Submitted by evilhaw t3_11dqcz8 in personalfinance
Hey Reddit!
I’m 18 and I had recently moved out and rented a room for 600 in a busy area of my town. between the deposit and rent I paid 1300 up front and moved in the middle of February. Anyways it’s been two weeks and my landlord is asking for prorated rent (250). Is this a mistake or will I have to pay an extra 250 on top of nexts months 600?
I think he paid for march's rent, and owes the prorated amount for february.
Usually they want last months rent so you don't skip out
Usually this is agreed upon in writing upon agreeing to move in. He needs to find that.
Depends on the area. In my area you pay a full months rent upfront as first months rent then on the first of the month after you move in you get a prorated amount.
Most areas also have pretty strict holding requirements if people prepare rent more than a certain length out, I doubt the landlord wants to deal with that.
It’s not uncommon but not the standard either. I’ve never paid last months rent. First month plus deposit for every apartment I’ve ever lived in
Oh that would make a lot more sense!
This should all be spelled out in the lease though. The deposit/first/last month and when first rent is due and how much.
Yes, don’t assume something because “it makes sense”. Get it in writing, what you have paid for, and what you are being asked to pay.
> and last month rent
Is that normal? I've lived at 3 different complexes in 2 different states over the last 6 years and none of them ever asked for last month rent upfront.
However, they were all managed by businesses, not private rentals or something.
Every place I've ever been to wanted first, last, deposit, and a listing fee
I've only ever seen deposit + pro-rated first month + application/admin fee....but I've only lived in a few places so yeah if asking for more is normal, that very well could've been what OP paid extra for.
As a property owner, this is what I do.
Only own in Texas. Each state has different laws.
But, this is the most straight forward way for everyone, I think.
Where have you lived? I've never had a landlord ask for last month's rent up front, but I don't know the norms in all 50 states.
NYS (not anywhere near NYC) and I've always had a landlord ask for first and last up front, then they apply first month to the rent and hold the last month amount as a security deposit
It varies based on location. My renting experience in California has been very different than Pennsylvania.
Last 3 places I’ve lived required the 1st, last and security deposit.
It's pretty standard in MA, though often it's more like 3 of 4 for first/last/security/broker fee.
In MA, at least, they technically need to put anything prepaid (security and last month rent) into a savings account and give you the interest. Or a flat 5%/yr if they don't put it in a bank account. I can't say I've really seen the interest but usually it's not enough to bother pushing as long as they give me my full deposit back. Many might not even know they owe this, though some probably just count on tenants not being aware.
Oddly enough, I forgot about the 6mo I was in MA years ago - bringing me up to 4 complexes in 3 states over the last 6 years where they never asked for last months rent up front.
I'm Canadian and I've personally never been asked for a security deposit. It's always just first and last months rent upfront.
Security/damage deposits are illegal in Ontario so that's probably why.
Yep I remember when they put that in place.
I love that security deposits and last month deposits are illegal in Montreal. They're only allowed to ask for the first month or a portion of the first month as a form of deposit up front before you move in. You must have signed the lease and they must cash it before you move in.
That goes for all of Quebec but yeah.
Normal where I live. Depends on the market.
I've only had to pay last months rent in Boston. That was the norm there, I paid it at 4 different places. My only other rental experience is in Virginia and it is not the norm there. 1st month and deposit only.
I rented in Boston many years ago (actually forgot that in my above post....so 4 complexes in 3 different states) and didn't pay last months rent upfront....
But my Move in Date was two weeks ago(Feb 13th) I wasn’t a tenant last month?
Not last month. the last month. You won't owe the last month. Check the lease
That would be super bizarre way of handling things. You think the landlord is trying to collect a retroactive payment for February 14th-28th on March 1st?
That would be a first for me. I'd say it's far more likely that the 600 was credited towards February and then they are "cutting a break" in March to even it out. That's how all my rental agreements have worked whenever they are prorated or a subsidy was given i.e. one month or half month free for move-in.
Either way OP should ask the owner.
Seeing as that's exactly what my landlords have always done, yes.
Every landlord you've ever had has asked you to pay your first month's rent at the end of your first month there instead of before move in..?
They've asked for first full month +pro-rated first month, last month, and deposit.
Exactly. Every landlord does this.
Not every landlord, but it is most common. I've personally only ever paid first full month + deposit + pro-rated first month if applicable. I've only paid last months rent up front once in almost 30 years of renting.
In some states, they can't ask for first month + last month as security deposit
I’m pretty sure can ask for first and last in every state, but not everywhere will let landlords do first, last, and a deposit on top. That’s the case in my jurisdiction, only first and last.
