Rentals are exactly what I was talking about. Supposedly you can always go to someone else, but we all know in practice we can't just go without housing and if everyone decides you're "difficult," you're SOL.
Earlier this week a potential landlord offered me a lease saying I had already inspected the property and found no issues with it.
I asked for a chance to actually inspect before signing, and even said I would settle for a good quality video walkthrough. They told me the unit was "not available for viewing" because it wasn't finished yet, and by the time it was finished it would likely be taken.
So why did you ask me to sign a contract saying I inspected a property that it's conceptually impossible to inspect??
I asked if they could change that part of the lease. They said they were "unable" due to "demand and interest in the property."
I rather like the system where I live in BC, Canada where things like this cannot be waived, and the government has more or less standardized things like move in/move out inspections through standard forms. You are, of course, allowed to use your own form, but if it doesn't have all of the elements needed to make an inspection form legal it is toilet paper. No reason not to use the official and free form.
Even then, if they got you to sign this paper saying you had inspected it, but they had not made it available for inspection and pressured you to sign or lose it, the inspection would be void as far as the tribunal that handles disputes goes. If they forced you to sign an inspection report for a unit that was not complete at the time of signing it would be open and shut as an invalid inspection. The tribunal here won't allow any claim for property damages if there is not a valid move in inspection, so it really behooves the property owner to make sure the inspection is valid if they want any damages paid for.
> I asked if they could change that part of the lease. They said they were "unable" due to "demand and interest in the property."
Was it a paper lease? Because you could always cross out that section before signing, not to mention write in your own addendum. They would probably still balk, but you'd be within your rights to do so.
For separate but similar reasons, Washington was forced to add to tenant law the proviso that tenants could not waive certain tenant rights, even if consideration was given.
"There's a clause in here that gives some more time for certain repairs, because we're short-staffed, so we will take $50 off of your rent". Nope.
"There's a clause in here that says that your monthly payment will first be applied to late payments, fees, fines, and then your lease payment in that order." Nope.
Earlier this week a potential landlord offered me a lease saying I had already inspected the property and found no issues with it.
I asked for a chance to actually inspect before signing, and even said I would settle for a good quality video walkthrough. They told me the unit was "not available for viewing" because it wasn't finished yet, and by the time it was finished it would likely be taken.
So why did you ask me to sign a contract saying I inspected a property that it's conceptually impossible to inspect??
I asked if they could change that part of the lease. They said they were "unable" due to "demand and interest in the property."
Of course, still not as insane as your story.