Subleasing Criteria

The General Manager, at his/her discretion, may choose to grant subleasing privileges to a member for a period not to exceed two years, in the following kinds of cases, provided that the member has not rented his/her unit without authorization during the previous twelve (12) months:

1. If a member’s job or job assignment requires, he/she temporarily leave the Washington metropolitan area and the member expects to return to his/her GHI home at the end of this period.
2. If a member’s job requires that he/she live on or near his/her job, and the member states this will be a temporary requirement and the member expects to return to his/her GHI home at the expiration of this requirement.
3. If the member leaves the Washington metropolitan area to further his/her education and expects to return to his/her unit upon completion of this program.
4. Under hardship conditions such as but not limited to illness, job loss, and family crisis, and the member expects to return to his/her GHI home by the end of the rental period.
5. For members who have been unable to sell their units, after the following conditions have been met:
   • The selling member’s home must have been actively marketed for sale at no more than the value determined by an independent appraisal, for a period of not less than nine months from the date the Intent to Sell was received by GHI. The selling member must have been willing to accept an offer at that amount.
6. If the member owes more on the unit than the price determined by an independent appraisal and cannot pay the difference. The member must document the reason why he/she cannot continue living in the unit. For acceptable reasons, refer to paragraphs 1-4 above, except that members do not expect to return to live in the unit. The member will provide sufficient documentation, including but not limited to share loan statements, savings accounts, credit card statements, statements of investment accounts and the most recent official IRS tax return complete with schedules and attachments. The member will also provide a sound plan for paying down the mortgage balance within the approved rental period.
7. If the member wishes to rent his/her unit for less than 6 months in a 12-month period and intends to return to his/her GHI home at the end of this period. In this case, the General Manager can approve subleasing up to a total of 24 months in a 48-month period, provided that the member occupies the unit during the months it is not rented.

All other types of rentals in a unit that is not occupied by a member are prohibited unless expressly approved by the GHI Board of Directors.

The General Manager will keep the Board informed in Executive Session of all sublease situations. Any extension of the subleasing period, if allowed, requires Board approval as a well-justified exception. A request for such an approval must be made by the member in writing, with a full description of the reasons for exceptional treatment and with copies of appropriate documentation. The Board may require that the member furnish additional documentation.

Subleasing includes all cases of someone living in the unit when the member for that unit is not residing in the unit. This is true even of persons related to the member and of persons not paying any rent. Subleasing does NOT include instances of a nonmember living in the unit when the member of that unit is residing in the unit and does not have another residence in the Washington Metro Area.

[See City of Greenbelt regulations regarding renting a room in your home and Prince George’s County regulations regarding Airbnb rentals.]

THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS MUST BE MET BY ALL PROSPECTIVE TENANTS PRIOR TO THE TENANT SIGNING THE LEASE AGREEMENT.

1. Fill out a GHI membership application and meet the GHI membership approval criteria with the exception of the down payment.
2. Attend a pre-purchase orientation and submit to a criminal background check before acceptance by GHI as a tenant and signing a lease.

All members who receive permission from the General Manager agree to the following:

1. Member’s lender must give written permission for member to sublet if required.
2. Rental price is determined by the Member. According to the Member Handbook page 9 D: GHI charges a fee for acting as the member’s agent in administering the sublease during the member’s absence. The current fee is $50.00 per month and can be changed at any time by the Board of Directors. The member’s monthly co-op fee must be electronically withdrawn from their bank on the EZ Pay Program, which includes the administration fee for subleasing.
3. The Annual City Rental License inspection will be scheduled by GHI in the fall of each year. The member must pay for the inspection and administration fee and must correct within 30 days all deficiencies found by the City of Greenbelt.
   1. Comply with City of Greenbelt’s Fire Safety Code. 
      1. One (1) smoke detector on each floor
      2. One (1) smoke detector in each sleeping room
4. The member and tenant shall sign a member-tenant lease agreement provided by GHI, for rental of the unit. A lease agreement of any other type is prohibited.
5. The member’s tenant shall not sublease any part of the unit to a sub-tenant.
6. The unit may be occupied by the tenant and the tenant’s family, so long as total occupancy of the unit does not exceed two persons per bedroom. Everyone residing in the unit shall be named on the occupancy list.
7. Maryland regulations require rental dwelling units constructed prior to 1950 to meet the Lead Risk Reduction Standard. The Member shall register the unit with the Maryland Department of Environment. The registration fee and its annual renewal cost is currently $30 per year. The member is required to meet the Full Risk Reduction Standard at every change in occupancy by:
   1. Ensuring the unit passes the test for lead-contaminated dust provided that any chipping, peeling, or flaking paint has been removed or repainted on interior and exterior of the affected unit.
   2. Verifying compliance by submitting a report to the Maryland Department of Environment from an independent accredited lead paint visual inspector or accredited lead paint risk assessor.
8. Member will deliver the leased premises in a safe and sanitary condition and in complete compliance with all GHI Regulations.
   1. Resale (rental) inspection of the home by Technical Service.
   2. Complete all work identified as member responsibility.
   3. Comply with state and federal lead paint requirements.
   4. All appliances must be in working condition as well as clean.
9. The member is responsible for repairs if needed during the leased period unless other arrangements are made prior to signing of the lease agreement.
10. Obtain homeowner’s liability insurance that protects member as a landlord - minimum limit of $300,000.
11. The member must be aware that sub-letting his/her unit may result in the loss of the Maryland Homestead tax credit.
12. GHI may charge the member $500.00, plus any costs incurred by GHI in excess of $500.00, as additional Rent, in the event that it evicts a tenant of the member whose sublease was not approved by GHI or who does not comply with the member’s Mutual Ownership Contract Agreement.