Put in application at an apartment complex...

[dmw16]

Ok, so I am graduating soon and have a job so I went to get an apartment. I looked a bunch of places and finally found somewher that I liked. They only have 2 units left for my time frame so I submitted an application ($25 fee) to make sure to reserve a unit.

Now I found another possible place that my friend showed me today that I didnt know about. So how committed am I to the first place? I know I wont get my $25 back, but until I sign an actual lease I dont have to live there, right?

 

[waggy]

no there is a diffrence between a application and lease. just because you did a application does not gurentee you the apartment.

 

[Gibson486]

Depends where you live. In some states (like MA), if you application gets accepted, you are obliged to to sign the lease unless teh landlord is willing to let you go. However, if that is the case, you most likely had to sign a document saying you understood that.

 

[dmw16]

I also heard you have 3 days to get out of any business deal...is that true?

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: dmw16
Ok, so I am graduating soon and have a job so I went to get an apartment. I looked a bunch of places and finally found somewher that I liked. They only have 2 units left for my time frame so I submitted an application ($25 fee) to make sure to reserve a unit.

Now I found another possible place that my friend showed me today that I didnt know about. So how committed am I to the first place? I know I wont get my $25 back, but until I sign an actual lease I dont have to live there, right?

No, you don't. That's why they charge you an application fee - it might be the only money they get from you.

 

[dmw16]

I guess if I do go elsewhere it would be nice to call them and let them know tho.

But I guess I can wait till I know for sure before withdrawing my application.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Depends where you live. In some states (like MA), if you application gets accepted, you are obliged to to sign the lease unless teh landlord is willing to let you go. However, if that is the case, you most likely had to sign a document saying you understood that.

hwo can this be a law? a application is to see if you qualify for the apartment. it would be silly to say they are locked in with that. considering people tend to put in more then 1 application at a time.

IF you are locked in to rent it with just a app then they should be locked in to rent it to you. again that would be bad becuase what if the person has bad credit?

i really find it hard to believe that if you fill out a application you are forced into signing a lease.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Depends where you live. In some states (like MA), if you application gets accepted, you are obliged to to sign the lease unless teh landlord is willing to let you go. However, if that is the case, you most likely had to sign a document saying you understood that.

hwo can this be a law? a application is to see if you qualify for the apartment. it would be silly to say they are locked in with that. considering people tend to put in more then 1 application at a time.

IF you are locked in to rent it with just a app then they should be locked in to rent it to you. again that would be bad becuase what if the person has bad credit?

i really find it hard to believe that if you fill out a application you are forced into signing a lease.

Because in most places, you cannot (well, they just won't let you) turn in the application without putting down a deposit. Once they accept you and take the deposit, the place is off the market and all applications are no longer accepted.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Depends where you live. In some states (like MA), if you application gets accepted, you are obliged to to sign the lease unless teh landlord is willing to let you go. However, if that is the case, you most likely had to sign a document saying you understood that.

hwo can this be a law? a application is to see if you qualify for the apartment. it would be silly to say they are locked in with that. considering people tend to put in more then 1 application at a time.

IF you are locked in to rent it with just a app then they should be locked in to rent it to you. again that would be bad becuase what if the person has bad credit?

i really find it hard to believe that if you fill out a application you are forced into signing a lease.

Because in most places, you cannot (well, they just won't let you) turn in the application without putting down a deposit. Once they accept you and take the deposit, the place is off the market and all applications are no longer accepted.

if they take a deposit then then they are locked into the agreemnet as well. Wich would be really stupid on the part of the rental agency.

amazing they do this. seems a bad way of doing business. to much potentital for getting a bad lrenter in.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

In my experience:
Application fee: $30
Hold-the-apartment deposit: $99 (refundable w/in 4 days, transfers to move in deposit)
Move in deposit: $400
I can leave at any time before I sign the lease.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Because in most places, you cannot (well, they just won't let you) turn in the application without putting down a deposit. Once they accept you and take the deposit, the place is off the market and all applications are no longer accepted.

Once they take your deposit, they're obligated to give you the apartment... That rather defeats the purpose of the application...

ZV

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Depends where you live. In some states (like MA), if you application gets accepted, you are obliged to to sign the lease unless teh landlord is willing to let you go. However, if that is the case, you most likely had to sign a document saying you understood that.

hwo can this be a law? a application is to see if you qualify for the apartment. it would be silly to say they are locked in with that. considering people tend to put in more then 1 application at a time.

IF you are locked in to rent it with just a app then they should be locked in to rent it to you. again that would be bad becuase what if the person has bad credit?

i really find it hard to believe that if you fill out a application you are forced into signing a lease.

Because in most places, you cannot (well, they just won't let you) turn in the application without putting down a deposit. Once they accept you and take the deposit, the place is off the market and all applications are no longer accepted.

if they take a deposit then then they are locked into the agreemnet as well. Wich would be really stupid on the part of the rental agency.

amazing they do this. seems a bad way of doing business. to much potentital for getting a bad lrenter in.

I know...but the thing is, it is the only way to get applicant who are serious about wanting to rent the apartment. The apartment I got now, the renter decided not to sign the lease after he was accepted and was required to pay $200. I have had instances where I put down the deposit and was denied because a better applicant came along (once I was denied because the current tenant decided to stay and this was after they took my deposit).

 

[Reel]

In my experience in Florida, it has been that I paid the application fee and they would run my credit and background check but that only let me know they approved me to possibly live there. Then I had to sign a lease and pay a deposit to be committed. I doubt your application had all the specifics. What if they approve your application and say "We have plenty of room for you in this broom closet at $699/mo"? You either have something that looks like a lease already signed or not. I can't imagine them holding you to lease there just because you got a background check done that you paid for.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Gibson486
Depends where you live. In some states (like MA), if you application gets accepted, you are obliged to to sign the lease unless teh landlord is willing to let you go. However, if that is the case, you most likely had to sign a document saying you understood that.

hwo can this be a law? a application is to see if you qualify for the apartment. it would be silly to say they are locked in with that. considering people tend to put in more then 1 application at a time.

IF you are locked in to rent it with just a app then they should be locked in to rent it to you. again that would be bad becuase what if the person has bad credit?

i really find it hard to believe that if you fill out a application you are forced into signing a lease.

Because in most places, you cannot (well, they just won't let you) turn in the application without putting down a deposit. Once they accept you and take the deposit, the place is off the market and all applications are no longer accepted.

if they take a deposit then then they are locked into the agreement as well. Which would be really stupid on the part of the rental agency.

amazing they do this. seems a bad way of doing business. to much potentital for getting a bad lrenter in.

I know...but the thing is, it is the only way to get applicant who are serious about wanting to rent the apartment. The apartment I got now, the renter decided not to sign the lease after he was accepted and was required to pay $200. I have had instances where I put down the deposit and was denied because a better applicant came along (once I was denied because the current tenant decided to stay and this was after they took my deposit).

OK now you are saying something different.

IF it is in the application that there is a NON-refundable $200 fee (NOT deposit) then that is one thing and understandable i have seen that myself in a bunch of places.

But a application is just that a application. They can not force you to sign a lease. you are still free to rent someplace else etc. IF you put down a deposit and were denied the rental then i would be calling lawyer. A deposit is just that a deposit on the apartment. IF they deny you the apartment after you put the dopsoit down they have to refudn it. EVEN if they put in non-refundable (wich is to keep you from backing out)

seems screwy to me.