Prorated rent requirements

[John Nisewonger]

So renting out my single family again and I have a couple qualified applicants.  Just coming across some things that I havent had to deal with yet.  My previous tenants moved in the first of the month.

So I charge $925/mo and $925 security deposit but one applicant wants to move in the 21st.  Do I prorate those last few days plus charge the $1850 move in?  I dont want to just charge those few days prorated plus security deposit just to have to go over there 9 days later to get 1st months rent.  Or is that how you guys usually do it?

What if a tenant wants to move stuff in earlier?  I was going to get a signed lease and security deposit minimum for him to start moving in boxes.  That tenant wants to be living there by the 1st but wants to start moving in a week or 2 earlier. 

[Jon Holdman]

At least signing I collect one full months rent plus the deposit.  Then, on the first of the next month I collect a pro-rated amount for the partial month.  So, if they move in on the 21st, then on the first on next month I'd collect one third of a months rent.  If they were willing to hand over the deposit plus one and a third month's rent, I'd take that, too.  I wouldn't let them move in for just the deposit and a third of a month's rent, though.

Money and keys change hands at lease signing.    Property is theirs at that moment.  If they're moving in on the 1st and the property is vacant, I'll give them a few days before that date.  Two weeks, no.  Three or four days, yes.  They don't get the keys or get to move anything in until the lease is signed and money changes hands.  If they want to move in two weeks earlier, start the lease two weeks earlier and have them pay for the time.