed in any way, people need to mind their own business.

[UCGal]

A couple of thoughts on the parking thing here… as well as CC&Rs and covenants.

– It’s not just Boston that it’s bad mojo to steal someone’s shoveled out street parking space. I lived in a suburb of Philly (old neighborhood that was a dense mix of single family homes, twin homes, and a few row houses.) Lawn chairs and trash cans were used to mark ownership… Didn’t matter if it was the spot in front of your house… if the neighbor shoveled it – they had the right to use it. Fortunately I had a driveway and garage… so my roommate and I could park off the street.

– My neighborhood was subdivided in the 1890’s. My title restrictions, dated from that time, restricted me from having a tannery, a stable, or a boarding house. I was semi worried I’d be busted on the boarding house since I had a roommate for about 6 of the 8 years I lived there. But I guess 2 people in a 4 bedroom twin was not quite a boarding house.

– I was probably labeled undesirable. I wasn’t Irish (though I look it) and the rest of the neighborhood was. Even worse – my roommate was black. But they were nice and accepted me, and later my roommate.

– My current neighborhood has no HOA/CC&Rs etc. Every house has a 2 car garage. Of the approximately 40 house on my street probably 5 of us park both cars in the garage. Many park in the driveway… but probably 50% or more park on the street. They’d rather keep their expensive cars (mercedes, lexus, bmw’s.) on the street, so they can keep their boxes of crap in the garage. Makes no sense to me.

– We had a neighbor ask us to ask our tenant not to park in front of their house. No problem. Another neighbor is aggressive about getting parking control out to chalk tires if he sees a car parked too long. Again – that’s his business and doesn’t affect me.

[joewhite]

Parking in front of the house is one thing, but blocking your driveway is completely unacceptable if they are not in the vehicle. They could expect some added inconvenience from me if that was the case.

[EconProf]

Other Bubble Bloggers?
I miss the Other Bubble list of blogs to go to below Active Forum Topics. They were often very informative. Rick, where did they go?

[njtosd]

[quote=CA renter]Spot on, spdrun. I’ve known a few people who stick their noses into everyone else’s business in the neighborhood, either not realizing or not caring about the fact that they, themselves, are the worst offenders in some respects.

As long as nobody is being harmed in any way, people need to mind their own business.[/quote]

That’s kind of a false premise. No one would be complaining if they weren’t being harmed (or felt they were being harmed). I am not advocating being a busy-body – but I think people should respect the fair expectations of others. And I think it’s fair to expect that people will abide by the law.

[CA renter]

But some people really do believe that someone’s living a different lifestyle is somehow “harming” them. Sorry, but that’s just not fair or rational.

[spdrun]

And I think it’s fair to expect that people will abide by the law.

Inasmuch as harm or credible risk of harm to others exists, yes. Beyond that, I don’t care whether my next-door neighbor jaywalks, remodels a bathroom without a permit, etc.

[Author]

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