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12 Questions To Ask Before Renting

The document discusses 12 important questions to ask a potential landlord before signing a lease for an apartment. The questions cover topics like how rent and late fees work, landlord access to the apartment, guest policies, parking, notice for moving out, penalties for breaking the lease, making changes to the apartment, planned updates, utilities, lease renewal options, reasons for not refunding a security deposit, and handling emergency repairs.

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DharneeshkarDandy
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28 views

12 Questions To Ask Before Renting

The document discusses 12 important questions to ask a potential landlord before signing a lease for an apartment. The questions cover topics like how rent and late fees work, landlord access to the apartment, guest policies, parking, notice for moving out, penalties for breaking the lease, making changes to the apartment, planned updates, utilities, lease renewal options, reasons for not refunding a security deposit, and handling emergency repairs.

Uploaded by

DharneeshkarDandy
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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You've done tons of 

searching online, toured numerous apartment complexes, and you've


narrowed it down to a few top contenders. At this point in your apartment search, you’ve
probably had all of your major questions answered. How much is rent, how long is the lease
term, what utilities are included? But there are more questions to ask when renting an
apartment than just the obvious ones.

Now is the time to get answers to some essential questions before signing a lease. After you
pen your John Hancock, it will be too late to take these things into consideration to ensure
that you find the best place to live.

#1 HOW DO I PAY RENT, AND HOW ARE LATE FEES


ASSESSED?
These days, nearly every complex has at least one electronic option for paying rent, but there
may be a convenience fee from $1 - $5 for doing so. It may make sense to pay with a hand
written check delivered to the leasing office or mailed to the landlord. In that case, make sure
you understand exactly when the landlord imposes a late fee (e.g. five days after rent is due)
and how much that fee is.

#2 UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WILL YOU


ENTER MY APARTMENT WITHOUT NOTICE?
You may not own the apartment, but that doesn't mean the community employees should be
able to enter your home anytime they please. In most instances the apartment should give you
notice prior to entering your apartment, and legit complexes will be up front about what
circumstances warrant them entering an apartment. You may also want to consider safety
here. For example, does the landlord require background checks for those employees who
have access to your apartment?

#3 WHAT IS THE COMMUNITY’S GUEST POLICY?


Having an out-of-town friend stay with you should be fine, but many communities have
policies against guests staying longer than two weeks, or require that you notify the property
manager if you’re going to have a longer-term guest. The policy should be outlined in your
lease, but make sure you know the rules so that you don’t violate your lease terms
inadvertently.

#4 WHERE WILL I PARK MY CAR?


Does your rent include access to one or more parking spaces? Are the reserved, or in an open
lot? If parking isn’t provided, what are the alternatives? Street parking? Nearby garages? Be
wary of being told street parking is easy to find. It could be tougher than advertised, so you
should check it out for yourself.
#5 HOW FAR IN ADVANCE DO I NEED TO GIVE
NOTICE BEFORE MOVING OUT?
In many instances you’ll have to give notice 30-60 days in advance of moving out. If you
don’t give the required notice, your lease could automatically renew or you could lose your
security deposit.

#6 CAN I SUBLET THE APARTMENT, AND IF NOT,


WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR BREAKING MY LEASE?
You never know when your job or personal life could require you to move on short notice. In
the event that you need to move out before your lease is up, it’s good to know your options.
Some apartment complexes are staunchly against subletting, and it could be a serious breach
of contract. Make sure you can live with the penalty for breaking your lease if you absolutely
have to.

#7 CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO THE APARTMENT AND


WILL THERE BE COSTS INVOLVED?
Putting your own personal touch on an apartment can end up costing you at some complexes,
while others don’t mind as long as you put things back the way they were when you moved
in.

#8 ARE THERE PLANS TO MAKE ANY UPDATES TO


THE APARTMENT COMPLEX?
This is important for two reasons: 1) If improvements are being made then you may have to
deal with construction, and 2) updates could add to the amenities, enjoyment and appeal of
your apartment.

#9 ARE ANY UTILITIES OR SERVICES COVERED IN


THE COST OF THE RENT? FOR THOSE THAT
AREN’T, HOW ARE UTILITY COSTS CALCULATED?
When budgeting for an apartment, knowing what rent covers is important in determining the
overall costs and affordability. For utilities not included in rent, each unit may be metered
separately. But if it isn’t, you’ll want to know how your monthly rate is calculated. Whether
or not you’ll have gas appliances can also come into play.

#10 WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR LEASE RENEWAL?


Perhaps the landlord plans to renovate in a year’s time, so renewing isn’t an option. Or maybe
in a year’s time you’ll decide to move, but what if your new lease doesn’t begin until two
months after your current lease expires? Is month-to-month an option?
#11 UNDER WHICH CIRCUMSTANCES WILL MY
SECURITY DEPOSIT NOT BE REFUNDED?
Not cleaning the apartment sufficiently could be enough for the property manager to withhold
a portion of your security deposit. A good rule of thumb is that with the exception of normal
wear and tear, the apartment should be left the way it was when you moved in if you want
to get the full deposit back.

#12 HOW DO YOU HANDLE EMERGENCY REPAIRS?


No one wants to deal with a burst pipe at midnight on a Tuesday, but it’s a repair that has to
be handled ASAP. Before choosing an apartment it’s important to know how all kinds of
repairs are handled, particularly the emergencies.

There’s a lot of ground to cover before you sign a lease, and plenty of questions to ask before
renting. If you want to protect yourself and prevent a mess of misunderstandings once you
move in, it’s crucial to pose these questions during your apartment hunt. Covering all of your
bases should mean less headaches in the long run. Good luck, and happy renting!

Published September 23, 2019

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