Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: FL
We fell in love with a rental property, it is beautiful and want to check it out from the inside, however the owner (I dont know where she lives out of state or somewhere), has asked us to fill a whole questionaire and pay a small fees to check it out. We told her that we will be willing to pay the application fees at the time of a formal application "if" we like the property and wish to proceed with the rental process.
Is that even legal for someone to ask a fee for merely checking out the house?
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
Sure, they can ask you to pay them. And you can choose not to.
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
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PADriver13
Sure, they can ask you to pay them. And you can choose not to.
And I would actually advise that you choose not to. Any landlord who would attempt to collect a fee just to see the house would tend to be the kind of landlord that would be a pain in the neck.
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
OP, out of curiosity, what is the amount of the "fee" you are being asked to pay to tour the house?
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
They are asking $19 alongwith filling out a questionaire that is almost like an application form even asks ss#. I find it impossible to believe that it could be legal.
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
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Confused2012
They are asking $19 alongwith filling out a questionaire that is almost like an application form even asks ss#. I find it impossible to believe that it could be legal.
Asking for your SSN just to view the house is seriously pushing the envelope. I would just walk away from this one.
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
My point is, it should be illegal?
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
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Confused2012
My point is, it should be illegal?
I don't think its illegal per se, but it is an extremely poor business practice. However, landlords can sometimes be very dreadful to work with, and quite frankly, this to me, is a sign of a landlord who will be dreadful to work with.
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
It's not illegal to charge someone to view the house. The $19 fee confirms what my initial thought was. People don't show up to "free events". Why? Because they have no skin in the game. I'd be willing to bet that this owner has has numerous people ask to see the house and not show up. So a $19 fee helps to ensure that someone who has expressed interest, is truly interested, and will show up for the showing. Agree or disagree, it isn't illegal. And as others have said, I would walk away.
Re: Can a Landlord Request a Fee Before Showing a Rental to a Possible Tenant
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PADriver13
It's not illegal to charge someone to view the house. The $19 fee confirms what my initial thought was. People don't show up to "free events". Why? Because they have no skin in the game. I'd be willing to bet that this owner has has numerous people ask to see the house and not show up. So a $19 fee helps to ensure that someone who has expressed interest, is truly interested, and will show up for the showing. Agree or disagree, it isn't illegal. And as others have said, I would walk away.
I am not sure that this is the case, $19 is the price for multiple tenant background search companies. That combined with the request for the SSN implies to be that they are running a check, and only showing to qualified parties. If the property is such that many people want to see it, yet few of those would be qualified to rent it then this is not a crazy idea, though it may cost the landlord potential tenants, they may have enough interest that then don't care.