first and last months rent????? (Roy: lease, tenants, landlords)

[lbantau]

is it even legal to ask for that in vancouver? or anywhere in washington for that matter??

[Norra Stjarna]

I've NEVER heard of a place that doesn't ask for first and last months rent, hell... even gyms around where I live ask for first and last month payment.

[hml1976]

Me too...heck we paid first, last and an extra month as a deposit...I've lived in six states and same idea everywhere.

[Macrina]

Originally Posted by lbantau

is it even legal to ask for that in vancouver? or anywhere in washington for that matter??

Here's a link which may answer your question:
Washington State Residential Landlord Tenant Act

I didn't have time to read it, but it should be informative.

[Freebird2007]

its not uncommon.

its very common back on the east coast

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by lbantau

is it even legal to ask for that in vancouver? or anywhere in washington for that matter??

Completely legal and fairly common. On the upside, it's not usually difficult to get whatever deposits you plunk down returned to you if you leave the unit in decent condition at the end of your lease.

[lbantau]

But it is however illegal in california which is where I just moved from, so its not common everywhere. How they got away with it was by just rewording it into someother form of deposit tho, but it was not legal to request first and last. Sad to think they can ask that much in these times.

[diggitydot]

Originally Posted by lbantau

But it is however illegal in california which is where I just moved from, so its not common everywhere.

Sorry, I obviously should have been a tad more specific. It's legal and fairly common in Washington.

[Macrina]

Originally Posted by lbantau

But it is however illegal in california which is where I just moved from, so its not common everywhere. How they got away with it was by just rewording it into someother form of deposit tho, but it was not legal to request first and last. Sad to think they can ask that much in these times.

It's often said that in California renters actually have more Rights than do the landlords....I'd say this is going a little far on 'consumer activism'.

[Ultrarunner]

Originally Posted by lbantau

But it is however illegal in california which is where I just moved from, so its not common everywhere. How they got away with it was by just rewording it into someother form of deposit tho, but it was not legal to request first and last. Sad to think they can ask that much in these times.

Just to avoid confusion here is what the California Department of Consumer Affairs has to say...

"Almost all landlords charge tenants a security deposit. The security deposit may be called "last month's rent," "security deposit," "pet deposit," "key fee," or "cleaning fee." The security deposit may be a combination, for example, of the last month's rent plus a specific amount for security. No matter what these payments or fees are called, the law considers them all, as well as any other deposit or charge, to be part of the security deposit."

For more info: California Tenants - California Department of Consumer Affairs