It kinda sucks though to have your cash tied up right when you need it most.

You either offer to pay all/half of the year's rent in one go (and ask for a discount for the privilege) because you have it now and u prob don't expect to have cash flow during that time

..or you actually can't afford a year's lease on current savings, in which case it's unlikely you can afford the place assuming no real cash flow during the first year of a start up.

I'm not objecting to tests of fitness for payment; they're just not flexible enough. I have things to offer instead of income: Savings, a superlative credit score (so I could get a loan, or even pay rent with credit cards if I had to), qualifications.

I'm straying from the original goal, though. The post was to inquire about how others deal with this issue, not fairness.

If you think you need cash now, just wait until you've spent a few months working on your startup. :-)

It's so easy to get caught up in big spending when you get out and start working. Most of your yuppie brethren are inclined as such, after all. I have a feeling that learning how to be frugal will pay off in later years, seeing how most older folks seem to value it... xP