so my gf and I are about to get a place together and the landlord is asking for EVERYTHING to do with financials

all credit cards, all loans, all bank accounts including numbers, balance, payments, etc...

and he is requiring direct deposit

im not sure if its legal or not but its fucking retarded, ive already been the victim of ID theft so im asking him to be able to omit some of this stuff

and the agreement says that my permission doesnt expire when i move, wtf?

7/19/2008 7:06:30 PM

sounds sketch as fuck.

personally i wouldn't do it. i mean, asking balances just isn't any of his business.. account numbers for direct deposit well, i guess he'd have to know and you basically give those out anytime you write a check but still..

7/19/2008 7:20:28 PM

Sounds shady. If he's a legitimate renter he should be able to get your basic financial info from a credit check. And asking for your banking account #'s? That's just crazy. If he's truly that concerned about people defaulting on rent, he should either not rent to them or ask for a co-signer (like your parents). I'd be skeptical if I were you. And as for direct deposit, I can see why it may be more of a convenience for him, but to make it mandatory? As long as you pay in full and on time, why should he care HOW the $$ gets to him?

7/19/2008 7:21:36 PM

i dont get why you are considering living at this place

7/19/2008 7:24:22 PM

yeah im definitely not doing it unless he agrees to let me omit half this stuff

and as far as direct deposit, he'll get the info for a bank account that is used just for his rent

7/19/2008 7:26:20 PM

you realize that telling him to fuck off now would make your life a lot easier for the next 12 months.

I mean if he is being a douche and you have not even signed yet imagine what is to come later.

7/19/2008 7:28:29 PM

Quote :

"yeah im definitely not doing it unless he agrees to let me omit half this stuff dies and leaves the place to you in his will. "

Fixed it for you.

7/19/2008 7:35:22 PM

You should seriously report this dude to someone, like the attorney general, or some other government agency.

7/19/2008 9:14:57 PM

I have no clue on the legality of any of that.

but i've never heard of a landlord asking for that much shit.

walk away, there has to be other places that the two of you would like.

7/19/2008 9:55:34 PM

sounds perfectly legit to me, the man just wants to make sure he is gonna get his money.
The whole idea here is for a smart man to make more money, providing housing to a stranger is risky business.

7/19/2008 9:56:40 PM

Quote :

"I have no clue on the legality of any of that. but i've never heard of a landlord asking for that much shit. walk away, there has to be other places that the two of you would like."

7/19/2008 10:17:43 PM

how much is the rent at this place? i'm sure we could point you to a ton of places in the same price range, or the search feature would bring up a couple trillion threads about apartments..

7/19/2008 11:19:29 PM

Legality aside, it's highly unusual and sketch, and he's going out of his way to be a pain in the ass before you've even signed a lease.

I'd tell him you're going elsewhere, and tell him why.

Where is this place?

7/19/2008 11:26:30 PM

Inform him that you'll be more than willing to provide him with your SSN, previous rental history, and such for him to run a credit and background check. That's pretty standard for a rental application. That will give him information on all your outstanding credit obligations (credit cards, loans, etc) as well as whether you pay them on time. However your bank account numbers and account balances are personal and confidential, and he has no right to ask for them, nor should you provide them under any circumstances!

Direct deposit is fine, though it is odd for him to specifically require it. If you do rent the property, tell him you'll need something in WRITING as to the specifics of your direct deposit agreement. AKA he is authorized to deduct X amount on X day of the month from X account. There should be a provision that direct deposit is to be used to pay the rent and ONLY the rent, and that he does not have permission to deduct for any other reason (such as fees, damages, etc). Make sure it states clearly what will happen if the deduction does not go through, AKA that you're then required to pay in full via certified check plus a late fee or that he may attempt the withdraw 1-2 additional times within X days and add X late fee. Sign two copies and keep one, and make a photocopy of that to store in a separate place.


If he has issues with any of this, WALK. Do not negotiate, do not compromise. Perhaps he just doesn't know what is normal, or perhaps he's just really paranoid. Personally I wouldn't rent from him at all, but if you really want the place make sure you have at least this much protection.

7/20/2008 1:11:13 AM

if you have to ask, you already know

7/20/2008 3:47:21 AM

sounds like too much hassel. skip it and move on.

7/20/2008 10:13:43 AM

a landlord can have any requirements he wants. after all, he owns the house and doesn't have to rent it to you if he doesn't want to. renting a house is a lot different than renting an apartment in a complex. there are different laws, and the landlord pretty much sets the rules. if you don't like his requirements, then find somewhere else.

7/20/2008 10:41:15 AM

Run away from that shit.

My boyfriend is way too nice to the scumbags he rents from. They NEVER call before they come over and work on the place (illegal by itself) and once the guy thought the garage was too messy and had a fit, started throwing shit around and messed up my boyfriend's motorcycle.

