Move in end of July to new apartment. Landlord asks for 1 day prorated rent (renter, home)

[LoveAlbuquerque]

My current lease expires end of July. I plan to move in my new apartment on July 31. BTW, my new lease starts on Aug 1.

My new landlord is asking for 1 day prorated rent (for July 31), reason being I will spend the midnight of July 31 in the new apartment. She said the cut-off time is midnight in determination of prorated rent.

Is this reasonable? I will only be in my new apartment for less than 1 day for the month of July. But she wants me to pay rent for that day.

[Yankeesfan]

Why not? She's letting you move in a day early. Is it worth arguing over?

[snowdenscold]

I second the poster above me. If you don't want to pay her, then move in Aug. 1.

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by Yankeesfan

Why not? She's letting you move in a day early. Is it worth arguing over?

Thanks for the answer! In the past, the landlords let me move in before the lease start date but didn't ask me to pay prorated rent. That's why I ask this question.

[yolli71]

Being a former renter myself for many years, and now a landlord, yes it's reasonable.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by LoveAlbuquerque

My current lease expires end of July. I plan to move in my new apartment on July 31. BTW, my new lease starts on Aug 1.

My new landlord is asking for 1 day prorated rent (for July 31), reason being I will spend the midnight of July 31 in the new apartment. She said the cut-off time is midnight in determination of prorated rent.

Is this reasonable? I will only be in my new apartment for less than 1 day for the month of July. But she wants me to pay rent for that day.

Yes, this is reasonable and to be expected.

[Boo57]

we moved into a rental on May 30th and payed a prorated rate as well...

[FindingZen]

This reminds me of the story of a friend who once arrived with his U-Haul truck at his new place of residence at the stroke of midnight of the first day of the month. The technically former tenant who hadn't completed their move was surprised, to say the least.

Back to the main topic: it would have been a nice gesture if the landlord were willing to waive the one day's rent but I suppose "business is business". Perhaps you can return the favor by cutting a smaller check if/when you decide to move out a day or two early.

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by Tone509

Back to the main topic: it would have been a nice gesture if the landlord were willing to waive the one day's rent but I suppose "business is business". Perhaps you can return the favor by cutting a smaller check if/when you decide to move out a day or two early.

I was a little surprised because I always tried to vacate the apartment a day earlier (last day of previous month) to make it easier for my landlords to let their new tenants to move in on time (the 1st of the month), and I never thought of asking for prorated rent back.

The new landlords would waive any prorated rent to let me move in a little earlier. Now I get into this "business" situation.

I understand that this is the right way. Thanks everyone for your comments!

[jillabean]

I am not much of a renter (I rented a bit between home selling and home buying... and I am not a landlord) but it might be that the reason they do this is basically, it's a landlord's market here (not many vacancies, not vacant for long).