Hey guys. I've come to the point in college that I and a few friends really wish to move off campus and share our own house. We really don't anticipate any major issues since we are predominantly responsible people and not very rowdy. We don't all smoke, don't own pets, won't throw parties....yet, it's still difficult once the landlord asks that dreaded question: "How many cars do you have?" I know they ask out of curiousity and would require to know how many spaces that they will need to provide for, but it seems to be more of a loaded question than I had anticipated, lol. I've made the mistake of telling them that we will own four cars with the addition of a motorcycle....and that's where things seem to go really sour. I've been yelled at, threatened moderately, treated like a drug dealer...the works. All I wanted to do was be honest and not have to lie about it in fear of jepordizing the lease of my other future housemates. the last thing I would want to do is label the bike as just another vehicle and then get evicted for it. This is in the college town of New Paltz, and I really expected to have better luck. Let's get this thread going with any suggestions. First off, do I HAVE to tell them that I own a bike?
Searching for housing with a motorcycle, apparently worse than selling drugs to kids
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
Joined
·
4,526 Posts
I feel you. I used to have the same issues many years ago. its people who do not own bikes that can not understand them. most see it as a leasure item and not what it is as transportation.
I have actually gotten a place by stating I dont own a car and leaving it at that. I would make sure I got a parking spot though.
I have actually gotten a place by stating I dont own a car and leaving it at that. I would make sure I got a parking spot though.
Joined
·
1,089 Posts
Well, if its causing a problem why tell them you own a bike? If the LL says anything, tell him you bought it after the fact. I can see why anyone would be hesitant to rent a house to 3/4 young college students no matter what you were to tell them. I think that would be a factor more than anything. Tell them you will have 3 cars instead of 4. It's not like they are going to write it into the lease or anything (or will they). If the house is that hard to get into, then you are better off looking for another rental.
Since I'm planning to live with 4 other guys, I really don't wish to jepordize them as well and possibly get evicted. I could state that we will have 5 vehicles for a five person house. I know some land lords look at a motorcycle as a noise or reckless complaint in the making. I could understand if a landlord specifically mentions in the lease that he will not allow a bike, but I am not sure as to what a land lord's rights are to as evicting me or putting pressure on me after the lease is signed if it did not specifically state WHAT vehicles are allowed on the premise. If it is a privately owner of the house, I have been told by a few people that whatever the landlord says....goes. I really wish I knew the legal complications regarding this matter. I also would not know what to do if I did sign the lease, then show up with it. I wonder if they would be able to say: "get rid of it or you are gone". If a lease says no smoking on the premise or no pets, I know that an eviction would be legal since it would have been stated in the lease......but motorcycles are rarely mentioned in leases, so I am unsure as to what action to take.
The last guy I started to talk to suddenly started freaking out once I mentioned a bike. "Get rid of it, sell it, I will NOT have any complaints from neighbors....do you hear me?!"
The last guy I started to talk to suddenly started freaking out once I mentioned a bike. "Get rid of it, sell it, I will NOT have any complaints from neighbors....do you hear me?!"
Joined
·
2,878 Posts
I'm pretty sure they can't refuse you just because you own a bike, it might even be against the law. Call up the state attorney general office and ask them. You might have yourself a lawsuit! Or as "geep" said just tell them, "We have five vehicles" and leave it at that.
Joined
·
3,797 Posts
just say you have X number of cars and leave it at that... you can park the bike in the stall with your car and if they ask later just say you weren't aware of any issue with bikes.. and nothing stated that you couldn't choose a vehicle of your choice... would they have a problem if you had a Hummer that took up as much space as amost 2 cars?
Joined
·
85 Posts
They can't evict you unless your not parking a bike on the LL's premises was a condition of the lease. There are pretty strict laws governing when people can be evicted...just don't tell them about the bike and don't be intimidated into moving if anyone ever gives you ****.
