Deposit to hold apartmen!?

After I applied for an apartment (with fee) the tenant did not move from the apartment I was 'promised'. I am on the waiting list again, but this is not the problem. They now want me to bring in my security deposit in order to hold the next apartment. Never mention this when I applied. Never heard of this. Can future landlord ask for this? It is alot of money.

[HomeGuru]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by red_dahilia:
After I applied for an apartment (with fee) the tenant did not move from the apartment I was 'promised'. I am on the waiting list again, but this is not the problem. They now want me to bring in my security deposit in order to hold the next apartment. Never mention this when I applied. Never heard of this. Can future landlord ask for this? It is alot of money.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Do not pay the deposit unless you have a signed lease agreement.

[This message has been edited by HomeGuru (edited September 26, 2000).]

They can ask for the deposit. (I ask for it while I'm checking references & deciding whether to rent to them.) However, make sure you have a contract that says the money is a sec dep, not an application fee, & that all the money will be refunded to you *upon demand* or after x days, if they don't have an ACCEPTABLE apt available by then. You don't have to take the first apt just because they have sec dep money already.

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This is not legal advice and you are not my client. Double check everything with your own attorney and your state's laws.