The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
Questions about renting an apartment
Melinoe
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
My boyfriend, a friend, and I are looking into renting an apartment (in the San Francisco south bay area, for reference), and are doing most of our looking through Craigslist. We have a couple of questions:
1) Some of the places (rental agencies) are asking for application fees, which seem a little steep. Could this be a scam or is it a ripoff, and should we just avoid these ads altogether, or is this normal and we're being overly paranoid? It's not the majority by any means, just a couple, which is why it seems kind of sketchy.
2) Related to the applications, they ask for stuff like renter's history and employment history and credit history, all of which I have none of (20 year old college student currently living at home). Boyfriend had the idea of just having him and our friend fill out applications initially, and if they get approved, try to add me onto the lease later because I'm not exactly contributing things like references and money and the like. I don't really think this is a good idea or that it will work, but figured I'd throw it out there anyway.
Thanks guys!
1) Some of the places (rental agencies) are asking for application fees, which seem a little steep. Could this be a scam or is it a ripoff, and should we just avoid these ads altogether, or is this normal and we're being overly paranoid? It's not the majority by any means, just a couple, which is why it seems kind of sketchy.
2) Related to the applications, they ask for stuff like renter's history and employment history and credit history, all of which I have none of (20 year old college student currently living at home). Boyfriend had the idea of just having him and our friend fill out applications initially, and if they get approved, try to add me onto the lease later because I'm not exactly contributing things like references and money and the like. I don't really think this is a good idea or that it will work, but figured I'd throw it out there anyway.
Thanks guys!
Melinoe on
0
Posts
2) Just fill it out yourself. Getting added to a lease is not always easy. If you're really concerned, then having two people with good histories is the same as having two people with good histories + one dead weight. Because if anything, it gives them more targets to go after if you don't pay. Most landlords/managers expect people with little-to-no histories to show up, as a significant portion of the renter market are young students. Plus, there are some significant drawbacks to being a sub-letter (assuming you can't get added to the lease). As long as you are up front and don't come across as a major flake, there shouldn't be any issues. Anything within your price range will expect a group like you, and anything outside of it will expect things you can't provide (i.e., rental history, proof of income, references, etc. etc. etc.). At the very least, you'll want to build your own rental history.
3) In terms of scams, follow the rule that if the deal looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is. Also, don't give anyone money until you've actually been able to tour the place physically. Basically, avoid ads that sound like this: "I am a businessman who has to leave the country for 6 months on short notice so I am putting my fantastic, fully-furnished SOMA 2-bedroom luxury apartment up for $1,000 a month but can't show you the place but will be using a reliable proxy service like paymyrent.com and will give you the key as soon as you pay me."
4) Use padmapper.com instead of Craigslist
5) Rental prices have skyrocketed some 20-50% in some places in the Bay Area over the past 6 months or so. It's gotten pretty insane, for whatever reasons. Expect your money not to go very far, particularly the closer you get to San Francisco.
- application fees are pretty standard, sometimes they'll discount the fee if you bring a copy of your credit report
- be aware that almost everywhere in that area seems to charge a cleaning fee when you move out, and they will take it out of your deposit
- my experience in the area was that almost everywhere had really thin walls, so be aware of that too when you're looking at places. I literally had to call the cops on my neighbor twice because the walls were so thin I seriously thought that there was a woman being raped in the apartment above.
- it's pretty standard that they're going to ask you for your rental history, credit rating, employment, etc, that isn't specific to the bay area
- every place has bad reviews online unless they're ridiculously expensive, so if you're checking them, take those reviews with a grain of salt
I can't stress this enough, and it isn't specific to the bay area, but make sure that you have a landlord you can live with and can trust. Great landlord in an older place is better than a crappy landlord in a newer place.
edit also: a lot of places will waive the app fee as part of a not-really-a-deal "deal"
they take a fee to even consider your application, even if you're denied the apartment, the fee is usually nonrefundable, it's usually to the tune of 100-200 bucks down in tampa, Fl
don't try to scam or trick your way onto a lease. if they catch you, they'll just evict you. If just those 2 are on the lease and you live there as well, that's enough for most places to evict if they want to
if you don't have credit or renting history, they'll probably ask for a cosigner, which the other two will be, but that'll put them on the spot as well for anything YOU do
if all 3 of you are cosigning a joint lease, you should be good if they both have decent history/credit, they'll vouch for you, and if it turns out you're a penniless hobo, they'll get charged
It's not what you asked but it needs to be in every apartment finding thread. Very helpful.
Also, renting here sucks and I hate it, but that's for another thread. Just be preparing to pay more than what you think you should for where ever you end up. (Unless you're from here, in which case rents may seem normal to you.)
I'm a landlord and when I rent my property the renter pays the fees, not me. This is generally how it works in NY.
To expand a bit, my tenants were liable for:
- Realtor fees
- Application fee
- Credit check fees (which were on top of the app fee but I waived)
- Move in/out deposit
Plus first month's rent and security.
Not these ones
Thanks a lot guys! Like I said, I figured the "get added to the lease later plan" was a bad idea. Guess we'll just have to suck up the application fees. I've looked at padmapper too and will probably use it over Craigslist, having everything mapped out is really nice.
Yep, we're moving down to exactly that area. But I've lived in SF all my life and they've been in the area for a while, so we're completely aware of the terrible prices ;_; south bay prices are way better than city prices though.
1. App fees pay for credit checks. No landlord worth their salt rents without a credit check. Only pay the app fees to the places you actually want. Don't pay anything beyond $30-35, as credit checks will cost them 20-30 bucks.
2. Rental history etc. - it would be REALLY good if you could get 'rents etc. to cosign, as without any real credit history, you're a liability. Also, the "add on later" thing will throw red flags to any landlord and probably lose you the place. If your parents are paying the rent, it's also more valid for making sure the money comes in.
Most of the ones I've seen so far have been security deposit + first month's rent, but I've seen first and last's as well.
This is not always true, and depends very, very heavily on from whom you're renting.
For most property management companies rent is, in fact, set in stone. You can act as nervous as you want, and the rent will not change.
If, however, you're renting from an individual, then yes, the matter is a bit softer.
Generally speaking, though, property managers and lease agents and the like do not have the authority to negotiate a rate set by a corporate office.
That's not been my experience with corporate-managed buildings in Los Angeles. They want to move units. It really depends entirely on supply and demand.
I guess I probably should have read the rest of the thread.
be aware that in CA they can't legally take more hen 2x rent as a deposit no matter what they call call it
Many people charge application fees, especially if they do a credit check. But DO NOT give them any specific information except your name and maybe what you do for work if you work, but not where you work. Don't give them anything until you 100% know for sure they are legit, and don't give them cash. Check only. Money orders are technically like cash so don't use those either.
Good luck!
Grats!