Is this common for apartments in Washington? (Seattle, Olympia: sublets, apartment complexes)

[operaphantom2003]

I have applied to 3 different apartment complexes in Olympia and 2 in Seattle but keep getting the same response: You must be on the job for 12 months in order to rent here. This response is only after I pay the non-refundable application fee. I have the money for 6 months rent plus deposit. I know that where I am now I only have to verify income. Is this a common demand for apartments in Washington?

[sll3454]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have a suggestion. Before you submit your next application fee, ask if it's a requirement or if there are any other requirements you should know about. Describe your general situation and ask if it's worth applying.

As a landlord I would not take an application and fee from someone I already knew was unqualified.

[operaphantom2003]

I took your advise and asked about specific requirements for a few more apartments today in order to save myself some application money. Here's what I found out:

2 apartments required pay to be 3 times the amount of the rent and 1 required it to be 4 times the amount of rent...HOLY CRAP! I'm doing good to find rent at 40-50% of my pay where I am right now.

Another apartment required that I had 3 local references that I have known for over 1 year...um, this isn't a job application and frankly I don't know a single person that lives in Washington.

Is this normal? I've moved 5 times in my life as an adult and never had this much trouble finding an apartment. It used to be Job+deposit (or 6 months rent+deposit)=apartment.

When did this change?

[Cinebar]

Do you have to live in either Olympia or Seattle?

The reason I ask is because a little farther south from Olympia (Centralia), my son and his girlfriend rented a little house from a guy who has a lot of rentals in this area. This house was their first rental (having just moved out of their parents' homes) and they were approved very easily. I don't think there was any co-signer required either and it was month to month rent.

Their little house (less than 300 square feet, I think) was $425.00 a month. And he let them have their cats. I can't remember how much the deposits were but I remember them as being very reasonable. When they moved out, he tried to give the deposit back to the kids but they wouldn't take it because there were a few things that needed to be fixed - a wall heater, some mini-blinds needed to be replaced, etc.

So, I'm curious if you are absolutely stuck with having to rent in either Olympia or Seattle; if you could go 25 or 30 miles farther south, I could DM you the phone number of their ex-landlord. He really is a great guy - even taking the kids out to dinner for their birthdays and stuff.

[sll3454]

Large apartment complexes and anything with a management company will have stricter rules. Try to find a landlord you can deal directly with.

Would you consider renting a room in a house? You'd save money, and in a year or so you'd qualify for something else.

[Hemlock140]

Keep in mind that since the home mortgage crisis, it's become a landlord's market. They can pick and choose who they rent too now, and the bigger buildings have savvy property managers. You probably should look at Craigslist, NW Source, or drive around looking for signs at smaller, older buildings, especially upstairs units over retail shops. Those with elaborate websites are most likely to be stricter.

It does seem like a ripoff to keep an application fee if they don't disclose the requirements in advance, and that may be worth reporting to local authorities such as:

Renting - Housing - Human Services - Living - Seattle.gov

[Cinebar]

Originally Posted by sll3454

Would you consider renting a room in a house? You'd save money, and in a year or so you'd qualify for something else.

I think this is a great idea! Just in my little local newspaper's classifieds, there are always three or four or more "roommates wanted" ads. Seems to me to be a lot more of them nowadays - probably related to the economy.

[Cinebar]

Seattle "roommates wanted:"

seattle-tacoma rooms & shares classifieds - craigslist

Seattle "sublets:"

seattle-tacoma sublets & temporary classifieds - craigslist

Seattle "housing and apartments:"

seattle apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

Olympia "housing and apartments:"

olympia / thurston apts/housing for rent classifieds - craigslist

Olympia "sublets:"

seattle sublets & temporary classifieds - craigslist

Olympia "roommates wanted:"

seattle rooms & shares classifieds - craigslist

I see someone is looking for "kick ass roommates" on the first page (today's listing) of the Olympia area "roommates wanted" listings. Could that be you? LOL

[operaphantom2003]

Being a roommate or renting a room in a house is kind of out of the question right now. I really doubt my son would like that arrangement. I need a 2 bed (or at least one bedroom) apartment/house. I am still in another state which is why I am focusing on apartment complexes (plus I have never rented from an individual before). I would have picked the western part of the peninsula but am finding more job opportunities in Olympia.

[Cinebar]

I didn't realize you had a child. The "roommate" thing probably wouldn't work then.

If you are planning on working in Olympia, I would certainly look at places south of there. Like I said, Centralia is only 25 or 30 miles south of Olympia and I'll bet you could find something there. I know several people who commute, either living in Olympia and working in Centralia, or like my son, living in Centralia and working in Lacy. There are also other small towns between Olympia and Centralia - Rochester, for example - that might have something you could get into.

Rent should also be cheaper in places like Centralia (or Chehalis or some of the other smaller towns) than in Olympia.