Signing Lease in LA (August: apartment, rental market, tenant) - Los Angeles - California (CA) - City-Data Forum

aznstyles · 07-09-2010, 12:34 PM

I applied for an apartment in LA last week and was approved. I asked if I could sign the lease right away, but they said they wouldn't have it ready by the end of the week. I am from out of state, so I left LA to go back home.

I called back this week and they said the lease still wasn't ready to sign, but that I could sign my lease when I move in. Is this common practice in LA? My move in date is Aug 1. I figured that they would want me to sign the lease as soon as possible, but they don't seem too worried about it. I also have a holding deposit on the apartment.

CALGUY · 07-09-2010, 04:53 PM

Signing a lease is usually done before the move in date, but it isn't written in stone.
I had a tenant move in on the first of july, and he just got around to signing the rental agreement yesterday.
Bob.

aznstyles · 07-09-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CALGUY

Signing a lease is usually done before the move in date, but it isn't written in stone.
I had a tenant move in on the first of july, and he just got around to signing the rental agreement yesterday.
Bob.

Thanks. Do you think it is strange that the property manager isn't pushing me to sign the papers right away? I would have thought they they would want me to sign the lease right away rather than wait until August 1st.

CALGUY · 07-09-2010, 11:37 PM

They have your deposit on the unit, so they know you are going to be moving in, or risk loosing the deposit if you don't move in.
They will get you to sign the agreement in time so I wouldn't worry about it.
If they are a large property management firm, that would explain the delay in getting together with you.
They proably have more than the one vacancy that you are renting, and like your agreement, they may have to type it up, and do all the things necesary to make sure the unit is habitable.
Bob.

ladoll · 07-10-2010, 01:58 AM

I have always signed the lease when I was ready to move in. Like CalGuy/Bob said, you have a deposit on the place, so they will keep it for you.

Beth56 · 07-10-2010, 09:36 AM

Have them fax you a copy of the lease for review.

SandyCo · 07-10-2010, 09:48 AM

I agree with Beth. You should know what you're agreeing to before you move in.

And in general, money talks. Since you've already put down a deposit, the unit is being held for you. With the rental market the way it is at the moment, I highly doubt they're going to suddenly yank the rug from underneath you and rent it to someone else.