This guy sounds like the same kind of asshole, you will be treated to all sorts of illegal shit and have no privacy. Bet the guy will bitch that you are having loud parties when you have a friend over for dinner.

7/20/2008 10:47:59 AM

^ I don't think it is illegal for them to come without calling first, unless it is specified in the lease. In fact, he might want to pull out that lease and give it a read. I bet there is something in there that gives them the right to enter at any time, whether you are there or not.

that is why I like having a dog. I always have them put in my leases that they have to call ahead so I can be there to secure the dog. plus, most people won't enter a house with a dog they are not familiar with.

now, throwing your shit around and damaging the motorcycle is a whole different matter. that is definitely illegal

[Edited on July 20, 2008 at 10:53 AM. Reason : a]

7/20/2008 10:52:21 AM

Upon further review, you may be correct. Unless it has been agreed by your landlord and your bf (i.e., it was written in the lease), your landlord needs permission to enter unless it is an emergency. Typically they need to give you 24 hours notice before they enter, unless it is otherwise stated in the lease.

Here is how it works in NC:

Quote :

"Rules regarding landlord access to the premises. A Landlord has the right to enter the premises at reasonable times to inspect, maintain, and show the premises. Except in the case of emergency, a landlord must gain permission from the tenant in order to enter. The Tenant may not unreasonably deny permission. Either party may obtain injunctive relief from the courts if the other party is unreasonable regarding access issues. "

http://lawdigest.uslegal.com/landlord-tenant/summary-of-residential-landlord-tenant-law/3265/

[Edited on July 20, 2008 at 11:15 AM. Reason : s]

7/20/2008 11:13:50 AM

Quote :

"a landlord can have any requirements he wants. after all, he owns the house and doesn't have to rent it to you if he doesn't want to. renting a house is a lot different than renting an apartment in a complex. there are different laws, and the landlord pretty much sets the rules. if you don't like his requirements, then find somewhere else."

No...
A landlord can have any requirements he wants, as permitted by the law. Since that permission often comes in the form of 'the law doesn't say I can't', it's pretty open-ended. But they definitely can't have any requirements they want. Just a good many

So please, don't go around posting this. So many students, every year, have troubles with landlords trying to pull illegal shit, and these kids think that since it's in the lease, it must be okay. Not a good idea to perpetuate the notion that landlords can do anything they want, since more than a few actively try to screw students over on the same stuff, every single year.

I have no idea where to start on finding out the legality of what the OP's potential landland is requiring, so I went ahead and addressed the practical side of the issue: this isn't someone from whom anyone should rent.

But I am curious, and will be calling whatever govt dept I need to, in order to find out a definitive answer.

7/20/2008 11:26:45 AM

ok, not any requirements he wants. but the things the landlord in the original example was asking for are not outside the law. a bit excessive....yes. illegal....no

and the answer is the same. if you think the landlord is asking for too much, then don't rent from him.

[Edited on July 20, 2008 at 11:37 AM. Reason : a]

7/20/2008 11:36:07 AM

^^Exactly, just because it's in the lease doesn't mean it's legal. You have legally defined "renters rights" that cannot be taken away by whatever garbage clauses landlords try to throw into the lease. When landlords (individuals or companies) put this shit in their leases, they are relying on the fact that most won't call them on it.

I suggest your read up on the renters rights in the state you live in. (On top of this, the awards for violating renters rights can be huge.)


[Edited on July 20, 2008 at 12:34 PM. Reason : .]

7/20/2008 12:33:07 PM

as far as the OP's situation, the landlord has every right to make sure he gets paid. the landlord has probably been burned in the past by renting to college students. So he is trying to cover his ass by making sure the people he rents to are financially able to afford the place throughout the duration of the lease. he can further insure that he will get his rent each month by requiring direct deposit.

as extreme as this might sound, he is probably just tired of people skipping out on the rent or paying really late.

[Edited on July 20, 2008 at 12:38 PM. Reason : a]

7/20/2008 12:37:05 PM

No, it sounds like he's trying to avoid paying for a credit/background check.

And the fact that he wants access to the OP's account after the OP is no longer a tenant is a sign that this isn't just about getting the rent owed to him.

At best, he's a micromanaging control freak who would be a pain in the ass to have as a landload
At worst, his intentions aren't entirely on the honest side.

7/20/2008 1:03:38 PM

i agree, I wouldn't want a landlord having access to my account after i moved out. I didn't think about it like that. if I were the OP, I definitely would find another place to live.

7/20/2008 1:09:24 PM

i bet he has cameras set up in the bedroom

7/20/2008 3:45:46 PM

sketch as fuck.

7/20/2008 4:05:58 PM

ok just to update

the guy has yet to respond to an email or return any missed phone calls so i guess that means he wants to be sketchy and we will look elsewhere

anyone got any info on a nice house (2-3br), in the 900 range, near state?

7/20/2008 8:11:15 PM