Is it normal for landlords to request post dated checks for the whole year?

[JoycMarr]

I would not do it! Too many "ifs"

[Mrscaston]

Originally Posted by nsumner

I am sorry to say but this is VERY out of the ordinary. People BUY houses sight unseen. Just because you haven't met each other doesn't mean that you are going to be bad tenants or mistrust has to be there.

There are tenants that are finding themselves on the street because the landlords didn't pay the mortgage.

I personally just had a experience w/a tenant who was a doctor with good credit on one of my rentals and he was behind 3 months on his rent. Stuff happens!

Direct deposit avoids all this post dated checks nonsense.

Naima

Very Good point. I will be sure to argue that point and request the direct deposit option. Logically speaking one would ask why rent to someone who you don't trust but I think the bottom line is money and the fact that we are the only people who've shown interest in this house because the requested rent is more than what most homes in that area are going for.

So we will see how this all turns out. If this doesn't work out then there's always a plan B.

[pchefjo]

We moved here 17 years ago and went through a realtor. Hopped on a U-Haul and drove down from NY. I never rented, was still living with parents. The landlord required 3 months rent and 1 month security deposit.
We lived in the house for about 6-7 years before we even met him in person!! Still in the same house and now trying to buy it - wish us luck!!

Try looking into some real estate investment groups to find a reasonable landlord

[kaykay]

Originally Posted by HockeyDadof2

I would run from that deal. Banks aren't required to refuse to pay a post dated check. They can refuse to pay it but they aren't required to. So it is theoretically possible for them to cash any of the checks at anytime assuming of course the money is in the account.

Yes, this is what I was going to also say. I formerly worked for a bank, and sometimes people are quite surprised to learn that postdated checks can be cashed at any time.

[loves2read]

it sounds like you are going through with this despite the negative comments
I would not do it--there is also possibility that the homeowners will try to sell the house from under you
then you would be out of luck and money--no way that you can stop them from doing that

also I would worry that the relative would cash the checks--keep the money--and not pass them along to the owner in a timely fashion...

[Mrscaston]

Originally Posted by loves2read

it sounds like you are going through with this despite the negative comments
I would not do it--there is also possibility that the homeowners will try to sell the house from under you
then you would be out of luck and money--no way that you can stop them from doing that

also I would worry that the relative would cash the checks--keep the money--and not pass them along to the owner in a timely fashion...

We are still interested in the house but like Naima said, we can do direct deposit. Nothing is written in stone as far as the checks in advance, that was just his request so technically if we said no we aren't going to do it, it's not written into the contract.

I don't think they would sell the house because they just purchased it. I am a great researcher and i've done my homework with regards to this house. I am just not familiar with the owners but by them just purchasing it, I doubt they'll turn around and sell it in the year that we'll be there especially if they are making money off of us.

I also believe that renting any house that isn't ours is a gamble and I truly do appreciate all of the advice given here. We will take it to heart and go with another method of payment but the house is still a very nice house.