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AClaire11
Guest
SFHs are about $3k per month where we are. We’re looking into privately leased apartments, but of course seriously talking to someone planning to rent out their condo will have to wait until later in the year. Our apartment complex is the cheapest in the area, with utilities set at a flat rate and no extra fees beyond pet rent, which is fairly low compared to other places we looked at.
ETA I’ve been looking at 1brs in other complexes and with all the fees they tack on, we might as well stay here or move out to Manassas
unless we can find a privately owned place.
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Xantippe
Guest
Bummer.
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AClaire11
Guest
We qualify for ADU when the baby comes, but my husband’s promotion will happen before our lease is up and so that doesn’t help. He’s supposed to graduate this winter if all goes according to plan. His promotion is expected and should happen in June, but last year we didn’t see a pay raise until August because of the bureaucracy and our lease is up in October. I’ve been underemployed since graduation and haven’t been working for the past few months because of health issues, and the cost of daycare here would be more than any job I could feasibly get, so I’ll be a SAHM. Laundry isn’t included; we have to use the common machines in the hallway, but our utilities are a flat rate.
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Lorelei12
Guest
That’s too bad about the laundry- I do probably at least two extra loads per week now; when he was a newborn it was probably four. Not including accidents. That’s not an insignificant cost per month to factor into your considerations.
Hopefully once your husband graduates he can either find a better paying job, you can relocate, or he will at least have some more time available for a second job if it becomes necessary. Daycare costs have really made us have to consider what kind of pay is worth it for me to get a job; I have not been able to find anything full-time to make it worth it. Right now I care for our son full time and work 25 hours per week part time on top of it. It’s exhausting, but that’s an option too if you’re able once you can figure things out.
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1ke
Guest
I’m not really sure what you are looking for, because “that won’t work” is the answer to every suggestion.
Get familiar with fair housing regs (see my links), measure your apartment, and go to battle to stay in your current apartment.
Increased income, decreased expenses, or combo is the only way to balance the budget.
You and DH may have to face the fact that you need to move, whether he’s done with his master’s or not. You say you’ve been trying to get out for a year, but starting a grad program that keeps you there doesn’t really seem to be “getting out”. There are MPA grad programs elsewhere, including online.
Get familiar with fair housing regs (see my links), measure your apartment, and go to battle to stay in your current apartment.
Increased income, decreased expenses, or combo is the only way to balance the budget.
You and DH may have to face the fact that you need to move, whether he’s done with his master’s or not. You say you’ve been trying to get out for a year, but starting a grad program that keeps you there doesn’t really seem to be “getting out”. There are MPA grad programs elsewhere, including online.
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Sunbreak
Guest
No, this doesn’t work. Sometimes these things are spelled out in leases and in that case you can’t claim you don’t know. The landlord can evict if the lease is violated.
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pensmama87
Guest
One thing you could consider for your work is informal babysitting rather than a facility. There might be a nice SAHM at church who would take care if your baby a few hours a week.
Or, you could become the babysitter, which is what I do. The income isn’t huge but it gives us a lot of breathing room.
Or, you could become the babysitter, which is what I do. The income isn’t huge but it gives us a lot of breathing room.
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ahollars
Guest
I live in NOVA (Dale City), and my wife and I happen to know a few young couples in the same situation, and yes, they’re Catholic. There is another possibility that needs consideration.
It is easier to split the cost of a three bedroom apartment or even a four bedroom home if two small/new families split all the bills. As odd as this may sound, you may need to look into this if you do not have financial support from extended family.
It is easier to split the cost of a three bedroom apartment or even a four bedroom home if two small/new families split all the bills. As odd as this may sound, you may need to look into this if you do not have financial support from extended family.
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ahollars
Guest
Several years ago, my wife and I ran a day care out of our home. We kept it open long enough for me to get a promotion and raise at work, then pay off our minivan. I can personally attest to the fact that there is a shortage of day care providers in the NOVA area. We were in such demand that we actually had a waiting list.
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Convert_in_99
Guest
The occupancy limits do include children of all ages. Your apartment management company is not likely purely heartless, it unfortunately has to do with fire codes and laws they cannot change without detriment to their company and potential issues with the law.
I will pray something works out.
Can the cats go stay with family or friends so at least you don’t have to factor in that limitation too?
I will pray something works out.
Can the cats go stay with family or friends so at least you don’t have to factor in that limitation too?
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pensmama87
Guest
I just came back for limited care (after school and date nights, no full-time since I have a baby) and while I’m not in an area with as high demand, I definitely don’t think I’ll be hurting for work. I wasn’t picky enough and didn’t ask for enough at first, but really, it’s a pretty good gig.
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Burt_Macklin
Guest
Of course it works like that. Whatever the landlord may put in the lease it is still at the discretion of the HUD to determine if the occupancy limit is reasonable or unfairly discriminates against families. The way I see it you have nothing to gain by bringing the issue to your landlord because:
1.) He may never find out you have exceeded the occupancy limits
2.) Even if he finds out he may not really care as long as you’re a good tenant otherwise
3.) Even if he finds out and cares he may not want to take the risk of finding himself at the wrong end of a discrimination claim.
