Single woman looking for affordable studio/1BR in downtown Jersey City

[The Michigan Man]

has anyone else heard of this before? i saw a place at Metropolis Towers on Montgomery.. and they wanted a $300 NON-refundable security check! we liked the place but thought that was absurd and will only apply if the $300 is refundable.

[MrsPiggleWiggle]

Originally Posted by The Michigan Man

has anyone else heard of this before? i saw a place at Metropolis Towers on Montgomery.. and they wanted a $300 NON-refundable security check! we liked the place but thought that was absurd and will only apply if the $300 is refundable.

When I moved into my apartment, there was a $150 moving fee for "paperwork and reserving freight elevator." I think my friends who live in the Newport apartments cited a $100 non-refundable application fee and then another few hundred moving fee. So while it sucks, it's not unheard of with some larger buildings

Does this $300 include the moving portion as well? While they phrase it as a non-refundable security check, it might actually be the fee they charge to make the ID card to enter front door, file tenant paperwork, schedule move in and move out, etc. and is not actually an application fee per se. Can your friend ask the management company under what circumstances are applications rejected, e.g. here is my credit profile, first month's rent, security deposit, etc. is there any reason you would not give me the apartment?

[The Michigan Man]

Originally Posted by MrsPiggleWiggle

When I moved into my apartment, there was a $150 moving fee for "paperwork and reserving freight elevator." I think my friends who live in the Newport apartments cited a $100 non-refundable application fee and then another few hundred moving fee. So while it sucks, it's not unheard of with some larger buildings

Does this $300 include the moving portion as well? While they phrase it as a non-refundable security check, it might actually be the fee they charge to make the ID card to enter front door, file tenant paperwork, schedule move in and move out, etc. and is not actually an application fee per se. Can your friend ask the management company under what circumstances are applications rejected, e.g. here is my credit profile, first month's rent, security deposit, etc. is there any reason you would not give me the apartment?

yeah, it's some sort of a processing fee that goes to the condo board to review her application. it'd be one thing if it was part of the move-in, but the fact that it's non-refundable makes me nervous because she has no idea if she will get in or not. i suggested she red-lines the contract to get the fee back if she's not approved.

[BrownstoneNY]

Originally Posted by The Michigan Man

yeah, it's some sort of a processing fee that goes to the condo board to review her application. it'd be one thing if it was part of the move-in, but the fact that it's non-refundable makes me nervous because she has no idea if she will get in or not. i suggested she red-lines the contract to get the fee back if she's not approved.

If she's renting a condo from a condo owner in a condo that needs board approval for leasing, way less weird. They're picky and have no incentive to let the owner lease out the apartment.