Landlords, would you accept a shorter deposit for what seem the ideal tenant?

[QuintessentialOldDear]

I am at contract stage with what seem like the perfect tenant. A family with children aged 3 and 7. They are both scientists on a research mission to the Arctic, from a different foreign university. They have offered a decent rent, higher than I get at the moment. But now have a bit of an issue with the standard 3 month deposit which is common in Norway. They have asked if they can pay just 2 months, as they will have issues paying 3 months deposit and rent up front. Would you?

Since standard is six weeks' rent in England, I would probably say yes (especially if they were from a country where deposits are less than 3 months' rent - that does seem a lot to find). Can their university offer any guarantees?

They have no references and aren't from same country, so if they damaged your place (exceeding your deposit), you would have no way of going through courts. And they also wouldn't care about future reference from you. I would say no because they should have money to cover advanced rent etc planning for their unique situation and already are short. Will they be relying on a grant? (lump sum given to them at start of research?) What if they can't budget and run out of money?

The standard where I am is one month, so 2 seems reasonable to me.

They are salaried during their research period. I have had dealings with the institute in the past, as I have taught Norwegian to people like them. Having said that, they would not need it, as they are from another neighboring country!

In their country 1-3 months is common. But some landlords dont ask for deposit.

How easy is it to evict non-paying tenants in Norway..?

Not paying would be a breach of contract, but I seriously doubt that two professors with lots of published papers behind them would not pay rent!

you think somebody with a three year old child is a perfect tenant?

if you like them, though, I would say yes. three months rent is a lot of money to stump up all at once.

Sounds like you have a good gut feeling about them.

I do have a good gut feeling.

My current tenants have been driving my neighbours potty, and puke off the balcony, etc. I want my neighbours to have decent neighbours, and I want for myself to have it stress-free and worry less.

you think somebody with a three year old child is a perfect tenant?

Where are people with children supposed to live if LLs have this attitude?

I had a family which was a nightmare who let their children draw on all our walls. I have had students who treated the property really well. I have had other students who party like mad, and I think I will give this young family a go. The kids will be in full time nursery/school, the parents in full time work. Hopefully between them, an ecologist and a marine biologist will know to stop their children from drawing on the walls.

I confess, my idea of a perfect tenant (and I'm a tenant myself, not a landlord) would be a professional couple with no children, certainly not a 3 y.o. It's not a landlord's responsibility to find homes for people with children so a landlord is entitled to take as tenants whomever s/he wants.

You're confident that as they are 2 professors, they'll pay the rent but they can't afford to pay the usual deposit. Doesn't that suggest they are not particularly well off and have low savings?

I once sold my house to a couple with children who said they wouldn't bother to decorate as their children would only spoil it by drawing on the walls.

I get what you are saying. But a professional couple would not need a 4 bed house. This means I am restricted to house sharers or families.

If I were to sell our house and buy an investment property, it would be a high end 2 bed "luxury" flat, to target professional couples. But that is never going to happen!

Why do parents let their children draw on walls and then get ratty when I tell them to repaint or lose their deposit??!!

It drives me mad!!

Take a copy of their passports for extra guarantee if you haven't already - most estate agents do incase they need to chase renters who have up'd and left.