What is a guest policy addendum?
A partner who "stays over a lot" or a cousin who never quite leaves is one of the most common sources of tension in a tenancy. A guest policy addendum draws the line in advance, in a way that treats the home as the tenant's own.
You set the longest single stay, the most nights per guest in six months, how many overnight guests at once, and after how many nights the tenant should send a quick message. It covers guest conduct, keys and paid stays, and gives three parking options. Once a guest goes past the limits or moves in, you choose whether they apply to join the lease or must leave unless you agree. Reasonable requests for longer stays and live-in carers are allowed for.
- Best for
- Leases and house shares where overnight guests are a recurring question
- Signed by
- Landlord and tenant, initialled on every page
- You set
- Nights in a row, nights per 6 months, guests at once, heads-up point
- Length
- 2 pages
When to use a guest policy addendum
- A tenant's partner who seems to be moving in gradually
- A one-bedroom flat in a building with strict occupancy limits
- Visitor parking that keeps spilling into residents' spaces
- Making sure a spare room isn't quietly being let for paid stays
- Setting expectations for a family visiting for the summer
What you fill in
12 blanks, then the name and email of each person who signs: landlord, tenant.
1 The lease
- Date of this addendum*
- Landlord or managing agent*
- Tenant name(s)*
- Address of the rented property*
- Date of the lease*
2 Limits
- Longest single stay for a guest (nights)*
- Most nights per guest in any 6 months*
- Tell the landlord when a guest stays more than (nights)*
- Most overnight guests at one time*
3 Conduct and parking
- Guest parking* Guests may park only in visitor spaces or on the street, never in another resident's space or in a fire lane. · Guests may park in the Tenant's own allocated space only. · There is no guest parking at the Property. Guests must park off the Property.
- Parking details (optional)
4 Becoming an occupant
- When a guest stays beyond the limits* the guest must apply to be added to the Lease, and the Landlord may consider the application on its normal criteria · the guest must leave unless the Landlord agrees in writing to a longer stay
5 Who signs
- Landlord signature and date, initials on every page · The landlord or the managing agent who signs leases for the landlord.
- Tenant signature and date, initials on every page · The tenant. If several tenants are on the lease, name them all above and have each one sign.
What the guest policy addendum covers
- Guests are welcome
- Length of stays
- Conduct
- Parking
- When a guest becomes an occupant
- Exceptions and general
Using the guest policy addendum, step by step
1 Link it to the lease
Enter the landlord, tenant, property and lease date.
2 Set the limits
Choose the longest single stay, the nights allowed per guest in six months, the most guests at once and after how many nights the tenant lets you know.
3 Choose the parking rule
Pick a parking option and add details such as visitor permits.
4 Decide the next step and sign
Choose what happens when a guest goes past the limits, then send it to the tenant to initial and sign.
Tips before you send it
- Keep the numbers generous enough for normal family life. Very tight limits are hard to justify and may be unlawful in some places.
- Write down any longer stay you agree to, even by email, so it isn't mistaken for a breach later.
- Check whether local law protects tenants' rights to have family members or carers stay before you set limits.
- If a guest does become an occupant, add them to the lease properly rather than leaving the situation unwritten.
Sign it online in minutes
- Fill in the blanks. Names, dates and amounts go straight into the agreement — the preview shows exactly where.
- Name who signs. Tick “This is me” for your own part. FileIt builds the PDF with every signature, date and initials box on the right line, and you can check or move anything before sending.
- Send it. Each signer gets a secure link and signs from any device — no account needed. The signed PDF, with an audit trail and a Certificate of Completion, is filed in your vault and emailed to everyone.
Guest policy addendum: frequently asked questions
Does a guest who stays too long become a tenant?
The addendum says it creates no tenancy for the guest. A guest who goes past the limits is treated as living there, and you choose whether they apply to be added or must leave unless you agree in writing.
Can I make the tenant tell me about every guest?
This template asks only for a short written message once a stay goes past the number of nights you set, with the guest's name and departure date. Day visitors aren't covered.
What about a carer or a sick relative?
The landlord agrees not to unreasonably refuse a request for a longer stay, giving examples like a recovering relative or a family visit from abroad, and a live-in carer may be allowed as the law requires.
Is an e-signed guest policy addendum binding?
It is signed the same way as the lease and, in most places, an electronic signature on an addendum like this carries the same weight as ink. FileIt's Certificate of Completion records who signed and when.