<prompt> Human: Hi rpersonalfinance!My friend and her fiance lets call them Jane and Mark were living in a roach-coach motel, which a family member was paying for, since they could not afford to get an apartment. Well, long story short, they were no longer able to stay in that hotel, and so I offered to let them stay with me while they saved up. I am planning on approaching them soon to figure out what their goals are, how long they will realistically take to achieve, and some ground rules for their stay. The information I have so far: 1. Jane has a steady job. I still need to find out about how much she makes, but it could be as little as 400 a month. 2. Her boyfriend, Mark, has no id, claims to be unable to get one-- apparently he has tried unsuccessfully in the past. He says he has a birth certificate, so he just needs a few more documents I think before he can get one? I looked on my states website to see what is needed and I am going to ask when I talk to them. Without an id, he cannot get a steady job, though. 3. Some of their possessions, possibly including paperwork that might be important, is in a storage unit that requires some amount of money they dont really know to get out, because it hasnt been paid for. I think I will have Mark try to call and find out, since he doesnt work. 4. Mark has been to jail. Im not sure for what or for how long, but Im thinking that will also affect his ability to get a job, even if he had an id. Also, he has some kids from a previous marriage. So here are a list of questions I think need to be answered by Jane and Mark so we can start figuring out what they can do to get back on their feet:1. How much does Jane make? 2. Have they applied for welfare e.g., food stamps? 3. What are their goals? I think that they should focus on fixing their little motorcycle so that Jane can get to work more easily and at other times when it isnt night-- the lights dont work. Then maybe getting Mark an idjob, and then saving for an apartment of their own. Questions I have for you redditors:1. How much should I charge them for rentutilities as a percentage of their income? If you can think of any other tips, please let me know, or add to the list of questions I need to ask them. Thanks in advance! Assistant: This sounds like a bad situation honestly.. I wouldnt rent to them at all. However if you are going to do it anyway charge them market rate. Look on Craigslist and get an idea of what that is.Human: Hmm, well its not so much of a renting situation as a couch-crashing situation. Also, I think the faster they can save the better it will be for them? But I also dont want them to think they can just stay indefinitely, so I feel like I need to strike a balance.Assistant: They will think they can just stay indefinitely.I would tell them now a specific number of months after which they have to be gone. Otherwise, you get into this hazy area where they sort of think youre good with them staying, and you could start to resent or not afford it and not know how to adjust things. If you establish the move-out date now, then they have to do the work you hope they will do on improving their situation. Then will come the difficult time when you tell them you cant afford to keep helping them, but at least they will have been given notice from the get-go.It sounds crass, but I would get this down in writing and signed by all of you. The last thing you want is for them to establish tenancy in your place and be difficult to evict.Human: Thats a concern I have. I was thinking that once we had set in place some financial goals for them like enough to get an apartment, and a plan for how to be able to continue to pay rent on it, and figured out how long that would take them, that would be the time Id give them to stay? What do you think?Assistant: I think youre a pushover and theyre taking advantage of it.Human: Well, I offered and it was completely my idea. But I definitely can be a pushover. Ill make sure to not be a pushover with this though.  <response>: You need to double check on the tenancy laws of your state. I have heard numerous horror stories of a good hearted person being taken advantage of and the deadbeats never leaving and trashing the house because legally they have become residents and you cant get them out withouj a 4-8 month legal eviction battle.Im not really sure what advice to give, other than research the laws in your state. And you will almost certainly want to have a written and signed lease detailing exactly how long they are welcome to stay, the monthly rent amount, and what actions are punishable by eviction.Remember, no good deed goes unpunished. Protect yourself. 