Difference between revisions of "Renting land"

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== Renting land from another Resident? ==
 
'''Any Resident who's an estate owner can ''choose'' to rent part or all of their estate to other Residents.''' This effectively means that a Resident, including one who's on a Basic account, can "buy" land on an estate and move in, subject to the [[Covenants|covenant (terms and conditions)]] of the estate owner.
 
Specific terminology differs internationally (some call this "leaseholding"), and the semantics of "rent" vs. "buy" aren't so important here as understanding the practical principles. So for convenience, we'll use "'''rent'''" from this point onward as it's the most common.
 
Also, we'll refer to a "Resident estate owner" as a "'''landlord'''", because you're effectively paying them as a "'''tenant'''". As in: if you '''rent''' land on a private estate, this makes you the '''tenant''' of a '''landlord'''.
 
== Types of land for rent in Second Life ==
 
{| {{KBtable}}
|- {{KBtablehead}}
! width=200px |
! colspan="2" | Undeveloped land on...
! colspan="2" | Developed land on...
|-
|
| align="center" width=200px | '''the mainland'''
| align="center" width=200px | '''a private estate'''
| align="center" width=200px | '''the mainland'''
| align="center" width=200px | '''a private estate'''
|-
| '''Themed?'''<br /><small>Is there a pre-built house or store ready for you to move into?</small>
| No; build-it-yourself
| No; build-it-yourself
| Yes; ask landlord about special features
| Yes; ask landlord about special features
|-
| '''Terraform range'''
| Usually +/- 4 m
| Depends; up to +/- 100 m
| Depends; usually +/- 4 m or blocked
| Depends; up to +/- 100 m
|-
| '''Custom terrain textures and environment settings?'''
| No
| Maybe; ask landlord
| No
| Unlikely since land is already themed; ask landlord
|-
| '''Additional land usage rules?'''<br /><small>The [http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php TOS] always applies</small>
| [[:Category:Mainland_Rules|Mainland policies]], also ask landlord
| Landlord's [[Covenants|covenant]]
| [[:Category:Mainland_Rules|Mainland policies]], also ask landlord
| Landlord's [[Covenants|covenant]]
|-
| '''Do you "buy" a parcel to rent it?'''<br /><small>Buying a parcel shows you as the owner in {{winlink|About Land - General|About Land}}</small>
| No, you pay a rent box or similar device
| Yes, but landlord can reclaim it at their discretion
| No, you pay a rent box or similar device
| Yes, but landlord can reclaim it at their discretion
|-
|}
 
== Billing relationship ==
 
The basic process of renting land on an estate is the same as buying on the mainland: unless another arrangement has been made, in {{winlink|About Land - General}}, you can click the '''Buy Land''' button to proceed with your purchase.
 
But, the billing relationship is very different than on the mainland:
 
* If you buy land on the mainland, your billing relationship is with Linden Lab and dependent on the tier system [https://secondlife.com/my/account/landfees.php?lang=en-US shown on the Land Use Fees page].
* If you rent land on a private estate, your billing relationship is with another Resident — your landlord —  and dependent on their covenant.
 
== [[Am I on a private estate|How can I tell I'm on a private estate?]] ==
 
== How can I find private estates to rent land on? ==
 
You can use the Viewer's search tool:
 
# Enter a keyword like <code>beach</code> or <code>vampire</code> in the search bar on the upper-right of the Viewer window and press {{k|Enter}}.
# In the {{winlink|Find}} window that opens, click the '''Land Sales''' tab.
# Next to Category, choose '''For Sale - Estate''' and edit the other fields as-needed.
# Click a listing to view more details, then click '''Teleport''' to travel there in seconds.
 
Also:
* [[Private_Estate_Management_Companies|Residents are compiling a list of landlords.]] If you're a landlord, feel free to add yours!
* The '''[[Xstreet]]''' virtual marketplace has [https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Real_Estate real estate listings]. Not all of these are private estate rentals, so carefully read the details on a listing.
 
