Reasons for Deposit
Why do landlords collect security deposits? There are different reasons why the landlords collect a security deposit. Some reasons include:
- Bad credit
- Incomplete information provided
- No previous landlord references
- Past landlord experiences
- Having a pet
- Having been out of a job periodically
If you complete an application for an apartment, and it is not filled in completely, your credibility is at stake and landlords can look at it as you withholding important information. This creates doubt. Which is one reason why landlords may want to only rent you the property with a security deposit. If you misrepresent facts while filling out the application, then the landlord is forced to demand a deposit. When asked, if you still refuse to provide the appropriate information, the landlord can choose to deny you the rental approval or add more to the deposit.
If your past landlord provides conflicting information when contacted by your current landlord, this may be a reason to distrust and the need for a security deposit. If you have had a bad experience with a past landlord, that is another reason that the potential property owner won’t grant you entry into the apartment without a security deposit. While this might not seem fair, it is one of the most popular decisions for the landlord. To use past experiences from other tenants to judge current applicants. The landlord’s main focus is to protect their investment at all costs.