a key money

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a key money" is not correct in English.
The correct term is "key money" without the article "a." You can use "key money" in contexts related to real estate or rental agreements, referring to a payment made to secure a lease or rental property. Example: "The landlord requested key money as part of the rental agreement before we could move in."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In 2008, after the collapse of Lehman Brothers — when a key money market fund sustained huge losses on Lehman debt and investors started pulling their money out of the funds — he said, "everybody shut off at once.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

She came into this good fortune by parting with a small one in "key money" - a bribe to the previous tenant of $24,000.

The Guardian - Books

In fact, he said, Koreans are more likely than other groups to be victims of unfair business practices, like landlords' demands for astronomical rents and "key money," an upfront payment to obtain a lease that can run as high as $200,000.

The New York Times

No one in the building could believe that I would pay so much in key money for a rental apartment; it was an astronomical amount.

The New Yorker

He met a man who told him that there was a $25 entrance price the equivalent of key money.

Forbes

Note that some older places (10 years or older) will waive the key money, but will charge a commission fee equal to 1.05 of the monthly rent.

WikiHow

Once those barriers are removed, community electricity storage will be a key and money saving part of a high performance, 21st Century electricity architecture.

Huffington Post

The kickback was part of the two hundred and eighty-five thousandollarsrs in key money my neighbors had charged a new tenant for the right to take over their lease.

The New Yorker

Paying key money once is pretty tough, paying twice is a financial disaster.

WikiHow

Someone paid two hundred and eighty-five thousandollarsrs in key money to move into the Apthorp.

The New Yorker

MONEY AND INTEREST RATES  Spain, which is joining EMU, trimmed its key money rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to "key money" in the context of rental agreements or leases, omit the article "a". Use "key money" to describe the upfront payment to secure a lease.

Common error

Do not precede "key money" with the article "a" or "the". The correct usage is "key money" without an article, as it functions as a compound noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a key money" is generally incorrect; the correct form is "key money", which functions as a noun phrase. It typically refers to a non-refundable upfront payment made to secure a lease. Ludwig AI identifies only one instance of the incorrect phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "a key money" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct term is "key money", without the article. Ludwig AI highlights that "key money" refers to an upfront, non-refundable payment to secure a lease, often in competitive rental markets. It's best to use the term without the article to ensure grammatical correctness. Alternatives such as "lease premium" or "security deposit" may be suitable depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

essential funds

Emphasizes the necessity of the money involved.

critical financing

Focuses on the importance of the financial aspect.

vital capital

Highlights the role of the money as capital.

important investment

Stresses the investment nature of the money.

necessary payment

Emphasizes the obligatory nature of the money transfer.

significant monetary resource

Replaces "key" with "significant" and restructures the phrase.

fundamental monetary support

Uses "fundamental" to convey the importance.

crucial financial backing

Highlights the supporting role of the money.

indispensable fiscal asset

Uses more formal terms to describe the money's importance.

primary fiscal input

Focuses on the money as an input to a system.

FAQs

What does "key money" mean in real estate?

"Key money" refers to a non-refundable, upfront payment made by a new tenant to a landlord or previous tenant to secure a lease or rental agreement, especially in competitive rental markets.

Is it correct to say "a key money"?

No, the correct term is "key money" without the article "a". Using "a key money" is grammatically incorrect.

What are some alternatives to "key money"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "lease premium" or "security deposit" instead of "key money".

Where is "key money" typically practiced?

"Key money" practices are more common in some regions and countries than others, notably in certain parts of Asia, such as Japan and Korea, and in some high-demand urban areas worldwide.