Apartment question, Will 4 friends (2 siblings and 2 non related friends) be able to share 2 bedroom apartment together?

Submitted by Silent_Island_ t3_10nvqmk in WorcesterMA

*a 2 bedroom apartment together (also asking for 3 bedrooms too since some do fall within our budget range, but 2 bedrooms are cheaper and easier to find a good location for so I prefer that)

Not asking about how we would make sharing bedrooms work in terms of comfort. (We all have pretty low living standards in that regard lol)

I’m more concerned about if we can legally sign a lease like this. I heard something about landlords maybe not being able to rent an apartment to more than 3 unrelated people but 2 of us are related (also 1 of the friends is my bro’s bf).

Would it be different if we are all sharing the same lease vs rent the bedrooms separately? (Idk how that works I’ve never rented an apartment before)

We’re all kinda broke college age people so I’m concerned that if only me and my bro apply for the apartment (if thats all we can legally do) we wont be able to get approved from our income level.

(My bro and I are both hoping to have full time jobs that pay at least $18-$20/hr and other 2 friends I expect would be at least getting the minimum $15/hr. We’re thinking of getting a place that’s no more than $2,200/month, ideally <$2000)

We plan to move later this year (no date yet) so I was thinking of also contacting some landlords now too to ask these questions and survey the area.

3

Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

Donebrach t1_j6bgw7h wrote

Generally its required that anyone over the age of 18 living it the space needs to be named on the lease (and honestly you WANT this because that makes them equally legally responsible for everything). Its really down to the land lord to decide on what is at issue but there are no restrictions beyond what the lease says and fire code about how many people (adult, named, child or otherwise) occupy a space. I'd search mass.gov for tenant laws and also just read the lease, as what tenancy means it will all be spelled out there.

4

Silent_Island_ OP t1_j6e3jhp wrote

Thanks for the advice and info. Am I able to just go up to landlords online and ask for what copies of their lease look like just to see what I should expect?

1

Donebrach t1_j6e4shx wrote

Never hurts to ask, but probably down to the individual landlord. Usually a lease is written up once tenants have been chosen. Individual owners probably just use an online generic template (that’s what the family i rented from when I lived in Somerville did) now Im renting from a property management company who had a more custom lease. Basically boils down to a case by case basis. Just be up front with the landlord one who is living in the space. At the end of the day they just want tenants who don’t cause problems and pay rent on time, beyond that the don’t care what sleeping arrangements are.

3

4runnr t1_j6b95h4 wrote

I mean we had 6 people living in a 3 bedroom for a few months before it became… untenable. As far as the lease goes I would say have your brother and you apply for tenancy and if you have income and references you should be good and then add the tenants to your lease. Ask about roommates when negotiating the lease contract and make sure you read and understand the contract before signing.

2

Silent_Island_ OP t1_j6baqrf wrote

Thanks for the info! Glad it sounds possible then for us. Since we all have such low standards we’re probably going to go for the cheapest place we can get close to a train station and figure out the rest from there lol (as a cheap place is more likely to approve my brother and I’s incomes). There’s so many factors including a messy personal life (tldr: mom’s very mentally ill, hoping to get her in a group home the same time we move) to tie up before moving -_-

2

HistoricalSecurity77 t1_j6enuiu wrote

The ordinance states 4 or more unrelated. The fact that you and your brother are related may mean it would be ok. But boyfriends or girlfriends don’t count as related.

1

Silent_Island_ OP t1_j6f63jw wrote

Ok thanks, I was also unsure if related meant 4 unrelated people on the same lease or 4 separate leases or something.

1

CGmoz t1_j6iiybs wrote

4 unrelated people in the same apartment, however that is structured on the lease. It is supposed to prevent operation of rooming houses in areas that aren't zoned for it.

1

Dense_Front9832 t1_j6hcs4n wrote

I am blessed to have a 3 bedroom that I made to a 4 bedroom for only 1400 never stop looking and when you find that deal it’s a steal and grab it you can always make an extra room out of a activity room or extra area in the house don’t settle for less.

1