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Isn't this Illegal and if so, what is it called?

Kewop DecamKewop Decam Registered User regular
edited February 2010 in Help / Advice Forum
Okay, I'm pretty sure this is illegal, but I don't know what it's called.

Lets say you rent an apartment and it is 4 beds/4 baths yourself for $1000 a month. You live in one room, and then you (not the apartment) leases the other 3 rooms for $400 each meaning you get $1200 from 3 other people and only pay the $1000 on the apartment. So you basically pay no rent and you're up $200 every month on a property that isn't yours and leasing a property that isn't yours.

Now, I'm pretty sure that isn't legal, but what would you call that? Double renting?

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Posts

  • cmsamocmsamo Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    In the UK at least, most tenancy agreements forbid this. It's called "Sub-letting", and most leases will specifically state you are not allowed to do it.

    cmsamo on
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  • ElinElin Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    It is subletting and it's actually not illegal. It may be against the terms of your lease depending on your landlord though.

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  • adytumadytum The Inevitable Rise And FallRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Definitely legal in the US unless the lease explicitly prevents it.

    adytum on
  • DarkwyndreDarkwyndre Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    You're not allowed to "Sub-let" most likely ... almost all leases disallow this; however, if you add these other three people to the lease as renters with you, and you have a contract with them that they pay X dollars per month towards costs ... you can get around it.

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  • Susan DelgadoSusan Delgado Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Isn't that just subletting? I imagine anything about it would be in the lease agreement.

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  • DeebaserDeebaser on my way to work in a suit and a tie Ahhhh...come on fucking guyRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    It isn't necessarily illegal. It's called subleting and it may be a violation of his lease.

    Where can I get a 4BR, 4Bath for $1000 a month....
    Christ!

    Deebaser on
  • edited February 2010
    In some places more than 3 unrelated people living together is illegal (it turns the place into a 'boarding house'). This is only usually a problem when cities are trying to crack down on student housing issues/noise complaints.

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  • DeebaserDeebaser on my way to work in a suit and a tie Ahhhh...come on fucking guyRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    wow.....mega beat'd^4

    Deebaser on
  • Kewop DecamKewop Decam Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    cool, now I know what to google.

    Thanks

    Kewop Decam on
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  • Kewop DecamKewop Decam Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Deebaser wrote: »
    It isn't necessarily illegal. It's called subleting and it may be a violation of his lease.

    Where can I get a 4BR, 4Bath for $1000 a month....
    Christ!

    the apartment in question is actually 4br/2b for like $740 in Florida.

    Kewop Decam on
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  • Kewop DecamKewop Decam Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I just called the place the person is doing this at and I asked them if it was allowed and the guy was, "NO!"

    I'm not the one trying to do it, someone is actually already doing it there and apartment office doesn't know. I wonder what kind of penalty you could get from that if any.

    Kewop Decam on
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  • DeebaserDeebaser on my way to work in a suit and a tie Ahhhh...come on fucking guyRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Well this is contract law so the penalty would most likely be in the lease itself. This could definitely be grounds for the owner terminating the lease and evicting the dudes. Worst realistic scenario is lost security deposit.(IANAL)

    However, if they're good tenants or the owner/management company barely gives a fuck, they could add the additional 3 people to the lease and maybe bump the rent up some if they found out.

    Deebaser on
  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Let's be real, here: if there is one person renting a 4-bedroom/4-bath house, someone at the rental agency knows that he's subletting.

    Thanatos on
  • JustinSane07JustinSane07 Really, stupid? Brockton__BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2010
    Or he's shooting a lot of porn in the other rooms.

    JustinSane07 on
  • JihadJesusJihadJesus Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I just called the place the person is doing this at and I asked them if it was allowed and the guy was, "NO!"

    I'm not the one trying to do it, someone is actually already doing it there and apartment office doesn't know. I wonder what kind of penalty you could get from that if any.

    Did he write into the lease that subletting was prohibited? Because if not, he can say 'NO!' as loudly as he wants and it probably won't matter. It is a fairly common stipulation in leases though, especially in cheaper places where a tenant would have an easier time offering market-competitive rates while still profiting on the sub-lease.

    If it IS prohibited in the lease the most likely recourse is termination of the lease contract, so the landlord can (if he chooses) boot everyone.

    JihadJesus on
  • AstrocookieAstrocookie __BANNED USERS regular
    edited February 2010
    Why is sub-letting undesirable for a Lord of Land?

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  • kaliyamakaliyama Left to find less-moderated fora Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    why exactly are you hassling somebody about this? either you paid what you were willing for a room, or you didn't.

    kaliyama on
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  • ThanatosThanatos Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Why is sub-letting undesirable for a Lord of Land?
    Because he doesn't get to run background/reference checks on the subletters. The subletters also don't have security deposits with him, so they have much less of an incentive to upkeep the living space.

    Thanatos on
  • Bionic MonkeyBionic Monkey Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2010
    Yeah, I'm curious if you're not the one doing this, why the need to rat out somebody else on it?

