First and last month's rent

[Alphathree33]

I found a place I'd like to rent and of course they're going to ask for first and last month's rent.

Now this is a condo unit so it's owned by a regular joe. Of course I'll sign a lease with him before handing over the cheques, but I still feel a bit worried about forking over that much money and only getting a piece of paper from a guy I've met once.

Is there any way to make this process more secure? I suppose I could ask for the keys to the unit before I give first and last month's rent.

 

[BigJ]

You're signing a lease aren't you?

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: BigJ
You're signing a lease aren't you?

Yeah, of course.

But so what. I signed a lease. Now the guy takes my money and leaves town... that'd be a pain. =)

I suppose it's unlikely.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: BigJ
You're signing a lease aren't you?

Yeah, of course.

But so what. I signed a lease. Now the guy takes my money and leaves town... that'd be a pain. =)

I suppose it's unlikely.

Well how long until you move in? Within a certian amount of time, you could put a stop payment on the check.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: BigJ
You're signing a lease aren't you?

Yeah, of course.

But so what. I signed a lease. Now the guy takes my money and leaves town... that'd be a pain. =)

I suppose it's unlikely.

Well how long until you move in? Within a certian amount of time, you could put a stop payment on the check.

For this particular place, I wouldn't be moving in until April. I guess that's part of the problem.

 

[nutxo]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: BigJ
You're signing a lease aren't you?

Yeah, of course.

But so what. I signed a lease. Now the guy takes my money and leaves town... that'd be a pain. =)

I suppose it's unlikely.

This actually happened to me. He rented the place to me and several other people. The owner had been doing it for years. Hundreds of people had been scammed and the city, county and state were unwilling to do anything about it.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
For this particular place, I wouldn't be moving in until April. I guess that's part of the problem.

Then do your research on the guy. Ask him if he owns other rental properties and talk to other tenants.

 

[Alone]

He's trusting his apartment to some stranger.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: nutxo

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: BigJ
You're signing a lease aren't you?

Yeah, of course.

But so what. I signed a lease. Now the guy takes my money and leaves town... that'd be a pain. =)

I suppose it's unlikely.

This actually happened to me. He rented the place to me and several other people. The owner had been doing it for years. Hundreds of people had been scammed and the city, county and state were unwilling to do anything about it.

Damn that sucks.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: Alone
He's trusting his apartment to some stranger.

Very true. So I suppose keys for F&L cheques is a good trade off.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Alone
He's trusting his apartment to some stranger.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

Originally posted by: Alone
He's trusting his apartment to some stranger.

Very true. So I suppose keys for F&L cheques is a good trade off.

You know how easy it is to change a couple of sets of locks?

 

[Alone]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: Alone
He's trusting his apartment to some stranger.

I'm sorry, shall I use smaller words next time?

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: Alone

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: Alone
He's trusting his apartment to some stranger.

I'm sorry, shall I use smaller words next time?

The font is fine ty.

 

[Accipiter22]

cheque?

 

[SonnyDaze]

He's proably more afraid of leasing to a "stranger" than you are of letting go of that "cheque". It happens everyday in America but it sounds like its new to you. Get used to it. It's called "trust".

 

[xgsound]

One thing you can do is make sure the guy you're renting from is the owner. Sometimes renters pose as owners and rent to many people before they leave. That's a real mess. Check with the County Real Estate office where accessments are done for the real owner. They may even have a web site. If you're renting from the owner, he'll have a lot of trouble trying to hide.


Jim