[PA] What type of lease should I use to rent a room in my house to an adult child?
Hi there, I'm looking to rent a room in my house to an adult child and to have a written lease for them to refer to. Is the Pennsylvania Roommate / Housemate form I identified the correct way to approach this, or is there a better form/approach?
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Renting a room in your home to your adult child can be handled with a formal lease agreement, but using a Pennsylvania Roommate/Housemate agreement may not be the best approach. That type of form is typically designed for co-tenants or individuals who are jointly renting a property rather than for a landlord-tenant relationship, which is what you would have in this situation.
Instead, you would likely be better served by using a standard Pennsylvania residential lease agreement that is modified to reflect the fact that the rental is for a single room within your home. This lease should clearly outline key terms such as rent amount, due date, security deposit (if applicable), house rules, access to common areas, duration of the lease, and any specific conditions regarding the living arrangement.
Because this arrangement involves renting to a family member, you may also want to consider potential legal and tax implications. Even though it is your adult child, treating the arrangement as a formal landlord-tenant relationship with a proper lease agreement helps protect both parties in case of disputes. Additionally, if you are charging rent at a rate below market value, there could be tax considerations regarding whether the arrangement is considered a rental business or simply a cost-sharing agreement.
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Hi there, I'm looking to rent a room in my house to an adult child and to have a written lease for them to refer to. Is the Pennsylvania Roommate / Housemate form I identified the correct way to approach this, or is there a better form/approach?
I understand you're looking to rent a room in your house to an adult child. Have you already filled out the Pennsylvania Roommate/Housemate form?
Nope, not yet. Wanted to be sure it was the right form first :)
Are there any specific terms or conditions you would like to include in the lease agreement for renting the room to your adult child?
Not beyond the content of the form, I think — looks like it outlines everything needed.
Is there anything else the lawyer should know before I connect you? Rest assured they'll be able to help with your lease agreement.
Nothing I can think of. To be transparent, I'm not quite ready to complete the agreement — just looking to understand whether I'm headed in the right direction :)
Hi there, thanks for choosing AskaLawyer! I’m Justin, a lawyer here to help with your legal questions. Don’t worry, the law can be complicated, but I’m here to break it down and provide clear, understandable answers.
Renting a room in your home to your adult child can be handled with a formal lease agreement, but using a Pennsylvania Roommate/Housemate agreement may not be the best approach. That type of form is typically designed for co-tenants or individuals who are jointly renting a property rather than for a landlord-tenant relationship, which is what you would have in this situation.
Instead, you would likely be better served by using a standard Pennsylvania residential lease agreement that is modified to reflect the fact that the rental is for a single room within your home. This lease should clearly outline key terms such as rent amount, due date, security deposit (if applicable), house rules, access to common areas, duration of the lease, and any specific conditions regarding the living arrangement.
Because this arrangement involves renting to a family member, you may also want to consider potential legal and tax implications. Even though it is your adult child, treating the arrangement as a formal landlord-tenant relationship with a proper lease agreement helps protect both parties in case of disputes. Additionally, if you are charging rent at a rate below market value, there could be tax considerations regarding whether the arrangement is considered a rental business or simply a cost-sharing agreement.
Hi Justin, that's perfect and exactly what I was looking to understand. Understood re legal and tax implications and charging rent at below market value. Thank you for the excellent answer — I'll go look for the standard PA lease agreement form.
You are most welcome. Have a good evening and best of luck!
