Occupancy Standards: Not Quite So Simple After All

The issue of occupancy standards continues to be anything but clean cut.  What might seem to be a reasonable standard to you is different than a reasonable standard for me.  Making it even more difficult is that different jurisdictions have enacted varying guidelines.  Many apartment communities (including those I represent) have a typical occupancy guideliness of two people per bedroom.  While that may seem benign, it can get us into trouble.  Although it is easy to conclude that 10 people in a moderatly sized two bedroom apartment is too many, the line is harder to draw when a family of five (with three small chliden) wishes to rent that same two bedroom unit.  What is management to do?  What happens when there is one bedroom and a den?  Or a large family room?