From: karl@ddsw1.mcs.com (Karl Denninger)
Subject: Re: Apartment Application Fee $25?
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 04:25:02 GMT
Organization: MCSNet, Chicago, IL

In article <1992Dec8.162211.7443@midway.uchicago.edu> hasn@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>I was recently checking out apts to move into and
>was a taken aback by the $25 application up front
>that the landlords need to have you "checked out."
>I spoke with a few people about it and they too
>were surprised (Ive been renting for about 7 yrs,
>4 apartments so far and never had to pay this).

Just say "NO" to such fees.

You likely have no legal right to not be charged, but they have no legal
right to impose it either.  That is, this is a private contractual matter.

I've turned down places that charge said fees before.  IMHO they are
outrageous.  If a place wants to investigate me they can damn well pay for 
the party.  My employment and current landlord's happiness (or lack thereof)
with my arrangements and rent paying history can be ascertained for ZERO cost 
on their part, unless you consider a nickel phone call to be too much for them
to bear.  If I pay the rent, don't trash the place and have enough income to
be reasonably assured of paying the rent in the future that ought to be
enough for anyone.

The landlord I rent from now asked for all kinds of stuff.  I told her 
where I worked, how to get ahold of me, my phone number at the office, 
and how much I made from my primary job.  We walked through the place and I
told her what I intended to change in the unit, and what was unacceptable
and needed attention at her cost.  We agreed on that.  She accepted a check 
from me for a security deposit and first month's rent, and handed over the 
keys.  Done.  Finito.  Total time: 1 hour.  I'm still here, a year and a
half later, and have no intention of moving any time soon.  These kinds of 
landlords are the kind I like.  You pay them and they take care of the 
things that need to be done -- other than that there are no hassles.

Anything beyond my last landlord (if over a year) and the fact that I have 
current employment is up to any prospective landlord to find out and pay 
for the privilege of obtaining.

Oh yeah, these fees seem to always be "unrefundable" too.  Uh huh.  How 
many places will take such an application, and fee, even if they don't 
have enough vacant units to cover the applicants?  

The last place that told me they wanted a $25.00 nonrefundable application
fee was told "I'll be glad to fill out those parts of the application I'm
willing to fill out, and you can do whatever you want with it.  You'll get a
security deposit and one month's rent when you hand me keys.  Until then we
have no contractual agreement, and I do not throw money around without just
cause".  They declined, which was no great loss.  There are lots of
landlords out there.

Any landlord who can't find out all they need to know about me in a half
hour on the phone (or by coming over to visit my current living quarters if
they insist) isn't someone I want to rent from anyway.

--
Karl Denninger (karl@ddsw1.MCS.COM, <well-connected>!ddsw1!karl)
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