"Some landlords will be willing to work with prospective tenants with a bad credit rating or landlord history if the tenant will assure them that they will get paid. Many landlords will take double or triple damage deposits to cover them for their lost rent if they are concerned about a prospective tenant. Another option is to have someone co-sign the lease. Religious leaders and community leaders might be willing to act as references and talk to a prospective landlord on a tenant’s behalf."
In your case, you do not have a steady income source, you have a private bank account that you could easily drain in a heartbeat if you so chose, leaving you penniless and unable to pay the rent. In your case I agree with the landlord's offer to accept the rent up front. After all, they have to protect themselves, too.
A landlord most certainly can deny a person due to them being unemployed. Even people on disability and SS can be denied if they do not meet the income requirements. It's also perfectly legal for a landlord to demand that rent be paid in advance.
People on Social security and Disability have the necessary documents and paper work issued by the federal government each year to prove they would be receiving a certain amount of money each month. landlords as well as mortgage lenders normally accept these type documents as proof of income. Also accepted is any retirement income to include military income.These type individuals are able to present proof of income by a third party.
If you have regularly issued documents issued by someone else other than yourself, such as a bank or other financial institution that each year you would be receiving a certain income each month, you would be able to do this also. The landlord would have proof that you have a legal means of obtaining funds on a regular scheduled basis.
Many people that depend on income from stocks and bonds other abnormal income such as an inheritance fund would normally have a document issued by investor indicating the amount they are paid over a certain time frame, such as a month or annually. These documents are normally acceptable as proof of income for landlords and mortgage lenders underwriters.
You apparently offered no proof of written income. Since this was the case the landlord have no problem renting to you, he just want to be sure he has his rent without difficulties.
I can imagine your landlord has heard every story under the sun about the ability to pay rent. My rich uncle in Alabama will send a check each month. My family hit oil in Texas daddy will make sure the rent is paid on time. We hit the lottery, as soon as I get my first check I will pay you. My brother just cashed out a couple of million dollars of bonds left by our father, as soon as the bank verify them, they will give us our money, I promise to pay you.
These are just a few that come to mind.
I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.
"FIGHT ON"
Wow people wrote a lot for a simple question.
According to nolo.com and the MN state site, there are no limits in Minnesota on the size of a deposit.
it not that you are unemployed (it is somewhat) but that you have no proof of a legitimate income stream - SSI payments come in regularly and are issued by the government.
If you can prove that he is rejecting you solely due to your unemployed status (and not that you have no verifiable income stream) then you have a case against him - if not shut up and pay the upfront.
I'm unemployed and living off an inheritance, so when I moved my landlord made me pay either 6 months upfront, or a year upfront. After I moved I read an article which said that a landlord can't reject an applicant simply because they're unemployed, otherwise people on Social Security or disability wouldn't be able to find a place to live. I'm wondering if that means they're also not allowed to require several months upfront, since a person on a fixed income wouldn't be able to afford that. I live in Minnesota by the way.
