Renting through property management companies

[Jane Jones]

Right now I'm looking for another rental since I learned last week or so that the one I'm currently living in is selling.

I found a place that I'm interested in. I went to look at it but it's a little more than I want to pay but I do know that you can negotiate rent. I've done it a couple of times with no problem when looking for the house I'm currently living in. One place I was considering was even with a property management company. Agent simply called the owner and owner said that would be fine and that was all there was to it....no fee required.

The property management company I'd be dealing with with this place says they won't talk to the owner of the condo until I submit an application with the 50.00 app. fee. They won't budge.

All I want to know from the owner is if they would accept the amount I'm willing to pay. If they won't then I'm moving on. It just seems odd that they require me to pay 50.00 before just asking the owner that simple question.

When asking, they say that the 50.00 will qualify me for all their rentals so if I didn't get the one I like, there are others. I'm not interested in any of their other listings...they don't even have that many listings and most are in a different area than where I am looking.

50.00 seems awfully high to just ask one question. I'd definitely qualify...over 800 credit score, rave reviews from my current landlord, etc. I don't have wild parties, don't have any kids or animals and keep a nice place. It would be just me living there.

Does this seem normal that a property management team requires this type fee just to ask the owner a question?