How do you charge for long term property rentals?

[Claudia Schmidt]

1) Can anybody please share with me if you for long term rental properties normally charge a security deposit equivalent to 1 month's rent + the first month rent + last month rent?

2) And if the tenant wants to renew their contract for another year let's say, do you carry over the security deposit and the last month's rent over into the new contract? If so, has it happened to you that the tenant doesn't pay their last month rent thinking they paid it in their current contract? What do you do in such a case?...Just charge them the last month rent again for the new contract?.

3) Can anybody please share with me a sample of the clause from your rental contract about renewals?

Thank you in advance for your kind advice.

[Tracey B.]

Claudia, do not charge a security deposit equal to a months rent or some tenants will try to use that to pay rent owed at end of lease. If rent is 1000 charge security deposit of 1050 or 1100. For a lease move-in I charge 1 mnth rent plus security deposit to move-in.