COLLEGELIFESTYLE & TRAVEL

Ten Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease

Trying to find a new place to rent that is budget-friendly, safe, clean and has the features you need can be a tough task. Once you find a rental you think may be a good fit, it’s important to ask the following 10 questions before signing a new lease agreement.

1. How can I pay my rent?

Learn more about your payment options. Does the property manager or landlord offer electronic payment, or do you need to pay with a check every month? Some apartments have their own portal where you can set up automatic payments; others offer digital wallet payment options. Determine if there is a grace period or late fees and what they are.

2. What does rent include?

Does rent include any utilities? For utilities that aren’t covered, what is the average cost of monthly utilities? Landlords should have an idea of what previous tenants paid in utilities. Additionally, this is important to ask so you can determine what the initial costs will be for setting up utilities in your new place.

3. Under what circumstances will you enter my rental without notice?

Despite living in a rental, it’s important to know landlords and property managers can’t enter your home or apartment any time they want. Lease agreements typically outline the procedure for visits from a landlord, property manager or other staff including maintenance. These can include whether they are required to give notice, how often they need to complete inspections during your lease term, how long inspections or routine maintenance usually take and more. Once the landlord or property manager outlines their protocol, you can compare it to state laws to make sure they coincide.

4. Are there any plans to make improvements to the rental community?

Construction and regular maintenance may impact your comfort level and happiness in your new place, so it’s important to ask about any planned changes to your unit or rental community to ensure you still want to live there. On the other hand, if there is a repair that will be taken care of before you move in or shortly after, you may decide to sign a lease with that in mind.

5. What are my options for lease renewal?

If you are hoping to stay in the same rental for a year or more, consider asking about lease renewal options. Will the landlord or property manager raise rent each year or do they offer a discount for long-term tenants? Did they plan on vacating the rental after you moved out for renovations or to sell? For your own planning, it’s helpful to ask prior to signing a lease.

6. What is the policy on rent increases?

Before signing a lease, understand how rent increases will be communicated to you and what causes rent to go up. Are there any limits on how much rent can be increased? To avoid any surprises or budget-busting changes, make sure to ask the landlord or property manager about rent increase policies ahead of time.

7. What is the process for reporting maintenance issues?

Depending on the rental, maintenance requests may be submitted using an online portal or by calling, texting or emailing maintenance directly. What is the preferred method for reaching out to maintenance? Is the process the same in an emergency? If not, how should you submit an emergency maintenance request? In addition, what is the typical response time from maintenance regularly and during an emergency? It’s critical to know that if something goes wrong with your rental, you’ll be able to reach someone who can get things fixed in a timely manner.

8. Are the locks changed between tenants?

Locks and keys should be changed between tenants, but it’s important to ask beforehand to make sure this is something your future landlord or property manager plans to do. In addition, most tenants receive two keys at move-in from the landlord or property manager. Be sure to ask if there are any other keys stored in a secure location and inquire who has access to them.

9. Does this rental have any pest problems?

According to Apartments.com, if the rental is older, pet-friendly or located near a body of water, it’s a good idea to ask about pest issues. Asking about previous pest problems can help you learn more about how issues have been addressed before and what processes are in place to prevent pest problems in the future.

10. What insurance do I need?

Renter’s insurance is typically required by most rental properties and landlords. Regardless of whether it’s required, renter’s insurance can be a great way to protect yourself. If it’s required and you’re allowed to choose your own insurer, it’s important to verify that your plan meets the requirements before finalizing everything. If you already carry auto insurance, you may choose to add renter’s insurance to your plan as well.

After asking the 10 questions outlined here, you should have a sense of whether the rental you’re interested in is a good fit for you or not. If it is a good fit, you’ll feel confident about signing your new lease. If it’s not a good fit, you’ll know to continue your search and keep the same 10 questions in your back pocket for the next rental you consider.

Sources:

https://www.apartments.com/blog/12-questions-to-ask-a-property-manager-before-signing-a-lease?msockid=0109b77c9a5e67033554a2999b2066a9