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In the end, you will have to think this thru and decide if, when you were searching for a place to live, would the situation you describe have been attractive for you....... committing 3 months' rent upfront plus a cleaning deposit to someone who refused to commit to a 3-month lease and could end your stay in 30 days. Would you have trusted someone with your large deposit under those circumstances? If so, then its likely you will find another who will, too. I do believe that person will be very unusual in more than one way....and at least one of those ways will become irritating or impossible for you to deal with.
I live in a college town and I don't know anyone who would be desperate enough for that kind of arrangement. Who is going to hand over that much money to some random person unless they have a very shady background themselves?
^^^^^
This. Someone who is desperate for a place to live that is under the radar and who has that kind of cash is also the type of person who can mysteriously post a few thousand cash to get out of jail.
I would run not walk from someone offering a rental on that basis and wouldn't dream of offering it because no decent renter would be willing to take it.
In which other "mainstream" markets is your plan the norm?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sky-Blue
Different market conditions can demand different rent amounts and different deposits (if legal).
You're going to have to work awfully hard to convince anyone who isn't crazy or stupid or naive that your room for rent is "special" enough to warrant highway robbery and deceit.
You know, the more I think about it, I REALLY like this plan. It's a sure fire winner. I hope you'll come back here to post your success story. The professional landlords here will all be eating crow and wish they had your foresight and imagination to come up with this brilliant idea themselves.
^
There is a difference between renting in "small town Montana" versus a large metro area.
This is a mainstream market plan.
I live in the NYC metro area and even here, what you are asking for wouldn't fly.
You'd end up with a desperate tenant whom no one else would take.
A good, stable tenant, would move on to the next place that wasn't asking for a crazy amount of deposit and up front rent. To me, that is a sign of an "off" landlord. 3 months prepaid rent with only 30 days notice to end tenancy is not a reasonable situation.
OP, at least half of what you propose would be illegal in almost every state. Also, you cannot use the phrase "if reasonable" to describe whether utilities are included. Either they are or they are not.
I think your plan sucks eggs and I'd really love to speak with the sucker/person who would agree to any of that.
Oh hell. I've read everyone's replies and completely agree that this "plan" of yours is not going to fly.
Right now I'm paying $100 more a month to rent a entire house, and this by the way, is in an expensive retirement town with amazing views and wonderful people. I've lived the roommate life after I moved to NC and let me tell you, anyone who moves in is going to annoy the living day lights out of you - especially with your requirements. No way, never ever, would I ever even think about renting from you. The poster who posted about asking three months rent for a month to month room rental is spot on. I have a weird feeling that you'd try everything in your power to keep that rent "deposit" if you didn't like them. I've never had one pleasant roommate experience, ever. Save yourself the headache and just drop this thought. If I saw your ad in the newspaper or craigslist, I'd pass it up instantly - and I have a perfect renting (from landlords) record, no criminal history, and outstanding references.
The limit in NY is not 1 months rent. There is a limit in NJ of 1.5x, but in NY, it's unlimited. The limit is 1 month on rent stabilized buildings only... it actually says that in the link provided on that page, so I don't know why they are reporting it incorrectly.
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