Long Distance Rental Coordination Headaches

Soggychicken

I need some help.

I will be doing a summer program in Hamilton, Ontario this year and I am in the middle of hunting for summer rentals. I will be living with two other people. One of them is a friend who goes to the same school as I do right now. The other is currently in another country and will not be arriving until the start of the program. I have somewhat became the coordination person since I'm the one with the least school work left to do. What I your help with, H&A, is the actual logistics of picking out a place over long distance.

I have already called a bunch of landlords and am planning to go in person to check out the places. Right now, I plan to take some pictures when I view the houses so I can send them to my two other roommates. How should I proceed once we have picked out a place? I will only be in Hamilton for one day to look at the places, so essentially all of our dealing with the landlord once we have decided on a place will be long distance.

How should we proceed with paying any potential deposits or signing a lease as we are in three different places. Is it wiser to not make any financial commitment until we get there in person? This is also a problem since we will be arriving there in different times ( I will be the first to get there and the other two will arrive a couple of weeks after the program starts). I am getting a headache from just sorting through the logistical nightmare. Please help me!!

Zeon

How far away do you live and how well do you know these other people?

If you live close, just go and sort everything out yourself. Most places here in ontario need a first and last before you move in, so if you know these people well, you can just pay it yourself and have them pay you back when they get there.

If you dont really trust these people at all, have them send you checks and then use that to pay the first and last.

Your other option, since most landlords dont want to deal with people long distance (since theres a huge chance of getting screwed if you dont show up and dont pay, their place is sitting empty for at least another month...), is to use a real estate broker to set up everything for you, but then youre also going to have pay upfront.

Soggychicken

I will be in Montreal but my parents are in Toronto. The plan is to head back to Toronto for a few days and driving into Hamilton during one of them.

I know about the first and last, but does that also apply to summer rentals too? For that matter, can a lease only be four months long?

Let's say we do end up having to mail our cheques, what is the best way to make sure we don't get shafted by the landlord? Should we ask for an invoice for the deposit or have the receipt faxed or emailed?

SatanIsMyMotor

In Canada your deposit should go to the rentalsman, not the landlord. That's how you cover your bases.

tsmvengy

Soggychicken wrote: »

I will be in Montreal but my parents are in Toronto. The plan is to head back to Toronto for a few days and driving into Hamilton during one of them.

I know about the first and last, but does that also apply to summer rentals too? For that matter, can a lease only be four months long?

Let's say we do end up having to mail our cheques, what is the best way to make sure we don't get shafted by the landlord? Should we ask for an invoice for the deposit or have the receipt faxed or emailed?

Before you send cheques you will be signing some kind of lease so that will prevent you from being shafted legally.

witch_ie

I would recommend that if you find a place you like when you visit, go ahead and fill out an application on the spot and explain your situation to management. If you find a place you love, I would suggest getting the lease documents together ASAP. Since your roomies won't be there - just add a line to to the document that indicates 2 other people will be signing on by whatever date you determine.

With regard to your roomies, since they're pretty much leaving it up to you do do all the work, they need to trust your judgement about which place and you shouldn't have to get their consent if you find a place that you think will be great for all of you. Talk to them about it before your trip. My guess is so long as you know what their top priorities are for a place (location, amenities, cost), you should be able to find one that will work for all of you. You need to grab this great place fast as otherwise, you could lose out. Like I said though, discuss with your roomies first.

Also, don't stress too much over it - it's only four months that you'll be living there.

Zeon

Soggychicken wrote: »

I will be in Montreal but my parents are in Toronto. The plan is to head back to Toronto for a few days and driving into Hamilton during one of them.

I know about the first and last, but does that also apply to summer rentals too? For that matter, can a lease only be four months long?

Let's say we do end up having to mail our cheques, what is the best way to make sure we don't get shafted by the landlord? Should we ask for an invoice for the deposit or have the receipt faxed or emailed?

First and last isnt legally mandated, its only legally the MOST they can ask for. Some private landlords, in desperate attempts to fill their apartments with paying tenants, will sometimes waive the last months rent. This is good if youre short on cash while moving in, but sucks when you go to move out as you end up having to pay last months rent, plus first and last at the new place.

Do NOT pay for a "key deposit" or "damage deposit" or anything more than first and last months rent. This is illegal in ontario. Same goes for "No pets" and "No smoking" clauses. Landlords are technically able to write them in, but they are unenforcable and render the lease void (or at least those sections, the ontario rental code is pretty vague on what exactly is void should those clauses be contained).

That said, if youre just looking for summer rentals, maybe try rooming with even more people? In student houses, people generally leave just for the summer and look to sublet their places. You might have more luck with that than renting a house/apartment on a 4 month lease.