What to Look for When Signing Your First Lease

Written By: Victoria Schmid
Wednesday, November 14, 2018

1. Do Your Research

Treat your commitment to renting a property in the same way you would carefully consider buying an expensive appliance or a new car: do your research. Look for online reviews from previous renters attached to the property profile in Google or on other social media platforms like Facebook. Search under either the landlordrsquo;s name or the name of the property company or apartment complex to find reviews in Yelp. You can even dig up complaints filed with the Better Business Bureau.

2. Read the Lease

This seems like an obvious piece of advice, but itrsquo;s worth repeating. Read the lease and then read it again. Ask for advice from someone you trust who has the >

bull; Length of the lease
bull; When rent is due and how to pay it
bull; Security deposit rules and refunds
bull; Lease termination and penalties
bull; Rules about roommates or subletting
bull; Whether pets are allowed or prohibited

3. Get It in Writing

If you donrsquo;t see a topic or rule specified in writing, request to get it added to the lease. Even if it seems minor, it should be clearly outlined in the legal agreement between you and the landlord. Look for language about who handles the utilities and rules for personalizing your space. Fleshing out the details in the lease protects both you and the landlord from future misunderstandings and financial headaches.

4. Be Clear about Maintenance Responsibilities

Understand and document what your responsibilities are in terms of maintenance and who you should call in case of an emergency. When you move in, the landlord should document the condition of the propertymdash;if there is preexisting damage, insist that itrsquo;s recorded accurately before you accept the keys. Check all the appliances, door locks, and plumbing, and if anything needs attention, require that it be addressed now so you donrsquo;t end up paying for it later.

If your landlord doesnrsquo;t supply a checklist to verify the current condition of the property when you sign the lease, supply one yourself. There are several free templates online that you can use to document the condition of the property and ask your landlord to co-sign.

5. Check Out the Security

Check with the landlord or property manager to determine the security measures in place for your rental. If you are moving into a complex, make sure all areas are well lit and measures like security cameras are in place. If the apartment or home isnrsquo;t outfitted with security safeguards, ask the landlord if they allow tenants to install their own security systems. Some DIY systems cater to rentals for 15ndash;25 a month, meaning you still have security options if the property doesnrsquo;t have them already.

You can also research the surrounding area to see if they have a Neighborhood Watch program in place, and you can ask local law enforcement if the area has any crime trends.

6. Donrsquo;t Forget about Parking

This may be one of the last things on your mind when yoursquo;re signing the actual lease, but itrsquo;s crucial that you understand where you can and cannot park. Whether itrsquo;s off-street or on-street parking, covered or out in the open, the parking arrangement may end up being a pretty large hassle depending on the weather and the safety of the neighborhood. Request clarification about the parking situation if it isnrsquo;t clearly outlined in the lease.

7. Consider Renters Insurance

Insurance probably isnrsquo;t a priority when yoursquo;re still apartment or house hunting, but it should be something you consider getting before moving in. In addition to protecting you from property loss, renters insurance can sometimes help with damage caused by poor maintenance that wouldnrsquo;t be covered by your landlordrsquo;s insurance policy.

Once yoursquo;ve thoroughly reviewed the lease and checked off all these boxes, you can feel more confident about signing on the dotted line.

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nbsp;Victoria Schmid enjoys writing about technology for the ldquo;everydayrdquo; person. She is a specialist in online business marketing and consumer technology. She has a background in broadcast journalism.

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