Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 20:10     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I also see this info on the lease:

Security Deposit is non-refundable after submitting application unless applicant is denied.

This doesn't make sense because according the law security deposits are technically refundable, right?



That’s the whole point- you get it back if you leave everything in good order and aren’t behind on rent. I would look up “standard Georgia lease” and see what the typical language is
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 18:24     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:Op here. I also see this info on the lease:

Security Deposit is non-refundable after submitting application unless applicant is denied.

This doesn't make sense because according the law security deposits are technically refundable, right?


Seriously OP - this place sounds like a racket. Cashier's checks, $300+ application fees, no security deposit returned.

Did you actually do a site visit?
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 18:17     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Op here. I also see this info on the lease:

Security Deposit is non-refundable after submitting application unless applicant is denied.

This doesn't make sense because according the law security deposits are technically refundable, right?
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 17:57     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


+1 and this is all BEFORE the deposit. It's move in fees and background check/ credit check fees. Deposits are separate.


I have NEVER heard of a rental application fee north of $100 in the District at all. Not for a reputable apartment management company.


OP here. There may be better laws in DC. I know in Vermont and MA they can't charge beyond the credit and background checks. I have lived in GA and FL and around $500 is sadly typical. These are consider "luxury" apartments. This basically means working class won't quality.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 17:48     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


+1 and this is all BEFORE the deposit. It's move in fees and background check/ credit check fees. Deposits are separate.


I have NEVER heard of a rental application fee north of $100 in the District at all. Not for a reputable apartment management company.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 17:23     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


Op here. Deposit is separate. That comes after we're approved. The was a background check for$85 per person and another general application fee for$ 330. Security deposit is $400.

I like this community because it has a playground and a nice swimming pool. Most of the nice communities only have dog parks. There is one more community we're interested in but they're more expensive. Dhs job is way in the suburbs. There are only 3 apartment complexes with playgrounds within 15 minutes from his work. The units in the other communities are ground floor as well. I'd rather not live on the ground floor. Hopefully they will get back to me today. Yesterday the leasing agent called me and said they would let us know by the afternoon.


I hope that application fee is refundable - $330 is ridiculous.


Op here. It's not. This is the norm in the south from what I have seen. They can charge whatever they want. They did approve us today. The leasing agent also lied. She said we would only have to pay for the remaining days in Feb before we move in tomorrow. Today she sent an email saying we needed to pay for both Feb and March in cashier checks by our move in date. This place is unorganized. Good thing I can pay rent online in the future.

Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 14:34     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


Op here. Deposit is separate. That comes after we're approved. The was a background check for$85 per person and another general application fee for$ 330. Security deposit is $400.

I like this community because it has a playground and a nice swimming pool. Most of the nice communities only have dog parks. There is one more community we're interested in but they're more expensive. Dhs job is way in the suburbs. There are only 3 apartment complexes with playgrounds within 15 minutes from his work. The units in the other communities are ground floor as well. I'd rather not live on the ground floor. Hopefully they will get back to me today. Yesterday the leasing agent called me and said they would let us know by the afternoon.


I hope that application fee is refundable - $330 is ridiculous.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 14:19     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


+1 and this is all BEFORE the deposit. It's move in fees and background check/ credit check fees. Deposits are separate.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 07:06     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


It depends on the state. In some states you're only allowed to charge the exact fee you paid for the credit check and background check. In Georgia they can charge whatever they want but I think it's refundable. It doesn't say it's non refundable online.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 06:58     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.


Op here. Deposit is separate. That comes after we're approved. The was a background check for$85 per person and another general application fee for$ 330. Security deposit is $400.

I like this community because it has a playground and a nice swimming pool. Most of the nice communities only have dog parks. There is one more community we're interested in but they're more expensive. Dhs job is way in the suburbs. There are only 3 apartment complexes with playgrounds within 15 minutes from his work. The units in the other communities are ground floor as well. I'd rather not live on the ground floor. Hopefully they will get back to me today. Yesterday the leasing agent called me and said they would let us know by the afternoon.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 06:49     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:You will pay more in stress and hotel fees vs. application fees. If they cannot get back to you in 2-3 days they do not have the apartment like promised, they do not want you or they are disorganized and you probably do not want to live there.

Good point. They may be having issues getting the prior tenant out or turning around the apartment.


Op here. They showed me the exact unit and it was empty.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 05:56     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Have you been as annoying and complain-y to them as you’ve been to us? LOL. Maybe that’s a reason.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 00:05     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:You will pay more in stress and hotel fees vs. application fees. If they cannot get back to you in 2-3 days they do not have the apartment like promised, they do not want you or they are disorganized and you probably do not want to live there.

Good point. They may be having issues getting the prior tenant out or turning around the apartment.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 00:04     Subject: Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:$500 application fee is bananas.

That’s what it is in the DC area too for many places. The bulk of the fee is now deposit and cleaning fee related. Apartment complexes no longer just have their fee equal to credit checks.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2019 00:02     Subject: Re:Apartment is taking forever to approve us.
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Aside from asking your complex to speed it up, I would suggest applying for more than one apartment at a time. Unless you are contractually obligated to accept (extremely rare), you can always say no. Plus--$500 application fee? They're supposed to be more like $50.

You say you have good credit and you're comfortable financially, you should be applying for more than one apartment at once.


Op here. Application fees are not $50 here. I don't want to throw away money. It's not like I am applying for grad school. Applying to more than would be wasteful and there are only a few close to dh work.


Okay then stop complaining and keep paying the daily rate at the hotel until you move in in two weeks.

One thing about GA - horrible customer service and lighting a fire under their butts is next to impossible.