    Bionic Monkey on
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  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Why is sub-letting undesirable for a Lord of Land?

    Potential profits they lose I guess. Legally unable to come after someone for damages?

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • kaliyamakaliyama Left to find less-moderated fora Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    no, it's purely contractual. the only thing they could do is evict everyone from the apartment. so i'm not sure why the op wants to go around evicting people

    kaliyama on
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  • altmannaltmann Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    There are a lot of reasons sub-letting is a problem. Speaking as someone who's parents own about 90 units, I can tell you subletting isn't morally a problem, it's legally and liabiilty-wise a problem.

    Firstly, who are these people? We don't know. What if they burn your apartment down? Are you liable? What if they steal something? Cause damage? We have just you on the lease. You're liable and that's it. So it's bad for you.

    Secondly, most landlords do credit checks and background checks (depending on location) to ensure that they're renting to someone who has the means to pay for the apartment. If you have to sublet, why are you doing it? did you lose your job? Are you a drug addict? (this is more common than people think).

    Fact is, if you did this, and you didn't look like a complete jerk, always paid your rent on time and never made a fuss, your landlord PROBABLY won't care, but they WILL notice. These are people who's job is to know who what and where on every unit, so when some random dude shows up at the gate, and has a key, and the landlord has never seen this person, and they ask what they're doing there, you're caught in a lie. So think about it before you do it.

    Hell, why not buy a house, and rent it to roommates and you can do this legally.

    altmann on
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  • EshEsh Tending bar. FFXIV. Motorcycles. Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    You realize that if you "report this" you're not only messing with the subletters life, but you're screwing over the people he's subletting to. I bet they're going to be really appreciative of having to look for a new place to live out of the blue. o_O

    Esh on
  • RaneadosRaneados police apologist you shouldn't have been there, obviouslyRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Esh wrote: »
    You realize that if you "report this" you're not only messing with the subletters life, but you're screwing over the people he's subletting to. I bet they're going to be really appreciative of having to look for a new place to live out of the blue. o_O

    maybe they shouldn't be breaking the law

    get mad at the person getting you to do illegal things, not the person who reports you

    Raneados on
  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Raneados wrote: »
    Esh wrote: »
    You realize that if you "report this" you're not only messing with the subletters life, but you're screwing over the people he's subletting to. I bet they're going to be really appreciative of having to look for a new place to live out of the blue. o_O

    maybe they shouldn't be breaking the law

    get mad at the person getting you to do illegal things, not the person who reports you

    But subletting isn't illegal.

    They're not breaking the law.

    Khavall on
  • KyouguKyougu Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Esh wrote: »
    You realize that if you "report this" you're not only messing with the subletters life, but you're screwing over the people he's subletting to. I bet they're going to be really appreciative of having to look for a new place to live out of the blue. o_O

    Granted I don't know why the OP is doing this, but I imagine they knew the risk when they decided to live in a place without being in the lease.

    Kyougu on
  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Raneados wrote: »
    Esh wrote: »
    You realize that if you "report this" you're not only messing with the subletters life, but you're screwing over the people he's subletting to. I bet they're going to be really appreciative of having to look for a new place to live out of the blue. o_O

    maybe they shouldn't be breaking the law

    get mad at the person getting you to do illegal things, not the person who reports you

    Violating the terms of a contract isn't a crime. In fact, contract law clearly specifies that breaking a contract is not illegal and there can be no penalties/punishments assigned merely for violating terms of a contract.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • Al_watAl_wat Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Subletting is a pretty normal activity.

    And yeah usually land lords hate it.

    Al_wat on
  • CrossBusterCrossBuster Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    "Illegal" implies that it's prohibited by criminal law, and subletting is definitely not a criminal issue.

    It can, however, be grounds for civil liability. If the lease explicitly prohibits subletting, doing so without the landlord's consent (in writing and signed, or it might as well have not happened) puts you in direct violation of the lease agreement, allowing the landlord to sue (you, not the sub-lessees) for actual damages, or, more likely, evict you.

    CrossBuster on
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  • tofutofu Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Why do you want to be involved in this? It's a private matter between the lease holder and the landlord.

    tofu on
  • altmannaltmann Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.

    You make the connection.

    altmann on
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  • KhavallKhavall British ColumbiaRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.

    You make the connection.

    Breach of contract isn't illegal.

    Khavall on
  • EncEnc A Fool with Compassion Pronouns: He, Him, HisRegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.


    You make the connection.

    Huhbuhwha? No. Not criminal.

    Edit: Ack, Khavall beat me to it.

    Enc on
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Enc wrote: »
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.


    You make the connection.

    Huhbuhwha? No. Not criminal.

    Edit: Ack, Khavall beat me to it.

    Well it's a civil issue that can still be considered "illegal" in the sense they can come after you for things like early termination rules.

    For clarification: Are you confusing illegal with criminally unlawful? I mean you can use "illegal" in a more liberal sense to denote something against the rules like you could say, "It's illegal to roll a 9 after you roll a 5 in mousetrap" or something.

