Signing lease 4 weeks in advance?

skeptical · August 2010

Hi,

I'm looking to rent my first real grown-up apartment (in Crown Heights). I've looked at some properties with a real estate agent but I haven't had much luck so now I'm looking at by-owner listings on craigslist. And, as luck would have it, I seem to have found a great place! However, I'm growing suspicious of the circumstances...

I looked at the apartment yesterday and met with the landlord. I liked her, she liked me... so I filled out an application. Then, about 16 hours later, I got a call saying that I've been approved and that the apartment is mine as soon as the current tenant moves out. (The official move-in date is September 1 but the apartment may be available sooner if the current tenant moves out sooner.) So we agreed to meet the next day so I could sign the lease and pay the security deposit.

...Is it weird that this whole process is taking only three days? I'm somewhat dubious of how quickly she ran the credit check and how eager she is to get the deposit.

So... How normal is it to sign a lease weeks in advance of the move-in date? Any input is appreciated. Thanks!

[Edited to remove paranoid rambling.]

xlizellx · August 2010

For my first apartment, I applied and I signed the lease 1 week later. I moved in 5 weeks after that.

For my 2nd apartment, I signed the papers the day I saw the place. We moved in 3 weeks later.

I don't think it's weird at all.
The deed to to the house? what?

carnivore · August 2010

normal.

photogirl · August 2010

Sounds normal to me. You sound concerned about whether or not she owns the building. You can check ownership of the building on acris.gov. Just make sure to pay her by check or if cash get a written receipt, and get a copy of the lease with the starting date specified for September 1. You might also want to include a provision in the lease that states that landlord will return all monies paid to her if the apartment is not delivered on September 1st, if for example, if the current tenants fail to move out.

skeptical · August 2010

xlizellx wrote: For my first apartment, I applied and I signed the lease 1 week later. I moved in 5 weeks after that.

For my 2nd apartment, I signed the papers the day I saw the place. We moved in 3 weeks later.

I don't think it's weird at all.
The deed to to the house? what?

Thanks! That's what I needed to hear. (And the deed thing was because the user was terrified of by-owner listings on craigslist. Maybe he's been burned in the past? Gave a deposit to someone who claimed to be the landlord but wasn't? Which got me all paranoid but my fears have been assuaged.)

--

Carnivore wrote: normal.

Awesome. Thanks!

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photogirl wrote: Sounds normal to me. You sound concerned about whether or not she owns the building. You can check ownership of the building on acris.gov. Just make sure to pay her by check or if cash get a written receipt, and get a copy of the lease with the starting date specified for September 1. You might also want to include a provision in the lease that states that landlord will return all monies paid to her if the apartment is not delivered on September 1st, if for example, if the current tenants fail to move out.

Like I said, this would be my first apartment... so I'm totally clueless and sometimes get a little neurotic. (Some people on these forums and others got me paranoid with their skepticism of the "owner" part in by-owner listings.) I tried to use ACRIS (@ nyc.gov/acris) last night but I couldn't quite figure it out. However, it worked perfectly this morning and it looks like I have nothing to worry about :) Thanks so much!

cool the kid · August 2010

Sounds normal. At the place I'm at now we signed all the paperwork + were approved in about a week.

Welcome to the neighborhood. What block did you move on (if you don't mind telling)?

skeptical · August 2010

Cool The Kid wrote: Sounds normal. At the place I'm at now we signed all the paperwork + were approved in about a week.

Welcome to the neighborhood. What block did you move on (if you don't mind telling)?

Thanks! I'm looking forward to getting to know the neighborhood.

What's good around here? :D

capt. planet · August 2010

A cautionary note: there is a slight possibility that the tenant may not move out. If that happens, because the tenant's new job in Louisville fell through, or the couple breaks-up and one of them wants to stay in the place, or similar situations which I've seen over the years, then the landlord may not be able to honor the new lease. And getting folks out in Housing Court in NYC can be a six month ordeal.
What's the status of your current lease? Have you told your current landlord that you're leaving? If you've told him that you're leaving and he's already found a new tenant........... You see the problem.

skeptical · August 2010

Capt. Planet wrote: A cautionary note: there is a slight possibility that the tenant may not move out. If that happens, because the tenant's new job in Louisville fell through, or the couple breaks-up and one of them wants to stay in the place, or similar situations which I've seen over the years, then the landlord may not be able to honor the new lease. And getting folks out in Housing Court in NYC can be a six month ordeal.
What's the status of your current lease? Have you told your current landlord that you're leaving? If you've told him that you're leaving and he's already found a new tenant........... You see the problem.

Oh, I'm aware of that. Hence all the nervousness. If that happens, it's nice to know that I can at least stay where I am now. (Current situation is month-to-month with no new tenants getting ready to move in or anything.) I just really hope it doesn't come down to that :

tsarina · August 2010

Landlords are eager to sign the lease and get the money in the bank bacause this is a commitment to a contractual obligation. Running the credit check and checking references does not take too long, a couple hours or so.
Getting the rent and security deposit at lease signing is the rule, rather than the exception. You dont want tenants shopping around for weeks and then backing out of the lease because they liked something more and you are left without a tenant.

skeptical · August 2010

tsarina wrote: Landlords are eager to sign the lease and get the money in the bank bacause this is a commitment to a contractual obligation. Running the credit check and checking references does not take too long, a couple hours or so.
Getting the rent and security deposit at lease signing is the rule, rather than the exception. You dont want tenants shopping around for weeks and then backing out of the lease because they liked something more and you are left without a tenant.

That makes sense. I'm just a nervous person, I guess ;) I question everyone's motives and make myself crazy. I gotta learn to relax.

noisyjulianne · August 2010

I actually think it's quite smart to ask these questions. You have legitimate questions. You gotta look out for yourself! Noone else will.

Sounds like you did your homework and now you get to breathe easy!

jeffsayyes · August 2010

ask the landlord some of these questions, if you are unsure of them in his situation. You won't seem like a schmuck he can take advantage of - if he were that type of person.

Signing lease 4 weeks in advance?

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