Here in NJ, security deposit can't be more than 1.5x rent
Different areas have different ways that it tends to work. Where I live they usually charge security plus 1 full month at move in and then on the first of the next month you pay the prorated amount instead of a full month if you move in mid month. This isn't how every landlord does it around here but most of the big ones do. It's because it's the way they can collect the largest amount legally possible before move in. Where I live they also limit the size of security deposits and won't let landlords collect more than 1 month's rent at move in. So instead of first and last and security, it's just first and security, so they try not to prorate first.
Everywhere has different rules, and different norms and traditions.
Where I live when you move in mid month they usually charge you your security deposit and a full month's rent at move in and then on the first of the next month instead of paying for another full month's rent you just pay a prorated amount based on how many days you lived there in the first month.
It seems counterintuitive since you pay at the beginning of the month it would logically make sense to pay a prorated amount at move in and a full month on the first of the next month. But they do it that way so they have a little more money for the first few weeks just in case you turn out to be a deadbeat.
It is not uncommon for some places/landlords to require a fill month’s rent up front, and then your second month’s rent is the prorated amount from your first month. So you paid a full $600 for Feb 13-28. Then on March 1st you will owe the prorated amount from February only.
Last as in final, not previous.
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Ask him to break it down for you and show you why. You're 18 it's OK to ask questions. Make sure it adds up.
Great life advice here.
its not even about age. ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU NEED CLARITY. its something i had to learn too late in life.
Once OP does that, it's also okay to put a reminder in your calendar for what each month's payment covers. I know it took me a while to know that, oh, I'm paying at the start of April for April's rent, when at work, I'd be paid at the end of a period for that period's work.
It's okay to ask, and it's okay to not find it all intuitive at first or at all.
You will need to provide more information about your situation for anyone to provide meaningful advice. What did the 1300 cover? What is the prorated rent for? What does your lease agreement state?
reread the agreement, and besides a late fee and a connivence fee it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Also the 1300 covered rent(650) fully and deposit (650) fully .
When does your lease start? It sounds like you moved in mid-month so that $250 might be pro-rated for February or may be some other cost. You’re probably best served by asking “what does this fee represent?” in writing to your landlord so that you’re both on the same page as to what you’re paying.
My lease started (Feb 13th), The fee was sent as an invoice and attached was “pro-rated (apt #) move in 2/13)” exactly identical to the original rent and security deposit invoice I paid went first moved in just without the pro-rates part
It sounds like the $1300 could be the deposit and last month’s rent (meaning when you move out) and the $250 represents a pro-rated amount for February. But, I’m a stranger on the internet that hasn’t read your lease. You should still contact your landlord to confirm.
“Covered rent fully”
For which period?
2/13-3/12?
3/1-3/31?
What does the lease say for which day of the month rent is due?
That’s my guess, that it covered 2/13 to 3/12, and the landlord is asking for the rest of March to catch up, and assume regular payments 4/1.
But that’s just a guess and OP needs to ask his landlord
Since this is your first apartment, I would HIGHLY recommend learning about your local tenants' rights. Many landlords are either themselves unaware or count on renters not knowing the details, but some places have numerous restrictions on how the landlord has to handle security deposits and last month rent prepayments.
Plus knowing your rights regarding privacy and landlord access and all that will help you to avoid some scummy practices.
It sounds normal, that’s how I do it when I rent a room.
So when they move in they owe:
Deposit
First months rent in full, no matter the move in date
Last months deposit
But then the second month they get a discounted rate based on how many days into the previous month they moved in. But it’s just for that month.
Then when they move out, they get the deposit if owed, and then I return any last months rent if they don’t stay to the end.
So it’s like you paid for 2/14-3/14 already, but you still owe for 3/15-3/31, but that amount is due March 1st because that’s when the rest of March’s rent is due
It should be one time only of $250, and April 1st and all the rest of the months following you will only owe the full rent (650) on the first
Do you have any paperwork that covers what you were paying. Some places have you pay first and last, some places have you pay a security deposit and a "move in fee" that has nothing to do with rent.
I personally had an apartment where I paid first, last, and a security deposit. I lived there for several years and ownership of the property changed while I lived there. When I moved out, the new company tried to keep my security deposit because I didn't pay my last month rent. I had to spend several weeks going back and forth with them over this. I had a friend who was a lawyer contact them as if I were taking them to court and they immediately paid up. I'm pretty confident that they knew I paid my last month rent when I first moved in but thought they could just bully me into letting them keep my security deposit.
So if you have anything that shows what you paid when moving in, you should keep that on hand as long as you live somewhere. They might be trying to fleece you, you might have misunderstood what you were paying, it might be an honest mistake on their end. Unfortunately I don't think anyone here can answer the question for you because we wouldn't know what you actually paid for
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Rent was 650 and the Security Deposit was 650 as well
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It states rent should be paid by the 3rd of each month but considering I moved in on the 17th I wouldn’t receive any late fees or am I mistaken?
