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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaa79ic wrote

You probably paid deposit and last month rent. You owe first month's rent

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GodzlIIa t1_jaa7xxp wrote

I think he paid for march's rent, and owes the prorated amount for february.

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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaa80ev wrote

Usually they want last months rent so you don't skip out

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SentorialH1 t1_jaavrof wrote

Usually this is agreed upon in writing upon agreeing to move in. He needs to find that.

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natphotog t1_jaauui9 wrote

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.

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theski2687 t1_jac32ol wrote

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

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evilhaw OP t1_jaa9p7q wrote

Oh that would make a lot more sense!

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MikeWPhilly t1_jaa9yq1 wrote

This should all be spelled out in the lease though. The deposit/first/last month and when first rent is due and how much.

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Historical-Ad-1617 t1_jae6fip wrote

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.

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Nagisan t1_jaaa4hu wrote

> 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.

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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaaaqt6 wrote

Every place I've ever been to wanted first, last, deposit, and a listing fee

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Nagisan t1_jaab4us wrote

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.

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Stonethecrow77 t1_jabajd8 wrote

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.

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Pleasant_Carpenter37 t1_jab9j6m wrote

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.

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acidwxlf t1_jacp3ef wrote

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

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fizzlepop t1_jaaespw wrote

It varies based on location. My renting experience in California has been very different than Pennsylvania.

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ExPorkie15 t1_jaathdl wrote

Last 3 places I’ve lived required the 1st, last and security deposit.

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J_Pizzle t1_jad2mmi wrote

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.

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Nagisan t1_jadj0id wrote

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.

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SpoonerSleutherton t1_jab6syo wrote

I'm Canadian and I've personally never been asked for a security deposit. It's always just first and last months rent upfront.

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TooSoonTurtle t1_jabcsn4 wrote

Security/damage deposits are illegal in Ontario so that's probably why.

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Ashesnhale t1_jactcab wrote

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.

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Substantial-Ad5483 t1_jad954f wrote

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.

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Nagisan t1_jaditwe wrote

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....

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evilhaw OP t1_jaa8de4 wrote

But my Move in Date was two weeks ago(Feb 13th) I wasn’t a tenant last month?

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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaa8hlz wrote

Not last month. the last month. You won't owe the last month. Check the lease

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Brye11626 t1_jaafo1r wrote

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.

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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaag19w wrote

Seeing as that's exactly what my landlords have always done, yes.

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Brye11626 t1_jaagjrx wrote

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..?

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Banea-Vaedr t1_jaagsz5 wrote

They've asked for first full month +pro-rated first month, last month, and deposit.

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Loggerdon t1_jaamtme wrote

Exactly. Every landlord does this.

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thomasvector t1_jaawz53 wrote

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.

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bros402 t1_jab5tf1 wrote

In some states, they can't ask for first month + last month as security deposit

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hummingbird_mywill t1_jabnhtg wrote

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.

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bros402 t1_jacq6dt wrote

Here in NJ, security deposit can't be more than 1.5x rent

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123456478965413846 t1_jabfley wrote

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.

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123456478965413846 t1_jabez51 wrote

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.

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Kevdog1800 t1_jabi88c wrote

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.

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