Renting out a room or rooms in my house
I'm considering renting out rooms in my house. My biggest fear is getting stuck with a problem tenant. What if they don't pay? What if I can't evict? I'm not sure, but I think tenants have more rights than landlords. Just don't want to take on a headache. Have never done this before. Any advice appreciated.
[Moderator Note] Here is past advice from parents about renting out a room in your home: https://www.berkeleyparentsnetwork.org/recommend/housing/rentingroom
Aug 29, 2018
Parent Replies
While it's true that landlords may have difficulty evicting tenants in Berkeley, the city policies are different for renting rooms inside your house. When renters share your living space, you are legally allowed to ask tenants--problem ones or otherwise--to leave. This information is available on the City of Berkeley web site.
Without a city, we really can't help you. Some cities have great renter protections, some very little.
Renting out a room in your house doesn’t fall under the regulations of the RSB (Rent Stabilization Board) in Berkeley. Not sure what city you are in; Oakland and SF both have their own rent control regulations. If you’re in Berkeley, the tenant in your house does not have either rent control or eviction protections.
You can check for police regulations with the rent board or, better yet, Berkeley property owners association. I believe that as long as you are staying in your home and sharing common areas like the kitchen with your renters that you have many more rights than someone who is renting an entire unit. However some or all of these rights may disappear if you leave the house to live somewhere else for any period of time. If prop 10 passes however a lot of the regulations that put a break on punitive rent control laws will be an open question. My advice is to rent to friends of friends and vote no on prop 10
I currently rent out rooms in my home in Berkeley. My advice to you would be to call the rent board, tell them that you are CONSIDERING purchasing a property in Berkeley, and that you would be renting out one of the rooms in your home to off set the cost of purchasing a home. Do not give them an address. Do not give them an address. Do not give them an address. Do not give them an address. Ask them exactly what you asked BPN. They will give you the general information. Depending on who answers the phone that day, you’re going to get a different answer. My advice to you is that once you decide to rent, that you call back with your address and get any exemptions that you will have, your property status, in writing from them. I would also go to the free lawyers at the Library and ask them their advice and their experience. My experience has been horrific some of the time and great other times. Do your research on who you rent to. Perhaps even hire a service that will check criminal databases, sexual offender databases, and the like. My experience has been that the best tenants/housemates are strangers and the worst tenants are family members and friends. Good luck.