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Yeah Thank y’all! I believe I paid for March’s rent in February and he’s asking for February pro rated rent
Get that confirmed in writing.
Hi landlord - I want to confirm the money I’ve sent and what it’s for. This is my understanding, please confirm
March 1-31 rent- $650 - paid on <date>
Security deposit - $650 - paid on <date>
February prorated 2/13-2/28 rent - $xxx - not yet paid.
Going forward rent to be paid on 1st of the month. Ie April rent $650 to be paid on 4/1
It’s pretty normal when you get a apartment your often asked to pay for the first and last months rent.
What does your lease say? Otherwise rent should be due on the date every day you move in. What was the $1300 for 1st month at $600 and deposit of $600 and the other $100 for? Why $250 if 1/2 a month is $300. I would want it written out and look it over before paying anything. Also are you paying cash ? You want things written out so you have a paper trail so when you move out you won’t get - you didn’t pay a deposit.. or last months rent.
It makes no sense. I would never move a tenant in without having the first months rent paid in full.
Hey OP, sounds like you're new to this stuff. Lot of good comments here already, so I'm going to add one thing I didn't see.
If you use a check, put your unit's address (and unit #) in your comment line. Include which month it's for as well. All checks are usually scanned by banks, and so it can be used for your records.
Keeping records can help you in the long run! I had a place send me an eviction notice (no other communication) for "non-payment". When I called and said I had the receipt for that month their reaction was priceless! Your landlord will rarely help you, so help yourself. GL out there.
What did your lease agreement say?
Ask for a breakdown of the costs, always ask questions. You probably paid a deposit and the last months rent or something like that. If you moved in half way though the month, the 250 sounds right but just ask for an explanation. Your lease will also tell you exactly what that 1300 was for and that should clear it up. You would probably owe the 600 + the 250 if that’s the case but just double check.
Good life advice, give people the benefit of the doubt but always make sure the numbers add up.
What was the 1300 for? It should say on the contract, and it would answer this question. Normally people ask for first month, last month, and deposit at signing. However, if they're asking for pro-rated, maybe that means you didn't actually pay first month.
If you're at all concerned about this, I'd keep your receipts (which presumably will say what month they're for). They can't just randomly double-charge you for a month legally, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.
Make sure you write the month on each check that the rent is for. And use carbon copy checks or photo it before signing do you have a record.
In my years of renting, upon signing the lease, the deposit is due (usually matches monthly rent payment), if you move in halfway through the month, then prorated rent is due on your actual move in date. You shouldn’t be paying next months rent up front before you pay the deposit and the prorated rent. I’ve never heard of that.
But your original lease will say right on it what the refundable deposit was and what the monthly rent rate will be, and what your prorated rent amount is(if applicable). And in this situation it would apply.
You shouldn’t be renting or paying anything if you never signed a lease. ALWAYS keep the lease.
I doubt it’s a mistake - if you moved in during the middle of the month, it makes sense that you’d be charged prorated rent for February ($250). The question is whether the rent portion of that $1300 is for March or for your last month’s rent. You’re going to have to just ask your landlord. We can only guess, and we don’t have enough information. There’s nothing wrong with asking your landlord for clarity on what the payments are going toward.
This will be spelled out in the lease, but you probably paid March Rent already + a $700 security deposit and the landlord wants to prorate your time in February at 250.
you may have paid 15-15 then will owe the prorated amount for next month, so only 250, not $250 plus 600 next month. I had a company do this once
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Hi, landlord here. Quick explanation: Prorated rent is used when you move into an apartment in the middle of the month. You already paid first month rent, but since the month was half over, the amount you paid will also cover some of next month. The prorated rent is the amount you still owe for the remainder of next month. That is not in addition to 650, it is in place of it.
So your rent that is due in March will be the prorated amount. In April you will resume normal rent payments.
Hope that helps!
Looks like the advice part was covered, but I just wanna say congratulations and good on you for moving out at 18!! You're doing an awesome job.
Ordinarily they should prorate the first month. Basically break down a month and divide by days in the month. So if you moved in say February 14th that gives you two weeks of rent to be paid instead of an entire month. So if your monthly is 600, it would be 150 a week or 21.43 per day. I would think you should pay $850 until the end of March. Then not pay again until April 1st
Depending on where you live, landlords will sometimes ask for "First and Last month's rent" on the first day, in addition to the security deposit. It's illegal where I am, but apparently some people will ask for that.
Where I live, you would have paid $250 for your first "month" in addition to the $600 security deposit when you received the keys. The next full month would be due on March 1.
Like the other guy said - ask him for a break down, that indicates what the money you gave him was actually for.
Don’t forget the landlord’s tip too, out of thankfulness
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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaa79ic wrote
You probably paid deposit and last month rent. You owe first month's rent