Discussions

Sounds like the landlord has had people skip out.  
 
Sorry to say, charging 1st and last month rent is Not allowed in Manitoba.  
 
( Manitoba government is really behind the times on this, thus causing less people wanting to invest to rental property as the risk can be high if people leave without proper notice.)  
 

Hahaha. What a joke. Yet another reason to stay away and never become a landlord. No way to protect yourself from deadbeats and protect your own investment.  
 
Edited by Opportunities Abound, 2015-11-30 15:48:09

I'm not sure if it's illegal. I looked at the act and could not find any information on the legality of collecting last month's rent in advance. Obviously it is OK to collect the first month's rent with the security deposit as rent is normally paid in advance. I wouldn't think that last month's rent would be considered a deposit, but an advance payment. I've rented in the past (decades ago) and this was common in Winnipeg in larger, managed complexes. It just means that when you give notice to move out (one month notice normally), you don't have to pay for that last month - it's already paid for.

JR said "I'm not sure if it's illegal. I looked at the act and could not find any information on the legality of collecting last month's rent in advance. Obviously it is OK to collect the first month's rent with the security deposit as rent is normally paid in advance. I wouldn't think that last month's rent would be considered a deposit, but an advance payment. I've rented in the past (decades ago) and this was common in Winnipeg in larger, managed complexes. It just means that when you give notice to move out (one month notice normally), you don't have to pay for that last month - it's already paid for. "

hmm that could be a loop hole which imo would be good because as a landlord honestly 1/2 month rent doesnt even cover the damage and cleaning let alone the loss of rent

https://ebrandon.ca/ItemView.aspx?item_id=1488804  
 
She was asking:  
1st month rent and last month rent  
damage deposit  
water  
 
I'm pretty sure this is illegal according to mb law

Looks like they changed it.  
Doesn't say "first months rent" anymore  
 
In the province of Manitoba, it is not legal to ask for two rents plus damage deposit. Beware !!

no name posted, phone number, address or pictures.  
 
Probably unaware of local laws/bi-laws.  
Also, their other ads include properties "near BU". Yaaa, OK. I say BEWARE.  
https://ebrandon.ca/browseads.aspx?seller_id=1488804  
 
Edited by Pray it Forward, 2015-11-30 20:57:59

Sounds like a scammer ad.

What if your basement floods and your landlord tears out but doesn't replace flooring and still charges you the same rent? How does that work?  
Should I get a discount or do I still have to pay the same amount?  

*Just Saying* said "What if your basement floods and your landlord tears out but doesn't replace flooring and still charges you the same rent? How does that work?   Should I get a discount or do I still have to pay the same amount?   "

Then you contact the RTB with the details and they will make any adjustments to your rent. A landlord can't simply change your rental space on a whim. They need to ensure that you are renting today what you were renting yesterday.  
 
As for the ad mentioned by the op, if it isn't a scam, and I liked the place, I would simply pay what they are asking and then go to the rtb to get back what I shouldn't have had to pay up front.

Classified said "    *Just Saying* said "What if your basement floods and your landlord tears out but doesn't replace flooring and still charges you the same rent? How does that work?   Should I get a discount or do I still have to pay the same amount?   " Then you contact the RTB with the details and they will make any adjustments to your rent. A landlord can't simply change your rental space on a whim. They need to ensure that you are renting today what you were renting yesterday.     As for the ad mentioned by the op, if it isn't a scam, and I liked the place, I would simply pay what they are asking and then go to the rtb to get back what I shouldn't have had to pay up front. "

obviously the basement flooded so tearing up the floors is not on a whim, i suggest before you get the RTB involved the poster TALK to the landlord and see what the plan is and come up with a mutual solution and time frame  
 
I also wouldnt just pay and hope to get the money back through RTB, that is a pain and does cost to file a claim, plus if its a scam the people are long gone, i would just not bother with the rental if you are not ok with the terms, legal or not, plus why would you even get involved with landlords you have to force to do stuff? then when it doesnt work out the renter starts whining I dint know it would turn out this way, blah blah blah when really the warning signs were right in the add before they even made contact, id advise saving the headache and walk away

It might be against standard practise, but as far as I know. If someone has an issue being able to pay their bills. Or agree to the conditions on the lease, the landlord has the right to not rent you their property. All legalities aside. People are able to protect their investments, and regulate who they have in their unit. Special clauses exist. As does freedom of choice. Find something different. Or, get a receipt. What's the problem? It'll make saving up for your next place you gotta move to that much easier when your already paid up. I don't know why anyone has an issue, unless they're planning to bail.

I know if the place isn't up to the standards it was when you moved in your allowed to contact the rental board and open a case and then your allowed to deposit the rent into a separate account and not pay it until it's fixed. You have to contact the rental board though! When the basement suite I was renting flooded (like actually 6" of water) I lived with industrial sized fans and dehumidifiers for a long time, and because they didn't want to call a plumber on the weekend or on the holiday it was three days before the drain got fixed, I really didn't care as I understood how much money that costed never once did I hold my rent because I knew they needed that to fix the problem. If it's only been a short amount of time you've been living without flooring please give your landlord the benefit of the doubt and talk to them and ask when you can expect it to be fixed. That's a costly thing to repair... If you were living in a house would you have it fixed already? If not, then have some patience.