Renting and Cohabitation: Your Rights and Advice

Questioner

My boyfriend and I want to live together in my apartment. He wants to move in with me. My landlord wants to prevent this and states that my boyfriend is not allowed to register at this address. It's a private rental property, and as far as I know, the landlord only rents out my apartment. He doesn't give any reason why my boyfriend isn't allowed to register here. I've already contacted you by phone, and I was told that the landlord cannot and may not object to this in any way. However, I'm not reassured, as the rental agreement states: Article 10: Prohibition on subletting/cohabitation 1) The tenant is not permitted to allow third parties to use the rented property in whole or in part, or to sublet it to third parties. 2) The tenant may not have any persons living with him other than those directly belonging to his family. I would like to have written confirmation that my boyfriend will be living at my address and is allowed to register so that I can show this to the landlord.

Questioner

You signed an agreement that includes this provision. The question is what your landlord intended with this provision and what your expectations were when entering into the agreement. It leaves ample room for debate as to whether your friend is a member of your family or a third party. In any case, it could be grounds for your landlord to terminate the lease. Perhaps you and your friend could discuss it with your landlord to see if he could change his mind. Unfortunately, the advice is different.

Questioner

A conversation won't accomplish much. The fact is, my landlord has been trying to get me out of the property for quite some time, years, so he can put it up for sale. However, I still wonder whether it is legally valid that he can terminate the lease for this reason.