So I’ve been looking for a new apartment to move to for a while now. I haven’t given the required 30-day notice to my current landlord yet. I’m kinda picky, so I want to make sure I’ve found a place I really want to live in before I do so. But the problem is that most of the places I have been looking at become available anywhere from 0-2 weeks out and really pressure you to move in within that time period since they don’t want to let the place sit vacant for a month if they can help it.
How the hell do people usually handle this? Do they give a 30-day notice and just pray that they’ll find a suitable place in that timeframe (or settle on a place they don’t really like if not)? Do you pay double rent for a few weeks just to ensure that you get the place you want? Are there droves of wandering homeless nomads out there apartment hunting with all their shit in their car, ready to move in on a moment’s notice?
I suppose another option would be to simply leave without giving notice (preferably towards the end of the month) and not pay the rent anymore but that’s problematic too since they have my security deposit that’s equal to a month’s rent anyway, and obviously I’d like to get that back if at all possible. So what to do?
I’d probably try to compromise with 3 weeks, pay overlapping rent for one week and use the week to take my time moving in to the new place. Make sure the new place is squeaky clean (and paint if I can and it needs it), move (making multiple trips) and clean the old place super well. It might cost a little more, but having access to both places for a full week would definitely improve the moving experience.
Per Glory, if you can swing holding on to both places, it really makes moving a lot easier and less stressful.
From my experiences renting and working in apartment management, the usual situation was to find a place and sign a lease starting 1 (or 2, in the case of a longer noticed) month out. I’m used to dealing with larger complexes/companies, so there were usually suitable openings. I’m not used to running into your situation, but if you’re not in a position to rent two places for a while, I’d definitely try to arrange for your new lease to start when you need it to. If the market is exceedingly tight, this might be an issue, but otherwise I’d bet you could find a place to accommodate.
I’ve even known some landlords who were so kind as to allow people to move in to an empty unit a few days or a week early, for free.
BTW, I wouldn’t recommend leaving without giving proper notice. That can create more problems that just losing out on your security deposit, like being unable to use that landlord as a reference in the future, or being sued for additional damages.
[ol]
[li]Best choice, if you can afford it, is to overlap for a week or two. Like others said, it makes moving to the new place and cleaning the old place much easier.[/li][li]Next choice is to talk to the new landlord about holding it until your 30-days notice on the old place runs out. They should consider this, if they’ve already investigated you and decided you are a suitable tenant. And after all, by giving your old landlord appropriate notice, you are showing that you are a good tenant. Landlorsds know that leving an apartment empty for a couple of weeks is a lot cheaper than getting a bad tenant.[/li][li]Otherwise, ask if your old landlord will let you leave with less notice. Sometimes they will, especially if you’ve been a good tenant. And if they can find another tenant to move in.[/li][/ol]
I always tried to overlap by at least 2 weeks - I was always working and that way I had plenty of time to go over the new place and make sure that it was ready to move into, then move a few items at a time in and unpack them, and then have at least the full weekend at the end to clean the old place and make any repairs needed. It is great not having to be pushed for time, and that way you can move with only needing to have a truck in the middle weekend for the big furniture, everything else is in boxes that can go over in a car. By the monday of the second week you can be almost entirely moved into the second place sleeping dressing and eating-wise, with just the nicnacks, 5000 or so books:smack: and tchatchekes left to move and clean.