7 month rent security deposit?

it is not standard, but you are unemployed bitch! lucky they are considering you at all.

think about their possible scenarios: what if this dumb ho doesn't get this job?

they have the property. you want it, play by their rules. or move back to ohio.

I'm not sure this is standard but it seems like a reasonable compromise if you don't meet the normal income requirements--doubly so since the landlord is offering to give most of it back once the income requirements are in fact satisfied. Just make sure that the security is properly separated into its own bank account and you should be relatively protected.

Ask for it to be placed in escrow.

That sounds more like an advance on the rent, rather than an oversized security deposit. See if the landlord will accept a guarantor, even if it is one of those commercial guarantors like insurent. At a minimum, the deposit should be in escrow and should be applied to the rent over the last six months of the lease.

Forget about the amount put into a security deposit for a second. If you were the LL and someone came to you wanting to rent a unit in your situation, what would you do? Clearly the LL wants extra protection given your situation.

IMO, 7 months is very high. How about you offer to give 1 month SD and pay the first 3 months of rent?

Not to get all NYCMatt on the OP, but the other option is to find a place that is one-third less expensive.

Why don't you wait until the job is a done deal? You don't want to be stuck in a place you can't afford.

Don't tell me what to do MOM!

7 months security deposit is ridiculous.
The renter is taking a risk that they may lose a half year's rent if the owner is an a-hole, incompetent, deceptive, or financially bad.
The owner by renting to this person is taking a risk that they'll have to take the effort or cost to re-rent the place if the tenant can't pay -- assuming that owner starts eviction upon not getting rent on time and then uses 1 month deposit to cover.

I would say the downside to the owner could easily be dealt with by having an extra 1 month deposit -- so 2 total, until the job is secured.

I disagree with Consigliere and would listen to REMom

I'm pretty sure, by law, that your landlord can't charge you more than 2x monthly rent as a security deposit (see http://www.ptla.org/rights-tenants-security-deposits). I do believe (and correct me if I'm wrong, SE community), that the LL can charge as many months rent as he/she wants in advance-in other words, a landlord could have a contractual requirement that you have to pay the whole year's rent in advance. Therefore, if your landlord is charging you this many months rent as security it's actually illegal-they'd have to either be charging you 5 months rent in advance (so you wouldn't be paying rent for the first five months, the last five months, or it would be pro-rated over the life of the lease so that you were paying an equal amount each month, but less than what the contractual amount is). In my opinion, under no condition should you sign a lease where you pay the listed rent each month, then also allow them to hold an extra 7 months of rent that they may or may not return to you at the end of the lease (that's INSANE). If I were you I'd find someplace else or, as someone else suggested, use a guarantor, even if it's insurant. If they won't take the guarantor or agree to use at least 5 of the 7 months they're holding towards your lease, regardless of your income (assuming you pay rent on time)...well let's just say this is a place you're renting, not buying (no need to fall in love with a rental, there are plenty out there despite what brokers say), and there's no reason WHATSOEVER to put your finances at risk for what is only going to be a temporary living solution.

KSW222 that is incorrect. In NY there is no statutory limit for security deposits for decontrolled apartments at the State or NYC level.

"KSW222 that is incorrect. "

That. For free market rentals, they can and do ask for a full year up front, even.

REread your comment OP!.

Though, in place of yourselves, view from the Landlord point of view....as in what if the TENANT doesn't get the job, goes bankrupt,won't/can't pay anything; and then destroys the apt in anger.....what then?
Should the LL be so worried about the potential tenants in this situation?

LL says 7 months upfront...U want the Unit?

7 months is ridiculous. I wouldn't be surprised if this a sleazy LL and you'll never see it again when you move out -- even AFTER you've paid each month's rent in full. Sounds likely that he wants to prey on unsuspecting and unfamiliar out-of-towners. That said, I also agree that you should reassess and figure out if you can really afford this place. How much do you actually want it? Or, wait until you're both fully employed -- your options will be much greater at that point.

op, pay it or don't. it is not at all uncommon, depending of course on the situation. nor is paying a year in advance, which would be a way for you to counter and not have to worry about what the silly cunt sonya refers to above. of course the apartment you were mulling is either rented to you or someone else by now anyway.