I've been trying to find an apartment to rent in a particular complex for a few months now and I've finally found one that seems to have accepted my offer (yet to finalise contract). Up until now, I've been messed around, lied to, strung along, etc etc, and all I want to do is get it over and done with.
Although this flat I found is great in every other way, it is apparently owned by a business and the accountants require 12 post-dated cheques (checks) for the first 12 months rent. This struck me as odd and makes me uncomfortable, but I figure if anything goes horribly wrong I can cancel the cheque(s) I need to with the bank. Do you guys think this is something to be worried about/that cancelling a cheque will be fine?
What's really got me in a dilemma however is a phone call i received today. Apparently the landlord does want to clean the place (something I said I was fine to do), BUT any maintenance or work which needs doing to the flat will be totally my responsibility. So, if the A/C breaks, I have to organise and pay for it to get fixed. I'm sure you're probably thinking this is ridiculous and I'd be a fool to consider it. Well, I agree with you there. I just want to know if anyone has heard of anything like this in HK... or anywhere in fact! Quite how the landlord decided they needed to ask for this arrangement I've no idea.
I would happily clean the place up myself (it currently needs a clean), and happily arrange for for maintenance/plumbers/etc, but I don't see how the landlord can expect the tenant to be the one paying to upkeep their property.