I think neuhaus is asking if the money is a voluntary offer, how does it work. It's illegal for him to ask for the deposit but If you're offering money to him, I don't see why it would be illegal for him to take it. Not sure on this, does anyone here know?

Exactly. And if you are willing to deal with a landlord who doesn't observe the law, then you absolutely have to go to his level. If you're not willing to go to his level, you shouldn't be dealing with him in the first place. Look for someone who is on your level instead. You always have a...

What it really is is The solution asking for a damage deposit just sets up for future lying to the landlord which sets up for future confrontation and is in no one's interest. so dont ask for illegal damage deposits in the first place.

i agree that two wrongs dont make a right. your approach of being upfront is the right thing to do no question. i never disagreed with this. -lying to the landlord is wrong -letting the landlords get away with an illegal act by paying him an illegal fee is also wrong. both are morally...

so if you're a landlord. go ahead ask for that illegal damage deposit upfront if you're scared of "getting hurt" and don't like to trust people. but know you are taking a risk when you do that. you're basically asking for the tenant to trust you with their money, and showing them an act of...

by the way, a landlord WOULD be responsive to a tenant if he thinks that tenant would pay a damage deposit at the last month of tenancy. the tenant has every right to NOT PAY that illegal deposit, even if he had promised to do so.

This is exactly the kind of thinking that makes landlords think they can get away with charging even a minimal amount for damage deposits. They think "if tenants are smart, they'd follow my advice anyway". But tenants aren't all smart and not all tenants are passive. It defeats the purpose of...

Or you could just tell them you'd pay the deposit so you get the place. Then when it comes to the last month, don't pay it. It's an illegal fee. Just say you found out it is illegal and you want to have nothing to do with it. BOOM. You get the place and you don't pay the deposit. When someone...