4.) Even if he finds out, cares, and files to evict the HUD may still find in your favor.
5.) Even if he finds out, cares, files, and evicts you this whole process may take enough time for you to finish with school.
If it were me I just wouldn’t raise the issue.
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Xantippe
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BlueEyedLady
Guest
Occupancy limits are usually set by the jurisdiction that approves the property and issues occupancy permits. If a landlord allows someone to violate it, they can be fined and face a discrimination suit from others that they didn’t break the rules for.
2 people per bedroom is pretty standard. According to the FHA, pregnant women count as one person and should be allowed to finish their lease even after the baby is born. However, it is legal and appropriate to make the family of 3 move to a 2 bedroom after the end of the lease.
The risk you’re talking about may well result in eviction. If they think it’s hard to rent now, wait until they have that on their record.
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Marysann
Guest
My son and daughter-in-law moved to Manassas because that is where they could find a reasonably priced home. Except for the commute, they enjoy living there. Rent and home prices in Arlington are ridiculous, as you know, so don’t discount moving further out. These hard times won’t last forever.
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Xantippe
Guest
There is life outside Arlington.
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1ke
Guest
However, occupancy limits are not laws, they are not even “rules”, they are guidelines. And they are fluid and somewhat flexible based on the square footage of the apartment. The OP has the choices of:
- Make a deal out of it and try to stay in current apartment (assuming square footage of the bedroom makes the case that the infant can stay with them in the bedroom). Least expensive, most advantageous. May or may not work.
- Move somewhere else in VA. Some suggestions for splitting a private home, finding a private rental, or continuing to look for other apartments have already been made. There are pros and cons to each, plus moving expenses.
- Move somewhere outside VA. Less expensive. Pros and cons, including financial breathing room but possible disruption to grad school for DH.
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BlueEyedLady
Guest
QUOTE=1ke;13575433]However, occupancy limits are not laws, they are not even “rules”, they are guidelines. And they are fluid and somewhat flexible based on the square footage of the apartment. The OP has the choices of:
Kind of and it really depends on the jurisdiction. If the apartment is only approved for 2, then the municipality will only issue a permit for two. Violating that has consequences for both the landlord and tenant.
In college I worked on a property where one side was in the city proper and the other was in a small municipality. The rules for each side were different because the city apartments didn’t need a permit, and the municipality required an inspection and permit for every new move in. Our policy was 2 people per bedroom, except our " deluxe" 2 bdrm, where we allowed 5 total. However, on the municipality side, it was two people per bedroom period.
Also, if you had an “aggressive” breed, you had to live on the city side. Landlords are held to so many different rules from the federal to the rinky dink low level 2,000 people town. Before making demands, it’s important to understand your landlord’s requirements and whether or not they actually have the legal freedom to use discretion.
Just like homeowners are held to a million different requirements when selling their house that vary based on exactly where the home is located, landlords have their versions of the same.
Cities have a lot of power when it comes to buildings and safety.
Kind of and it really depends on the jurisdiction. If the apartment is only approved for 2, then the municipality will only issue a permit for two. Violating that has consequences for both the landlord and tenant.
In college I worked on a property where one side was in the city proper and the other was in a small municipality. The rules for each side were different because the city apartments didn’t need a permit, and the municipality required an inspection and permit for every new move in. Our policy was 2 people per bedroom, except our " deluxe" 2 bdrm, where we allowed 5 total. However, on the municipality side, it was two people per bedroom period.
Also, if you had an “aggressive” breed, you had to live on the city side. Landlords are held to so many different rules from the federal to the rinky dink low level 2,000 people town. Before making demands, it’s important to understand your landlord’s requirements and whether or not they actually have the legal freedom to use discretion.
Just like homeowners are held to a million different requirements when selling their house that vary based on exactly where the home is located, landlords have their versions of the same.
Cities have a lot of power when it comes to buildings and safety.
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AClaire11
Guest
Thank you for all your kind replies and advice. I do hope I didn’t sound ungrateful or unwilling to consider things. I just didn’t want to burn bridges with our apartment by threatening legal action when it appears they are fully within their rights and they’re probably the best deal regardless, and giving up my husband’s federal job with excellent benefits to move elsewhere, away from the concentration of jobs in his field and without an offer is, in our opinion, a really bad idea.
Anyway, the leasing office got back to us today and said the manager took a look at their regulations and the baby will not count towards the occupancy limit for the first year, so we would be able to move into a 1br here for a year and then either get out of the area or move to a 2br once that year is up.
Anyway, the leasing office got back to us today and said the manager took a look at their regulations and the baby will not count towards the occupancy limit for the first year, so we would be able to move into a 1br here for a year and then either get out of the area or move to a 2br once that year is up.
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