rental agreement (2024)

FAQs

Why do landlords want you to make 3 times the rent? ›

In general, it suggests that your gross monthly income (before taxes and other deductions) should be at least three times the monthly rent. This rule helps ensure that you have enough income to cover not just rent, but also other living costs and savings.

The ability and willingness to: pay rent, care for the rental property, avoid creating disturbances, and avoid drama. Good tenants care enough to at least try to make a good impression. They are friendly, show up on time, display some level of excitement for the rental property, and are respectful to the landlord.

What can landlords not ask on a rental application? On a rental application or interview, you, the landlord, cannot pose discriminatory questions based on race, nationality, religion, age, familial status, disability, or sexual orientation.

For example, you can offer to prepay rent, put down a larger security deposit, carry renters' insurance, have the rental professionally cleaned when you move out, or sign a long-term lease. If you have the financial means, you could even offer to pay a higher monthly rent.

You can make a reasonable accommodation request to be exempt from their policy about three times rent. With your request, be sure to include documentation demonstrating that you can easily meet the amount of rent due. When you are filling out the rental application form, be sure to include everything you get.

Yes, rent control is an example of a price ceiling. A price ceiling is the maximum a seller is allowed to charge for a product or service as mandated by law. Rent control limits the amount a landlord can charge and/or increase the rent on their property.

Prove you can pay the rent

You can do this by writing about your rental history and showing your current pay slips and bank statements. If you earn a lot of money, have a good track record of paying rent on time, and if you have a healthy savings account, you'll improve your chances of securing the property.

While these kinds of rejections are perfectly legal, here's the kicker—the landlord or rental agency must by law tell you why they are rejecting your application and give you a copy of the report that provided the negative information.

Is it normal for a landlord to ask for a bank account? ›

A property manager starts with an examination of financial documents submitted with rental applications, such as bank statements and pay stubs. These details give a snapshot into whether potential tenants have stable income sources and if they'll be able to meet monthly rent payments without fail.

I'd like to ask for a (insert dollar amount) reduction to my monthly rent, however, I'm open to negotiate and compromise. If you accept this request, I'd be able to continue my lease and call this home. Can we schedule a time to meet and discuss this in more detail?

The best thing you can say to start off the conversation is to tell them you're interested in the place they have for rent and you'd like to tell them a bit about yourself. Being open sets a great tone for a good conversation and will likely get you a showing if it's still available.

One popular guideline is the 30% rent rule, which says to spend around 30% of your gross income on rent. So if you earn $3,200 per month before taxes, you could spend about $960 per month on rent.

But, your landlord can still require you to move out for one of the “no-fault” reasons listed in the law. If your landlord evicts you for one of these reasons, they must first give you one month's rent or waive one month's rent to help you move out.

California Senate Bill 567, i.e., the Homelessness Prevention Act, which goes into effect on April 1, 2024, seeks to cap rent hikes at 10% and prevents landlords from evicting tenants without a legal cause. California Assembly Bill 12, i.e., the new residential security deposit law, which goes into effect on July 1, ...