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • kaliyamakaliyama Left to find less-moderated fora Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    bowen wrote: »
    Enc wrote: »
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.


    You make the connection.

    Huhbuhwha? No. Not criminal.

    Edit: Ack, Khavall beat me to it.

    Well it's a civil issue that can still be considered "illegal" in the sense they can come after you for things like early termination rules.

    For clarification: Are you confusing illegal with criminally unlawful? I mean you can use "illegal" in a more liberal sense to denote something against the rules like you could say, "It's illegal to roll a 9 after you roll a 5 in mousetrap" or something.

    show me where in the usc or the state code of your choice where the state punishes someone who violates the terms of a contract.

    kaliyama on
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  • SimpsoniaSimpsonia Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    bowen wrote: »
    Enc wrote: »
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.


    You make the connection.

    Huhbuhwha? No. Not criminal.

    Edit: Ack, Khavall beat me to it.

    Well it's a civil issue that can still be considered "illegal" in the sense they can come after you for things like early termination rules.

    For clarification: Are you confusing illegal with criminally unlawful? I mean you can use "illegal" in a more liberal sense to denote something against the rules like you could say, "It's illegal to roll a 9 after you roll a 5 in mousetrap" or something.

    Illegal means forbidden by law. Civil law generally doesn't forbid behavior, but instead gives people recourse if another were to do some deed (ie a tort or etc.) You're welcome to commit as many torts as you want (as long as they also aren't crimes like battery) as long as you are prepared to pay the price to whomever you inflict them upon.

    Simpsonia on
  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    kaliyama wrote: »
    bowen wrote: »
    Enc wrote: »
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.


    You make the connection.

    Huhbuhwha? No. Not criminal.

    Edit: Ack, Khavall beat me to it.

    Well it's a civil issue that can still be considered "illegal" in the sense they can come after you for things like early termination rules.

    For clarification: Are you confusing illegal with criminally unlawful? I mean you can use "illegal" in a more liberal sense to denote something against the rules like you could say, "It's illegal to roll a 9 after you roll a 5 in mousetrap" or something.

    show me where in the usc or the state code of your choice where the state punishes someone who violates the terms of a contract.

    Yeah, there's no "rule" that says, "Thou shalt not breach contracts." Contract law is all about what to do when someone does breach, but there's a reason there's such a thing as an efficient breach. Sometimes it's in your best interest to breach, and the law recognizes that fact. Contracts are, at their heart, voluntary agreements. No one can force you to uphold your end of a voluntary bargain.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • bowenbowen Sup? Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    That's interesting, how much power does one hold to enforcing something like a "pay the rest of your rent if you break your lease early" ?

    bowen on
    not a doctor, not a lawyer, examples I use may not be fully researched so don't take out of context plz, don't @ me
  • RUNN1NGMANRUNN1NGMAN Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    bowen wrote: »
    That's interesting, how much power does one hold to enforcing something like a "pay the rest of your rent if you break your lease early" ?

    Depends on the state. Penalties are unenforceable contract terms, so the lease can't say up-front, "You have to pay $X to break the lease." However, the landlord can sue for damages, which would include the rent you would have paid to him if you had not broken the lease. Most states require the landlord to seek a new tenant, however; they can't just leave the apartment vacant and then sue for unpaid rent. The lease could also include liquidated damages, which basically say, "You agree up front to pay damages equal to $X if you break this lease." How is that different than a penalty? It's one of those mysteries of life.

    RUNN1NGMAN on
  • CrossBusterCrossBuster Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    RUNN1NGMAN wrote: »
    kaliyama wrote: »
    bowen wrote: »
    Enc wrote: »
    altmann wrote: »
    subletting isn't illegal.

    Breaking a lease or contract is illegal.


    You make the connection.

    Huhbuhwha? No. Not criminal.

    Edit: Ack, Khavall beat me to it.

    Well it's a civil issue that can still be considered "illegal" in the sense they can come after you for things like early termination rules.

    For clarification: Are you confusing illegal with criminally unlawful? I mean you can use "illegal" in a more liberal sense to denote something against the rules like you could say, "It's illegal to roll a 9 after you roll a 5 in mousetrap" or something.

    show me where in the usc or the state code of your choice where the state punishes someone who violates the terms of a contract.

    Yeah, there's no "rule" that says, "Thou shalt not breach contracts." Contract law is all about what to do when someone does breach, but there's a reason there's such a thing as an efficient breach. Sometimes it's in your best interest to breach, and the law recognizes that fact. Contracts are, at their heart, voluntary agreements. No one can force you to uphold your end of a voluntary bargain.

    Efficient breach isn't really a defense to breach of contract. The non-breaching party still has legal recourse against the breaching party. In fact, it's not even really a legal doctrine. It's just a term describing the relatively rare circumstances in which one party breaching would actually leave everybody in a better economic situation than if the contract had been performed.

    It's not even universally agreed that there's such a thing as an efficient breach. Of course, this involves debates between several economic and legal schools of thought - not really within the scope of this thread.

    CrossBuster on
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