So my daughter lives in an unamed complex in Aggieland that sounds like disfunction. She is moving units this summer and they forced her to move out July 28th and are not allowing her to move back in until August 12th. She paid the same rent as the 2 roomates that did not move units. Whatever....

She lives down there and pays her own rent during the summer. So today she got and invoice for rent even though she does not move in until the 12th. Am i reading the contract wrong?

1. RENT AND ADDITIONAL CHARGES. You will pay a full monthly installment before you move in to cover the part of the Rent from the Starting Date through the last day of that month. Your next installment will then be due on or before the 1st day of the second month. For subsequent months, you will pay us the monthly installment of Rent on or before the 1st day of each month, in advance, and without us having to make demand for payment.

Thoughts?

The office there is of course full of "know nothings"

it's poorly worded but I would guess they're wanting the full months rent up front and the prorated rent on the second month.

The full month is what is, because it is an installment not a monthly lease. Demanding it today instead of before move in like the 11th as written is what rubs me.

I would say that's pretty common in my experience. I get the frustration.

Any attorneys that can chime in on the verbiage? It seems as though it is written to mean the first full payment is due when you move in, but the next one is due on the first of the next month. Makes me long for Doug and TCP. Lol

The full payment is not a surprise, the demand for payment 12 days before move in is what I think is bs

Yeah that's crummy. I just do the deposit at lease signing and the balance of everything else before I hand them the keys.

I don't see an issue. Wording might be confusing; however I see it as paying your pro-rated rent prior to moving in and subsequent rent is due on the first.

Us mom and pop landlords don't make our money charging application fees……that is a myth.
In fact, I only charge an application fee when I accept you. That's right, if you apply and I don't accept you, I don't charge you. I hate taking a fee and then decline you……doesn't seem right, unless you lied on the application. Still I don't take application money up front.

I own or manage 12 units in Bryan. I don't do 9 month rents. Sounds like some of these apartments do and it is their process to have new tenants arrive on the 12th of the month. Most of my students are year around or like the option of coming back during the summer months.

Unfortunately there are lots of bad people out there. Bad landlords, bad tenants, bad people. Not everyone is, but enough are to give others a bad name. The application fee scam definitely exists. I got my license in BCS doing house hunting for college students and saw plenty on both sides there that have helped me be more successful in my career as an investor. If there's a silver lining, it's that College Station is a small enough market that the bad actors eventually get what they deserve.

So after all the children quit posturing, and the adults spoke, they realized that yes the intent was to have rent paid anytime before move in day and the next "installment" be made on the first of next month.
Corporate management was shocked that the office couldn't deduce this on their own.
I wouldn't have been such a Richard if they had not made this move in and out process completely ridiculous.