Before any tenant moves in, there are payments he should make. Usually, landlords ask for the first and last month’s rent and the security deposit. I know it’s kind of expensive at the start of it all, but that’s the standard way of renting. However, some landlords do not ask for the last month’s rent. Why? Well, I’ll tell you in a bit. You might know a landlord who wants to try it but does not quite know the pros and cons.

Upon signing the lease, the tenant pays the last month’s rent. You might think it’s too early because the contract is for a few years. Why do they have to pay something in advance? Landlords ask for the last month’s rent for assurance. The tenant may not pay the amount once the lease is almost up. As much as possible, they would not want to use the security deposit to cover this. After all, the payment is for emergencies and money for damages. It does have its advantages but is it necessary? Today let’s talk about why landlords should not ask for the last month’s rent.

• It’s exclusively for rental payment

You might not know it, but some landlords do not ask for a security deposit but charge for last month’s rent. The amount is exclusively for rent and not for anything else. Sometimes landlords have to waive one of them because the cost is too much for the tenant.

Here’s a scenario for you. The tenant’s lease is almost up, and he follows the process of moving out of the property. He paid the last month’s rent, and so he leaves after the end of his contract. Unfortunately, the landlord finds damage to the property. Can he use the amount to pay for it? The answer is no. The last month’s rent only pays for the unpaid rental fee.

If the landlord has to choose between that and the security deposit, he should prioritize the latter. The amount can cover the expenses for repairs and can also cover unpaid rent.

• The last month’s rent may not be the same

An increase in the monthly rent can happen anytime. If the landlord needs to adjust, he can as long as the tenant agrees to it. Other landlords inform their tenants about rent increase before signing.

For example, they agree on an annual rise in rent. Let’s say the landlord will initially charge 500 dollars per month for the first year. The following year an additional 100 dollars per month is implemented. By the third year, the monthly rent costs 700 dollars and the tenant’s lease is ending. It will also mean the landlord only charged 500 dollars for the last month’s rent instead of 700.

Can the landlord ask for an additional amount for the last month’s rent? The answer to that is yes. But only if they have agreed about the rent increase. If the landlord asks for it last minute, that will be too late. If that happens, he will wish he did not ask for the end month’s rent at the beginning.

• Pay for interest

It may not apply to all, but some states require landlords to do it. Landlords have to pay for interest on funds from last month’s rent. In Massachusetts, if the landlord did not keep the last month’s fee in a bank, he must pay 5% annually. If this is the case, it will become an added expense. No landlord will want that.

Ultimately, the decision to ask for the last month’s rent will depend on the landlord. You can only let them know the advantages and disadvantages of it. But it will help them greatly. So whether they choose to ask for last month’s rent or not, you will only need to accommodate. You do have to inform tenants of this too.

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