Joined
·
200 Posts
wow i never thought that would be a problem, why would they freak out at a potential rentor? seems like they would just tell you, no bikes sorry, and be done with it.
if people are yelling at you b4 you are even their tenant i wouldnt want to live there anyway.
if people are yelling at you b4 you are even their tenant i wouldnt want to live there anyway.
Joined
·
11,490 Posts
This is primarily fallout from the "Loud Pipes Save Lives" and "Rev it up, stunt it up" crews. The annoying things our brother riders do are usually the only things about motorcycles that non-riders notice and retain.
Joined
·
539 Posts
I had the same problem! I purchased my bike after I signed my lease and I was renting some dude's basement apartment.
I came home with the bike 1 day and he was outside and asked if it was mine I said yes and he just like went off on me. I told him I recently purchased it and he was like if I hear you flying around the neighborhood on it or if you wake me up at night pulling in we are going to have problems.
I just threw it in neutral and cut the engine off and coasted in at night and once he saw it was not an issue he actually had no problem with it.
I came home with the bike 1 day and he was outside and asked if it was mine I said yes and he just like went off on me. I told him I recently purchased it and he was like if I hear you flying around the neighborhood on it or if you wake me up at night pulling in we are going to have problems.
I just threw it in neutral and cut the engine off and coasted in at night and once he saw it was not an issue he actually had no problem with it.
Joined
·
7,989 Posts
And nobody puts a loud pipe on an SV...
renters have rights and there really isnt much he could do....if it were me i would have made sure i blipped that throttle every time i pulled up to my place just to spite him.
Joined
·
244 Posts
ok, so lets say it IS the loudness issue.... IF you owned, let's say, a beautiful hot rod and it had LOUD exhaust, would that would be cause for a lease termination? Or would the LL love it cause it was from his era and took him back to his child hood? same could be said for ricer cars! i'd rather hear a bike or hot rod than a ricer anyways.
the whole renting a garage unit type deal i kinda understand, i wouldn't want to be woken up constantly by my tenant; even if i did think his ride (car or bike) was cool. that's like having room mates that are always loud at times you're tyring to sleep. not cool.
Like the majority of people have already mentioned, "we have 5 vehices" is going to be your best answer. if it doesn't state it in the lease that you can't have a motorbike, which i'm almost positive it wont, then don't worry about it. if a complaint is made to the cops, the cops arn't going to the LL, they are going to you to resolve the issue.
good luck!
the whole renting a garage unit type deal i kinda understand, i wouldn't want to be woken up constantly by my tenant; even if i did think his ride (car or bike) was cool. that's like having room mates that are always loud at times you're tyring to sleep. not cool.
Like the majority of people have already mentioned, "we have 5 vehices" is going to be your best answer. if it doesn't state it in the lease that you can't have a motorbike, which i'm almost positive it wont, then don't worry about it. if a complaint is made to the cops, the cops arn't going to the LL, they are going to you to resolve the issue.
good luck!
Joined
·
5,937 Posts
What did they complain about when they were yelling at you? Were they just getting anal about the danger you're putting yourself in? Some people get into other people's business like that.
As far parking, a bike would be considered a vehicle, and if you only got parking sports for 4 vehicles, they'd probably be within full right to deny parking for a bike. Even if you had 3 cars and you shared one spot between two bikes. If the lease says 1 "vehicle" per spot, it means bike or car.
People get so irate over such issues. Even if the bike takes up 2 feet of space against the wall in a corner that no one ever uses. Like rats in a maze, protecting their own little corner of the world.
As far parking, a bike would be considered a vehicle, and if you only got parking sports for 4 vehicles, they'd probably be within full right to deny parking for a bike. Even if you had 3 cars and you shared one spot between two bikes. If the lease says 1 "vehicle" per spot, it means bike or car.
People get so irate over such issues. Even if the bike takes up 2 feet of space against the wall in a corner that no one ever uses. Like rats in a maze, protecting their own little corner of the world.
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
