Tenant wants to delay paying security deposit for medium term rental

[Justin Macaskill]

I am currently in the process of renting my fully furnished townhome for a 6 month term to a family of four.  Tenant wants to take possession 4/1 and has asked to pay the security deposit of $3,000 closer to the move in date along with first month rent.   I asked for it at lease signing.  I know it’s common to get the full security deposit at lease signing, but wondering what people’s thoughts are on offering them to pay half at lease signing and the rest before move in since we are two months out before move in.  Don’t want to be unreasonable demanding 3k two months ahead of time but also want money up front to take the property off the market.  I have had a hard time finding a good tenant as I can only rent the unit until the end of September.  Unit is in Florida

[JD Martin]

Never hold a house that has no payment attached to it. I promise you this good family of four will spend the next 2 months looking for something cheaper while you are left holding the bag on a worthless lease. If you are going to only take partial payment - which I would advise against 100% - then you take payment of first months rent, not deposit, so that you have something you can keep while you are trying to re-let the property after they bail when they find something better/cheaper. 

They are trying to hold your property in their back pocket as a fallback, or they are broke as hell. Either way is not good for your business.