I have mentioned in another discussion that a friend of ours is looking for housing in our area. He found what was thought to be a nice complex and went to view a unit and get the packet of information. The fees and regulations seem fairly high and restrictive but I know that such things can be common in some areas. He asked if I could check with the wise brains here on what is really common and what should be expected when renting an apartment.

Here are some of the specifics from the packet:

 Deposits:

• $500  deposit
• $200 non refundable administration fee due at move in
• non refundable $50 application fee.
• $350 per pet fee

 Other Costs:

• Additional $50 a month for ground floor units
• $25 a month trash service
• Renter's insurance required, it reads as if you have to use the company they have chosen
• $15 a month per pet
• Leasing Requirements
• Monthly income three times the amount of rent, last two pay stubs or tax return required for proof
• 6 months employment history in the same field, unsatisfactory history may result in an additional deposit or denial of application
• 6 months of acceptable rent or mortgage payment history
• Marginal or bad credit may require an additional deposit or may result in denial, prospective residents with collections on their history may be denied 

The rules:

• There are many things we are sure are standard like no parking on the grass, no disturbances, no alcohol at the pool, ect.
• There are many rules to maintain conformity like window treatments provided by the complex must remain, only two plants allowed on balconies and patios, no furniture not considered outdoor furniture is permitted on patio or balcony and no barbecue grills.
• There is a $150 fee for trash put out in the day, trash can only be out shortly before 7 pm for pick up.
• No wallpapering, painting or even adding shelf paper to cabinets is allowed.
• Mild dishwasher only is to be used to clean floors.

 

 Fairly common or fairly out there?

 

 

 

 

 

 Deposits:

• $500  deposit - common
  
• $200 non refundable administration fee due at move in - sometimes. My daughter and others refuse to move to places that require this
• non refundable $50 application fee. - common
  
• $350 per pet fee - only $100, sometimes none
  

 Other Costs:

• Additional $50 a month for ground floor units - nevefr heard of it
  
• $25 a month trash service - sounds high, but prices vary. Some apartments don't charge for trash removal at all. 
• Renter's insurance required, it reads as if you have to use the company they have chosen -not common
  
• $15 a month per pet - about the same here
• Leasing Requirements
• Monthly income three times the amount of rent, last two pay stubs or tax return required for proof - Most places only require two times the rent
  
• 6 months employment history in the same field, unsatisfactory history may result in an additional deposit or denial of application - not common
  
• 6 months of acceptable rent or mortgage payment history - common
  
• Marginal or bad credit may require an additional deposit or may result in denial, prospective residents with collections on their history may be denied- common
  

The rules:

• There are many things we are sure are standard like no parking on the grass, no disturbances, no alcohol at the pool, ect.
• There are many rules to maintain conformity like window treatments provided by the complex must remain, only two plants allowed on balconies and patios, no furniture not considered outdoor furniture is permitted on patio or balcony and no barbecue grills. - don't know about this one, but my daughter has a balcony with no restrictions. She has a mini garden out there. :) 
• There is a $150 fee for trash put out in the day, trash can only be out shortly before 7 pm for pick up. - I don't think this is common. Most apartments have those large bins and you can use them whenever you want.
  
• No wallpapering, painting or even adding shelf paper to cabinets is allowed.No adding shelf paper??? Sounds a little extreme to me. The rest is common, though.
• Mild dishwasher only is to be used to clean floors. - If they have certain types of floors, yes. 

 

Just wondering Brandy is this an apartment complex or a condo association with a homeowners board? Some of the rules sound highly restrictive to someone personal taste or persuit of happiness espically dicating when you put the trash out, how you cook out and the type of soap you use on the floors. I can understand them wanting to make sure the tennants have a history of making the rent every month and can afford the apartment especially with all the homes that are being foreclosed on now the apartment complex wants to make sure that they don't get stuck with a squatter that later has to be evicted.

One thing has me wondering

Brandy:

Renter's insurance required, it reads as if you have to use the company they have chosen

if the tennant already has renters insurance with another company and has had it for several years would they have to change companies to satify this complex? If the insurance company is the one the complex picked out how can the tennants be sure thier best interests are being protected not those of the complex? If there were to be a fire because of faulty wiring what's to stop the insurance company from siding with the complex and blaming the tennant for plugging something in that caused the fire and not paying out?

 Thanks Pat.