The more polished land companies have their own websites which can make it easier to browse offerings and get connected.
 
== Why rent on a private estate? ==
 
There are several reasons why this path may be more appealing for you.
 
=== No Premium account required ===
 
* You ''need'' to upgrade to a Premium account to buy land on the mainland since mainland [[tier]] is part of a Premium account's benefits.
* You can remain at a Basic account to rent land on a private estate. This may be preferable if you've found rental land that has a cheaper monthly rate than the Linden tier system and offers other benefits.
 
Of course, if you're on a Premium account and meet other conditions, '''you can ''simultaneously'' own mainland and rent on private estates'''. It isn't an exclusively "one or the other" choice.
 
=== Close-knit community... ===
 
Linden Lab offers several '''[[wiki/Linden_Lab_Official:Linden_Home|Linden Home]]''' themes to acquaint you with the variety of what's possible with "themed living" in Second Life.
 
But that's just a sampler of the spectrum of diversity available here. A landlord may have a lifelong interest and a deep passion for a focused theme. In some cases, they've brought it from their real life as an extension of their identity, and you may be able to strongly relate to those beliefs — which '''encourages you to be part of the community they're building'''.
 
Themes reflect all angles of creativity. To be less abstract, they may involve a certain real-world environment, a fantasy or historical atmosphere, or be specifically tailored to a subculture (goth, furry, steampunk, etc.). If you're into gaming, some of these themes complement roleplaying on the same premises: you could be a cyberpunk courier living across a dystopian skyline, an elite debutante partying it up at your luxury pad, or a seafarin' swashbuckler in search of booty. Over time as Second Life expands, more interests are met and needs are fulfilled. Some tenants graduate to become landlords themselves.
 
In addition, if you've been [[Linden_Lab_Official:Age_Verification_FAQ|age-verified]], there are adult-themed communities for your discreet pleasures.
 
=== ... or start from scratch ===
 
If you'd prefer to start from scratch, there's a lot of rental land that's ''blank'' and ready to be molded into your vision. What are some advantages over blank mainland? Depending on what the landlord offers, these are some possibilities:
 
* '''Greater terraform range''' - As noted in [[Limits#Land|land limits]], most mainland can only be terraformed +/- 4m from its base, which isn't enough to create staggering heights and deep valleys.
* '''Custom terrain textures''' - Only the landlord and assistants (estate owner and managers) can change these, but you may be able to request a switch. These affect a lot of what you see, since the ground is often beneath your feet.
* '''Time of day''' - It'd look odd if a vampires' den was in bright daylight. A landlord can lock the time of day at midnight, then invite tenants who thrive on the darkness.
 
These and more options are shown in the {{winlink|Region/Estate_-_Terrain}} and related controls, and not changeable at-will unless ''you'' own or manage an estate.
 
=== The personal touch ===
 
Some landlords go beyond a financial relationship: they or specially-chosen Residents (estate managers) interact with their tenants frequently, host events, and expand the community based on your feedback. This sort of intimate empowerment to affect change can be very appealing.
 
That's not all: themed communities may offer on-location stores and other amenities as a convenience. For example, if you rent land in a medieval village, it makes sense to find a "ye olde" shop selling knight's armor and period dresses — and if there's a supernatural aspect, magic wands. If you continue up the street, there could be a banquet hall for dances, a monastery for meditation, and other dwellings used for social events so you can meet-and-greet your likeminded neighbors. This adds to the overall theme and immersion of the community and can add substantial value to your experience.
 
=== Customization and negotiation ===
 
On the mainland, you can't negotiate your Linden tier fees. Also, if you wanted to make your parcel a ''tiny'' bit larger, it's really hard do that: neighbors may be nice but not typically welcoming of subdividing and selling only a sliver of their parcel.
 
