I just spent the last couple of days out of state shopping for an apartment with my son who is relocating for his first job out of college. I couldn't believe all of the junk fees associated with renting an apartment like the application fee, the administrative fee, etc., etc. You would think those expenses should be part of the cost of doing business. Some places were up to about $300 with all of those fees. My son kept getting emails from the apartments that came in tied for 2nd place if he had decided and he just emailed them back that their fees were out of control.
The real kicker is that most of them wanted a co-signer, including the apartment that he finally leased. I told the property manager that I wouldn't be doing any cosigning since I felt like my son's income was sufficient to pay the rent. And if they didn't agree we would walk and find another place. They wouldn't even take cash for the credit check. Are we in America? We received a call about a 1/2 hour later that he was approved without a co-signer.
I just find it amazing that all of the young people renting their first apartments and gainfully employed have to go through the B.S. of asking someone to co-sign.