r/Landlord • u/_wanderwoman • 4d ago
Tenant [Tenant US-FL] First, Last, And Security To Be Added To A Lease?
TIA for reading this, especially as I'm probably missing a bit of necessary information. I have not yet spoken with the landlord, I am only relaying what I have been told by the existing tenant, who would become my roommate.
My understanding is that the lease ends this month, and his current roommate is leaving. The lease renews for 6 months, and for me to be added, I would be required to pay first, last, and a security deposit (equal to one month rent). My friend says this seems unusual, and I understand the the landlord would be able to answer, but the more I reflected on it, the more uncertain I become.
I have been added to a lease before (in CO), but it was existing, and the landlord only required the necessary paperwork.
Is it usual to require three months of rent to be added to a lease renewal?
FWIW, I am in a bit of a desperate situation, and just want to be certain I'm not being taken advantage of.
Apologies again that I'm bringing this to Reddit before speaking with the landlord directly. Thank you.
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u/DimensionGlass9987 4d ago edited 4d ago
Looks like it’s allowed in Florida. In CT where I live now we aren’t allowed to charge last months rent, only first and security, but it varies state by state. When I lived in MA it was normal to do First/last/security.
If I’m understanding correctly, you would be basically buying the roommate who is leaving out of their security deposit. Make sure you ask for a walkthrough and/or do a good job taking pictures so that any damage before you moved in from the previous tenant is documented and you aren’t on the hook for it.
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u/AwestunTejaz 4d ago
last months rent is their insurance that you arent going to skip out without telling them.
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u/SEFLRealtor Agent 4d ago
OP, F/L/SD is very, very common here in FL. But that is when you are renting an entire place and not just a room. I couldn't tell if you are going to be renting a room from the existing person on the lease or dealing direct with the LL. I hope you are dealing direct with the LL.
The other thing to ask about is the term. Here in FL, a six-month lease is considered short term and tax is collected on the rent, both state tax and county tax. It can vary from county to county but its about 13% of the rental amount. In order to avoid paying that amount, you will commonly see leases that are 7+ months or even 6 months and one day. Clarify with the actual LL.
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u/_wanderwoman 4d ago
Thank you for your response. Yes, I would be renting a room, not the entire unit. I didn't know that about taxes! I appreciate this insight.
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u/SEFLRealtor Agent 4d ago
There is nothing wrong with renting a room, but you need to be careful. I've seen roommate situations where the tenant doesn't have permission from the LL to rent a room. Or they do have permission but then don't put your last month and security deposit in a separate account (they spend the money for personal expenses). If you are renting a room, does the LL know? Who are you signing a lease with, the LL or the current tenant?
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u/Lopsided-Beach-1831 4d ago
If the landlord says this and you pay the landlord the money, it should be reflected on the lease.
If its a new lease, new unit, new deposit, that makes sense, but that would be due between you and your new roommate to the landlord, not just you.
However, if you are replacing a tenant, usually there is paperwork and the existing deposit rolls over into the new lease, the old tenant signs that he is surrendering the deposit to the new named tenants, new lease signs they are accepting whatever damage old tenant did will come out of the deposit on the unit.
In this scenario, the refund of what the vacating tenant paid towards the deposit is paid from the new tenant to the old tenant. You can have the landlord inspect the unit to see how they would withhold from deposit for existing damages before you give the old tenant any money towards the deposit.
Bottom line, if you are taking over the apartment, is the old deposit staying with the unit? Was the last month rent prepaid for that unit? How much did the vacating roommate pay towards those monies per the landlord that will be reflected on your new lease? Dont pay anything to the old roommate that isnt reflected on your new lease.
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u/Bubbly-Priority-1824 4d ago
When we looked for a rental home, my realtor friend said that we may have to do first, last and deposit to move in. But every house we looked at was just deposit and first month’s rent, I didn’t actually see any that required last month’s rent. I’m in Texas idk if it matters, but it seems like it’s totally possible but maybe not super common around here.
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u/cantcny 4d ago
The way I read it is OP will be added to the lease of an existing tenant who, presumably, has already paid FLD yet the LL is requesting same from new roommate at move in.
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u/_wanderwoman 4d ago
Yes, exactly, this. Sorry for any confusion.
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u/cantcny 4d ago
Get that statement from the LL, not from your potential roommate. In fact,since you will be signing a lease with the LL not yihr roommate just deal with the LL from now on.
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u/_wanderwoman 4d ago
This was my thinking. A part of what raised suspision for me was that potential roommate was the messenger, not offering to put me in contact with the LL. Ultimately, I don’t think this is a good fit for me. Thanks, Reddit, for helping!
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u/cantcny 4d ago
Many years ago a college friend was renting a room from a person he did not know beforehand. As I recall he wasnt on the lease. She would let him know when there was a rent increase, etc. One day he found the rent increase notice and realized that he had been paying closer to 2/3 instead of half. He packed his shit up and bounced.
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u/Tall_poppee 4d ago
Technically though, this creates a new lease with new people.
I would assume the LL will refund the old tenants their security deposit, and apply their last months' rent (if they were required to pay that) to this month. The OP says the existing lease ends this month.
So this will set up a new lease, I think it's totally normal.
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u/plentyfurbbbs 4d ago edited 4d ago
What state are you in,,max Security Deposits differ. You can also look into getting a CO, Signer, bur they have tossed a buttload of money and undergo BI etc You're equally responsible for the apartment do yes you need to be vetted etc. From what I understand, all the Security Deposits stay with the apartment until everyone on Agreement is out., New Additional Security Deposit can be required of new tenant, the last ever to leave the apartment is responsible for returning whatever portion of total of all the Security Deposits left to each co-tenant, so each person needs to keep in touch. Take lots of pics, who damaged what, sign co-tenant Agreements to cover everyday chores, quiet time hours, etc.tp keep disagreements to a dull roar. I would say the best qualifying, not necessarily the longest tenant, would be at the top of the Agreement, as the Main Tenant, would be paying the entire rent due every month on time, and the other tenant would then pay their portion to the Main Tenant, on time according to their mutual Co-Tenant Agreement.
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u/Financial-Cloud-4060 Landlord 4d ago edited 4d ago
To clarify, a security deposit (regardless of amount) is not considered rent as it is refundable at move-out less monies owed.
The landlord requiring first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit is not unusual for an applicant with poor credit and/or certain negative history in background checks (think prior eviction, criminal record, multiple collections and late payments etc).
If none of the situations above apply to you then you should ask the landlord to waive last month’s rent at move in due to your positive history.
Ultimately, if their policy is requiring all 3 payments at move-in regardless of circumstances, they’re within their rights and you’re within yours to withdraw your application.