I am a resident in California, looking dfor an apartment. I am finding that majority of the landlords are charging deposits, first months rent and last months rent, Is this legal?
2007-07-25 09:20:35 · 5 answers · asked by Crisencia M 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
yes it is. It is pretty much standard.
2007-07-25 09:27:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
CA law states that the combined total of the last month rent with cleaning, pet, security, key, cleaning (or whatever else they want to call this) deposit CANNOT total more than the amount of 2 month's rent (if the place is unfurnished). If you have a waterbed, then it goes up to 2 1/2 times the monthly rent. If the place is furnished, the total cannot be more than 3 month's rent worth. So, you can pay the first month PLUS any one of the above. Yes, what I wrote here is legal, after all the problems created by previous tenants years ago, this is what the courts determined. BUT, a landlord cannot charge you a security deposit totaling 2 month's rent, and an additional charge on top of that for the last month's rent. Remember, the last month's rent AND security (or whatever combination of deposits they want to call it) cannot total more than 2 month's rent for the place. Sorry to go over and over this. Does this make sense? Sure hope so, and good luck with your search :)
2007-07-25 16:55:45 · answer #2 · answered by J k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Suggest you google Nolo Press. They have good books on Tenant/Landlord relationships. You can even ask legal questions (no charge)
I'm not a lawyer, but I believe a landlord can ask for first and last months rent plus a cleaning deposit.
2007-07-25 16:42:35 · answer #3 · answered by Buzzy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is quite legal. Landlords are now charging hefty security deposits due to tenants either walking away from the lease to which they agreed, causing expensive damage, or both. The security deposit is held to help the landlord financially in either or both situations.
2007-07-25 16:51:00 · answer #4 · answered by acermill 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
deposits (in california) cannot exceed twice the amount of the monthly rent. they can call it a deposit , they can call it first and last...but all together it cannot be more than 2x the monthly rent.
2007-07-25 16:39:29 · answer #5 · answered by Blue October 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