Lease question (apartment, foreclosure, rental)

[werewolf34]

Hi all

I found a condo I like which I would lease directly from the owner. I don't know much about leases and wanted some advice.

He is asking for the initial checks (deposit / 1st months rent) in the form of a cashier's check. The lease looks to be a standard one (Apartment Association something or other)

Is this an issue / normal?

Thanks!

[Island_OnThe_Land]

Yeah, the Apartment Owners Association has a standard lease form. So does the Calif. Assoc. of Realtors (CAR). So I think it is "normal"; however, be warned that I am sure the Apartment Owners draft a lease that is as favorable to the owner as possible.

That said, the rental laws in Calif. are pretty pro-tenant so you are probably pretty safe as long as he/she is not asking for too much up front.

[Ultrarunner]

You might want to interview the Owner by asking a few questions...

Remember there are good and bad owners just like tenants and it would be good to know a little be about their plans for the property... with a lease you should be OK during the lease term...

I'm getting a lot of feedback about owners becoming reluctant Landlords due to financial pressures... just be aware of your rights and responsibilities...

Some tenants even stop by the county public records office to verify the person they are dealing with is the owner and that no notice of foreclosure has been filed...

I think it is positive that the rental agreement offered is from the RHA or CAR... eliminates a lot of the unenforceable clauses and is very detailed...

Here is a very good State of California Website on Renting....

Landlord/Tenant Book Index - California Department of Consumer Affairs