When must I pay first month&#39;s and the deposit on a new lease?
<p>I'm signing a lease on an apartment in another city, about three hours away. I've seen the place, but I'm not able to trek out there to sign the lease in person before our rental period begins (May 1).</p>

<p>The landcouple has asked us to mail them the check for the first month's rent and the deposit, and they'll email the lease to us on receipt of our payment.</p>

<p>Frankly, this sounds backward to me. Can they insist on collecting rent before signing the contract? (It really seems like the answer to that question should be <strong>no</strong>.)</p>

<p>The apartment is in Washington state.</p>

<p>According to RCW 59.18.253, they may not charge a deposit to put you on a waiting list (and it doesn't sound like they are). They may require a deposit to hold the unit once it has been offered to you, and they have to put in writing the conditions under which they get to keep that deposit. The question is whether they have offered the unit to you (an offer is distinct from and prior to signing the lease). If so, this is directly allowed by law, but it is different from a security deposit. There is no legal prohibition against requiring a person to first hand over the security deposit, with your and their signature on the lease following (since the landlord is required by law to provide a copy of the lease to the tenant, the landlord needs to be the last one to sign). It is possible, but not highly likely, that there is a relevant municipal ordinance in Seattle.</p>

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