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0 pointsmindslight4y ago0 comments

Any such policy would need to be specified within the lease to be enforceable. If there is nothing in your lease that mandates a bespoke payment method, call their bluff and just pay by check.

There are real issues with incomprehensible leases and terms of adhesion sprung late in the process, but it behooves us to keep focus on the specific contours of the problem so the people who are able to push back on such nonsense can better do so.

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reaperducer4y ago

The primary reasons people choose a residence are price and location. Method of payment is probably not even in the top hundred reasons on the list.

mindslightOP4y ago

I'm not saying that this is the only way to push back against such bullshit, or asserting that those who don't push back deserve what they get. I'm merely pointing out one avenue for fighting it that someone may want to explore.

It might be important enough for you, next rental. It might be important for someone with similar preferences [0] that has read your comment and will be on the lookout. I've rejected unconscionable leases wholesale and gotten simple boilerplate ones in their place. It can be done.

The more we openly discuss such bullshit, the fewer surprises can be sprung on renters late in the process. And sharing the wisdom of experience, for instance that it's totally acceptable to sit there and slowly read complex legal documents when the counterparty wants you to quickly sign (or even saying you have to take it home to review!) means more negotiating power for those still learning.

[0] Really, having a single day window to pay should be a concern to anybody. It sounds like an utterly shameless way of creating late fees.

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