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charging to much? (housing)

charging to much? (housing)

~unicorn~
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 427

~unicorn~
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 427

charging to much? (housing)
5/2/2016 at 6:58 AM

I was just curious if landlord/landladys can charge whatever they want for damage deposit?

Been looking for a house to rent amd noticed a few asking for morethan half for damage deposit
AnnaBanana
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 140

AnnaBanana
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 140

damage deposit
5/2/2016 at 7:49 AM

A full month isn't uncommon.
99sportster
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 237

99sportster
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 237

Too much
5/2/2016 at 8:18 AM

You could check with the rental mans board guid lines. The information is available at city hall
Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

Fishin Guy
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6897

.....
5/2/2016 at 8:22 AM

From Residential Tenancies Branch:

How much money should a security deposit be?

A security deposit can't be more than one-half of the first month's rent. For example, if the rent is $400.00 per month, the security deposit can't be more than $200.00.

A landlord must give a tenant a receipt for a security deposit. The receipt must show:

the amount of the deposit;
the date it was received; and
the address of the rental unit.
Classified
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 464

Classified
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 464

a full month deposit is uncommon...
5/2/2016 at 8:25 AM

The law only allows for a deposit of 1/2 of one months rent. The only exceptions relate to pet deposits. That said, there are some landlords that will attempt to collect more than allowed.

If I were looking at a place to rent that I really liked, and they wanted more than 1/2 of one months rent, I would pay the deposit they were asking and then I would take whatever action I needed to in order to get back any deposit I overpaid. If you argue the point, they likely wouldn't rent to you, but there is nothing they can do to you for expecting to have the excess deposit returned to you.
~unicorn~
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 427

~unicorn~
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 427

thanks
5/2/2016 at 9:25 AM

Thanks to all who commented. I kinda figured aomething was up with this one place i emailed about. He wants 2000 upfront.. thats 2 months rent.. and now he said to send it through email transfer with out password until i look at the place.. umm ya no

johnnoon
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 123

johnnoon

Joined: Dec 2013

Posts: 123

sounds like

5/2/2016 at 9:45 AM

*Snowflake* said "Thanks to all who commented. I kinda figured aomething was up with this one place i emailed about. He wants 2000 upfront.. thats 2 months rent.. and now he said to send it through email transfer with out password until i look at the place.. umm ya no "

a Nigerian scam going on there, any princess involved?

Ang0953
Joined: This month
Posts: 1

Ang0953
Joined: This month
Posts: 1

SCAM!!!
5/2/2016 at 9:50 AM

I know this is a scam,it happened to my friend and he didn't know how email transfers worked and the guy sent a fake e transfer website for my friend to "confirm" all of the transfer info. He lost a lot of money!
~unicorn~
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 427

~unicorn~
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 427

..
5/2/2016 at 12:30 PM

He first said he was out of town on buisness..and that his wife r daughter were in toronto.. but would set up a time and come in for a veiwing.. then i emailed back and asked if the house had a yard.. then he emailed me back talking about the etransfer of 2000.00
curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2981

curlysister
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2981

hmmm
5/2/2016 at 12:35 PM

If this ad is/ was on eBrandon, please report it to Adam ASAP! It does sound like a scam.
blankinside
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 589

blankinside
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 589

Scam
5/2/2016 at 1:17 PM

It's common in Toronto for tenants to have to pay first and last months rent instead of a damage deposit, so that's why this scam probably works so well, except that laws are different here.
kaylagurl21
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 536

kaylagurl21
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 536

Scam
5/2/2016 at 1:53 PM

I always report any ads that ask for more then half a months damage deposit. As it is illegal. However that being said a landlord can ask for a months damage for pet deposit plus damage deposit. So not to be mistaken
Adam

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Adam
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 15663

Report
5/2/2016 at 2:19 PM

Thanks for using the site and thanks to everyone that's provided advice already. If this ad is on this website, please report it so that I can address. Everything you've described is in fact consistent with the typical rental scam which granted we havent seen very often lately but is bound to occur from time to time. I'm glad that you were able to spot the signs... Only deal locally and in person, never send money without seeing a place yourself first and meeting with the landlord face-to-face.
More on safe practices when using the site are at https://ebrandon.ca/classifieds_safety.aspx

A previous thread with more information including an advisory previously put out by Police:
http://www.ebrandon.ca/messagethread.aspx?message_id=921000&cat_id=4