rental fee's

[BettyInToronto]

rosemary....
in 12 years here, and about 10 leases...i have NEVER BEEN asked to pay 3 months advance rent.

i HAVE been asked to pay 2 months deposit and the first month's rent when signing a lease...

i just wanted to clarify what you meant. were you asked to pay 2 months deposit AND 3 months advance rent???? that's a hell of a lot of $$$$!!!

I think he is saying 3 months total in advance which is true. (1 month advance rent + 2 months for deposit = 3 due NOW)

[carang]

i hope that's what he meant, otherwise he was taken for a ride!

[freeway]

wow, many answers ^^ and all are very helpful!
how do you think the contract-signing is going down, when i wanna rent a flat from germany. will the landlord wait until i arrive? not that i arrive and then he tells me: no you came to late :P" any solution for this?

[PDLM]

To be fair though Cara it is possible to use the "rent in advance" tactic in negotiation. For one of my flats I did offer (and paid) I think 6 month's rent up front as a last stage in getting the rent down to what I was prepared to pay - I think I got about a 12.5% discount (for the whole 2 years) by doing this.

[erictby]

To be fair though Cara it is possible to use the "rent in advance" tactic in negotiation. For one of my flats I did offer (and paid) I think 6 month's rent up front as a last stage in getting the rent down to what I was prepared to pay - I think I got about a 12.5% discount (for the whole 2 years) by doing this.

What done by PDLM was a good tactic, but make sure you will completed the agreement period. What ever money you pay to owner won't refunded if you leave before your agreement mature.

I am single, rent a room. Every 3 months I pay 3 months rental in advance, so I get better bargain compare with my others housemate. It's about 23% cheaper. But have pros & cons also, maybe I will being forced to leave after my 3 months contact period expiry. Usually this won't happen if you are a prompt tenant.

Of course, room was more flexible compare with whole apartment ~ have more margin to bargain for a room.

[carang]

yes, i agree it is a good tactic, but it is not what is the norm. it is something, i'm guessing, that you, the tennant offered rather than the landlord demanded, right?

if the landlord is demanding this and not offering anything in return, this new person to hong kong is being taken for a ride.

[Alby]

Similar to PDLM, I too have the strategic tactic of paying in advance on all the places I have rented over the years. I have saved in the range of approximately 12% to 18% over the contracted rental periods. Always ensuring there is a refund that will be given if I need out of the lease for whatever reason.

[rose_mary]

Sorry for the unclear points earlier in this thread.

3 months' rent in advance--- 2 months rent deposit+1 month rent

and guys, I am she, not he

[wtbhotia]

my next door neighbour told me that she had to give the owner 12 months rent in cheques as like a guarantee as the owner had a bad experience with the previous tennent as the young lad had sublet the house but kept the money and owed the owner I think 4-5 months rent so this time the owner was being more careful. It always depends on the owner.

Rosemary, what you are paying is the normal practice.