Questions about renting an apartment

Question

Why do some renters ask for "last month's rent" when you move in and you didnt live there "last month"? Is the money just gone or is it supposed to be contributed to something else. Should you EVER pay this crazy fee?

Answer 1

Every state is slightly different when it comes to landlord rules, but generally, the first and lasts months rent means that the you pay for your  first months rent, and when you give notice that you are leaving, the last month is already paid for.  I think this is to protect the landlord from people who leave the last month without paying.  If you don't have all this money up front, some landlords will let you pay it within the first couple months on a payment plan.

Answer 2

Its not crazy - it is standard.  They collect that because a lot of people skip out on their last months rent and this way the landlord is not out any money.  If you DO pay your last months rent, it is typically returned to you.

Answer 3

Landlords are allowed to collect 1 and 1/2 month's rent as a "deposit".  Doesn't matter what they call it.  You pay it and you move in.  If you don't want to pay it, refuse and move on.  Someone will let you in without a deposit; but it might not be the place you want the most. /

Answer 4

They mean the LAST month of YOUR lease, not the previous month's rent. And yes, they can ask for first/last and one month's security deposit.

Answer 5

This is referring to the last month of your lease not the month before you move in.  The landlord charges this so that people can't move out without paying for the last month of their lease.  Basically it is just a reassurance for the landlord, it's not just a crazy fee that landlords make up.

Answer 6

Last Month's rent is a funny little trick that landlord's pull in states that limit the amount a deposit can be. Here's the example...say, your state says that a deposit absolutely cannot be more than one month's rent. Most landlords know that if you are going to leave before the last month on your lease, you are likely to cause several months worth of damage to the unit. Also, they know that you would be liable for that money, but they would be extremely unlikely to see it.

So they charge that. When you give notice that you are moving (if you don't, he can keep that, but normal rules of damage apply to the deposit), you don't pay that last month and you go on your merry way.

If you trash the place, the landlord is a little better off. It is just another means of insurance for the landlord.