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Yes, a landlord can ask for first and last month plus security. They are entitled to ask for what they would like, and you don't have to agree with it, therefore you don't have to rent from them.
yes
All 50 states allow renters to be charged a security deposit when renting. The amount is left up to the discretion of the landlord, but typically it is equal to the first month's rent.
Some landlords require all three, some don't. It's up to the parties to agree on the terms, but the landlord set his terms, and the tenant can take the place or leave it.
Under the Tenant Security Deposit Act, a landlord of a residential rental property can collect a security deposit of 2 weeks' rent if the tenancy is week to week, 1 1/2 months' rent if the tenancy is month to month, or 2 months' rent if the tenancy period is greater than month to month (such as a yearly tenancy). The Act also allows the landlord to ask for a "reasonable" non-refundable pet deposit.
That depends on the laws of the state. In Massachusetts, a pet deposit is a security deposit, and the total security deposit cannot be more than one month's rent.
Massachusetts statutes allow a landlord to collect, at the beginning of a tenancy, the first month's rent, the last month's rent, a security deposit, and a key fee. Most states are similar.
The first month's rent pays for your first month in the apartment. You will owe the agreed-upon rent to the landlord the second month. I can't see why anything would be prorated--your security deposit cannot be used for rent.
If there was a lease, the landlord has an obligation to try to rent it. Until then, the tenant owes the rent. If this was a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord should keep the first month's rent, and return the security deposit and last-month's rent, if any.
They sure can. See the state's guide to tenant rights and responsibilities for more info. http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ocaterminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Housing+Information&L3=Tenant+%26+Landlord&sid=Eoca&b=terminalcontent&f=tenants_rights_and_responsibilities&csid=Eoca
In most states you cannot charge a security deposit higher than the amount of one month's rent. But I don't know specifically about Texas.
To move into a dwelling, the landlord is going to generally ask you for the first month's rent, a security deposit, and often times the last months rent. Every state has its own rules about this and you should check with it. In South Carolina and Florida your security deposit may not exceed one month's rent. And in both states that security deposit may not be used as rent unless you and the landlord mutually agree.