That really sounds crazy...I have never heard of that. When I moved there, I sent my deposit from out of state and everything. I don't know of anyone who has a rental property now.

If things have changed your friend really can't get a place because they are out of state...one option is to get a PO Box at a post office or The UPS Store. When you get a PO Box out here, it looks like a real address, not a PO Box. So it will look like your friend has an address in the city.

Good luck