The pet fee seems common around here but as a set fee regardless of number of animals. Per pet seems odd and high.

We thought it was common for complexes to have a dumpster but this one has valet  trash pick up where someone will pick up bags left outside the door between 7 and 9 pm each night. Weird.

I can understand not allowing painting and wallpapering but no shelf paper is indeed odd. I guess the wall stickers in my daughter's room would be a no no there. I had to wonder if pictures and mirrors would be ok.

The balcony and patio rules kill me but our friend and his wife don't see it as that difficult as they don't have a garden or any plants now. I suppose my desire for some self expression and uniqueness to my home isn't as strong in them either, lol.

The income and credit regulations seem rigid. Those concern our friend as he is just fininishing college and starting a job. When he viewed the apartment, it was never mentioned that his situation might be an issue or worse cost him additional deposits.

 

 

 I think, that if he has a choice, he should go looking at some different apartments. He can find out more about what's required that way and see if his lack of financial/work history is going to be a problem, but I would think that it will be. Has he looked into studio apartments? They're small, but usually easier to get into, from what I understand. 

 

nanagain2000:

is this an apartment complex or a condo association with a homeowners board?

An apartment complex.

nanagain2000:

if the tennant already has renters insurance with another company and has had it for several years would they have to change companies to satify this complex?

This is actually the case in regards to our friend. He currently has an apartment in another state and has renter's insurance with a company he would prefer to continue dealing with. You bring up an interesting question that I will certainly share with him as he already finds this requirement hard to swallow. 

 

 

Pat:

Has he looked into studio apartments?

We haven't seen any listed.

 He has called for some places that seem cheaper and less restrictive. Many of those are in questionable neighborhoods. He is looking for a fairly low crime neighborhood and lower hurricane/flood risk.

 

Brandy, my hubby and I lived in an apartment when we first got married (almost 9 years ago).  The apartment your friend is looking at has WAY more rules/restrictions than ours did.  However since it's been awhile since we lived there, I'm sure that apartment rules have changed somewhat.

As far as the monies involved, some of them seem extensive.  The $200 admin fee, that seems pretty out there for me.  Our complex didn't allow pets, so I don't know if the fees are resonable for them or not.  We didn't pay extra for ground units, trash was included in our rent and renters insurance was recommended but not required.

Complex rules seem fairly normal.  We wern't allowed to alter our apartment in any fashion as well (paint, shelf liner).  The balcony we didn't have any restrictions on though, but I can see how they might do that now since some people literally use them as storage spaces and they can look really junky.

As far as income verification, prior rental history, etc I guess that is pretty standard.  We would have been in trouble though, it was the first place we'd lived at besides our parents (we didn't live together until married) so we didn't have any prior rental history.  I guess the only thing I could recommend to see if the requirements are out of line would be to check with your state's tenant/renters rights board (I am pretty sure most states have something along those lines) to make sure that nothing is unlawful or discriminatory.

Brandy:

We thought it was common for complexes to have a dumpster but this one has valet  trash pick up where someone will pick up bags left outside the door between 7 and 9 pm each night. Weird.

   That is common around here.  The city requires trash to be bagged.  Some people get lazy/cheap and just dump it in w/o bags.  It can get really stinky for those living close to the dumpster then cost the complex to clean it.

 

Brandy:

I can understand not allowing painting and wallpapering but no shelf paper is indeed odd. I guess the wall stickers in my daughter's room would be a no no there. I had to wonder if pictures and mirrors would be ok.

  I was told that shelf paper actually attracts bugs - kind of like cardboard and paper sacks attracts bugs.  The "stickyness" in other products also attract bug so they say. 

Brandy:

The income and credit regulations seem rigid. Those concern our friend as he is just fininishing college and starting a job. When he viewed the apartment, it was never mentioned that his situation might be an issue or worse cost him additional deposits.

  Normal here too.  It costs a lot to evict a non payer - then prepare the place again to rerent.  Many will take personal situations in to account.

 

 

mommatothree:

We would have been in trouble though, it was the first place we'd lived at besides our parents (we didn't live together until married) so we didn't have any prior rental history.

He is fortunate that he has the rental history as he married in college and he and his wife have had an on campus apartment for two years now. He is relocating here now that he has graduated and only begun his "permanent" after college job though. He doesn't have the work history the requirements state. He did make it clear that he was just out of college and relocating for the job he got.