But we're all human (most of us, anyway) and a sympathetic landlord may hear your pleas of "times are tough". '''Just like you might with a real-life landlord, you can try negotiating a better deal''': perhaps you'll pay a bigger L$ sum upfront covering several months of rent. Or you can explain what your budget is and the landlord will try to connect you with a parcel that meets what you can afford.
 
== Important things to be aware of ==
 
''Caveat emptor'' — buyer beware! This isn't meant to scare you, but encourage you to be assertive when looking for rental land. Just as there are all kinds of people in the world, there are all kinds of landlords with individual styles, some of which may mesh better with you depending the personalities involved. With that in mind:
 
=== The landlord always has the final say ===
 
When renting land on a private estate, the "owner" in {{winlink|About Land - General}} shows your name, but the landlord reserves the right to change that at any time. This means they can reclaim the land and offer it to someone else on a whim. Linden Lab doesn't mediate if your landlord is being a jerk.
 
If you have a consistently great relationship with your landlord, you don't have to worry about getting kicked out. But if you find yourself getting into quarrels that aren't cooling down, you may want to consider relocating. Hopefully you've done your homework to minimize getting into such a situation.
 
=== Always check the covenant before you buy ===
 
The '''covenant is the terms and conditions of rental land''', always shown in {{winlink|About Land - Covenant}}. In other words, what you ''can'' and ''can't'' do if you rent this land. For example, there may be a zoning code against disruptive anachronism that reads: "No rezzing UFOs on our Renaissance villas!" Covenants often include a code of conduct in addition to Linden Lab's [http://secondlife.com/corporate/cs.php Community Standards]. Some [[Linden_Lab_Official:Mainland_policies|rules that apply on the mainland]] may not apply on an estate: for example, a landlord could decree "Combat is allowed for all!", then make their land a constant warzone where no one could be accused of "griefing with weapons" because it's part of the theme.
 
{{KBwarning|The [http://secondlife.com/corporate/tos.php Terms of Service] apply to ''every Resident'', ''everywhere'' in Second Life, including on private estates.}}
 
A landlord can change the covenant at any time, but shouldn't do so without notifying tenants first or even more considerate, soliciting their input. (Similar to how you wouldn't like it if your cell phone provider changed your contract in a detrimental way without notice.) The last-modified date of a covenant is always shown.
 
[[Covenants|Learn more about covenants.]]
 
=== Ask for testimonials and references ===
 
Like any successful business, a landlord should be able to point to delighted customers. Renting land from someone may feel more confident if you have friends who've rented from that landlord before and have good things to say about the experience, as well as downsides that aren't major causes for concern but nevertheless good to know.
 
It helps to ask because a little research can save you lots of troubles in the future.
 
=== Be clear on your billing relationship ===
 
Before buying, be sure to ask:
 
* '''How much is rent?'''
* '''Is it paid in L$ or US$?'''
* '''How often is it paid?''' Monthly or otherwise?
* '''How do I pay it?''' Methods range from "pay the landlord directly" to "pay a scripted box" to "payment form on a website". More savvy landlords figure out ways to manage this with minimum overhead so miscommunication is minimized.
* '''Can payment be automated?''' Just like in the real world, this can be really convenient and assures as long as you have funds, you won't be delinquent.
 
== Renting land on the mainland? ==
 
You may have heard that some Residents offer land for rent on the mainland, which works differently in some regards. One big difference is that you ''don't'' do the act of buying a parcel (which shows you as the parcel owner in {{winlink|About Land - General}} as described above). instead, you might be offered to join a group which gives you the permission to place objects on a designated parcel with your [[What_is_a_group_tag_or_title%3F|group tag]].
 
This arrangement is common in many mainland malls, where stalls are rented out (and there may be advertisements for such an arrangement). A similar pattern can be found in cottages, hotels, and other destinations.
 
Remember that the above, for simplicity's sake, describes some of the many possibilities that exist and continue to grow. Consult specific situations to get accurate details.

Latest revision as of 10:25, 2 March 2011

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