Landlord wants me to do my own background check?

I want to rent a commercial space and my landlord wants me to perform my own background/credit check. I've never had to do this before, as all my previous landlords did this for me. Is this landlord-to-be just lazy? Or is this normal? He also suddenly wants to raise the deposit, even though we agreed (verbally) on a lower price. Should I walk the other way?

You are obviously dealing with someone who doesn't have a clue or simply very unprofessional (or both). For him to ask you to do the background check is likely motivated by him not wanting to spend the money, but in doing so he doesn't realize that a self-done check could be unreliable (no offense intended). If your prospective landlord is already try to pull a fast one I would tell you to look elsewhere, but we are talking about commercial real estate and location is VERY important. Still, once the landlord realizes that you may not rent from him and choose a different option, he may become more amiable and professional as he realizes his empty property isn't producing income.

Yeah I'd get out of there - he's made an odd request and has already tried to change the deal on you, no telling what he'll try down the road. I imagine he wants you pay for the cost of a background check, as done by online credit review services, etc. He could at least be specific on what he wants, but I suggest you walk away from this one . .

Get something in writing that's agreeable or get out!

yes, this seems odd. he can do the bkgrnd chk & charge you. w/out a written agreement of deposit he can raise yr deposit or lower it...but his word is not reliable.

yes

That is wack!! go elsewhere!

yes you should thees Norean for him to do that to you

as fast as your little legs can go my friend.

LOL! it's not normal and I've never heard of it. walk, he might change his mind on the deposit and then you can get that in writing.

That does happen, especially in NY. What will probably happen is the landlord already has a company lined up and you pay the fees. Sounds like if the landlord has the leisure of requesting this from you, you must be in a high demand area. I don't think the landlord is cheating you, but I'm sure he has a lot of solicitors asking for his property. If you want to property bad enough, you will do it. Anyways, it's not that he's lazy, just the landlord doesn't want to spend the money. I guess you can argue he is cheap.

Yes.

if you stay he might just change the rent every month to somthing higher.