NWPR, just bugging me

Manwaithiel

I have a quick question, ladies.

FI and I are apartment hunting and we found somewhere that looks pretty awesome. Here's the catch. They want $1200 (the first month's rent) up front and THEN they'll check our credit and sit on the money until they approve us. I have not encountered this tactic with any other apartment complex or condo. It will basically keep us from looking anywhere else or having money to hold other places.

Thoughts? Is this common practice in other places?

bablingbrooke

Not anywhere I've lived.

mgietler76

I wouldn't give any money upfront at all, seems skeezy especially to ask for it ALL upfront!

suz62984

I've only had landlords have me put in an application. After i'm approved is when they ask for money. It seems a little shady to me. Is it a management company or individual? If it is a company, have you found any reviews for them online?

I think a lot of apartment companies are beginning to pull crap like this because they can. Home sales are down and rentals keep increasing. They can increase their prices, they have more people to choose from, and can do stuff like this because they know that someone will bite the hook.

stina93446

In NYC, from what I remember, we did credit checks and THEN gave a security deposit. I have never heard of having money up front.

bablingbrooke

I dunno, I used to rent in Boston, which has a really crooked real estate market and they pull lots of crazy shiit and I never heard of anything like that.  I would keep looking for a place, personally, unless you're prepared to never see your few hundred bucks again.

Manwaithiel

Good point. Well I'll go see the place at least. We're looking at several other places as well so it's not like this one is the only option. We mostly just want to see how they'd react if we countered their offer. I might think otherwise upon my visit, though.

suz62984

Now that I know its a craigslist place, and you can't tell if its a company or apartment, i'm sketched out for you. I'd keep looking. I understand that they may want to make sure that you are serious about renting it, but I don't trust anyone so it would be a no go for me.

gottahavashorti

I think my rental house in college required a deposit up front, but I'm not sure.  It would have been the security deposit though, not the first month's rent.  We just had to pay the application fee up front for our current apartment, then the security deposit to hold the apartment.

If it's craigslist and not through a legitimate property management company, I'd be worried about getting scammed with them wanting money before your credit check.

bablingbrooke

I think (think) craigslist even posts a warning about handing over cash for property before you've been approved for it or even seen it.  

Manwaithiel

Yeah, they do. That's why FI and I had a "what the hell" moment when we got the email with the demand for money up front.

bablingbrooke

Walk away.  Sounds like it might just be too good to be true.

Manwaithiel

Sooooo,

People should learn to speak the English language. I met the people and they were like "Oh...you don't HAVE to put down the $1200 before you do the credit check. The $1200 is just to put your name on the lease."

I'm thinking: "Why couldn't you have just said so?"

I'm still not sure if we want this though.