Looking for an apartment?
I noticed a couple of posts (esp. from students) looking for an
apartment. I'm on the hunt, too. Here are some notes I jotted down on
covering my bases (and my ass) in the process:
Looking at the apartment:
1. How much is rent, and when is it due? Is there a grace period? Is there a penalty for a late payment?
2. How much is the deposit? Under what conditions is it held?
3. Is the apartment furnished or unfurnished?
4. Are all the appliances, the plumbing, the heat, and the air conditioning in good working order?
5. Who do I contact for repairs when they’re necessary? Are maintenance hours restricted? How is emergency service handled?
6. Are utilities furnished? What about parking, extra storage, or garbage and recycling services?
7. What can you tell me about the neighbors and the neighborhood?
8. Am I allowed to have pets? Overnight guests?
9. Can I sublease or get roommates?
10. When could I move in?
• Move furniture to see every inch of the wall, floor, and ceiling. Check for peeling linoleum or gouges in the walls.
• Listen for loud heating or cooling systems, drips, traffic, neighbors, etc. Open and close windows and doors.
• Test the appliances.
• Check the apartment or the building for:
- exposed wires, faulty electrical appliances, scorch marks, smoke damage
- lack of emergency exits or smoke alarms, or blocked exits
- pet odors or damage on carpets, floors, or walls
- water stains near toilets, tubs, or sinks, or temporary fixes on drains (faulty plumbing)
- discolored floors, ceilings, or windowsills (water damage)
- holes in the walls
- mouse droppings, cockroaches, flies, ants, and other indications of pests
- leaky or broken windows, or windows that don’t open smoothly
- cluttered or damaged entryways, halls, or stairs in a multi-unit building
- loud, unruly neighbors
Note: Call utility companies to tell you how much they charged previous tenants for water, electricity, gas, and oil. Have the exact address on hand and, if possible, the name of the person who holds the current account. Ask how many days are in the billing cycle, and for both the highest single cost and average cost based on one year of service.
Signing the lease and other legal jargon:
Standard apartment lease (signed by tenant and manager):
• Tenant name
• Length of stay (starting and ending dates)
• Payments involved and when and how they’re to be made
• Responsibilities of tenant and landlord
• Utilities available
• Eviction clauses
• Whether or not the space can be sublet
• Rules concerning pets and guests
• Liabilities
• Address of residence
• Contact info. for the manager
Additional landlord responsibilities and entitlements:
• Providing a livable and safe home for the tenant. Includes, but is not limited to: ensuring the space passes building, health, and safety codes; installing locks and security devices; and making utility services available.
• Should have adequate insurance. Renter’s insurance purchased by the tenant may cover losses the landlord’s policy does not.
• May enter a rental to handle repairs, to show the space to potential renters, or, in some cases, if the renter has left for more than 7 days. A landlord must give a tenant notice in advance. The tenant’s permission is always required for non-emergency visits by a landlord.
Security deposits:
• Two general instances in which a landlord can legally retain a security deposit: 1. A tenant moves out before the lease is up. A landlord can then keep the deposit to cover the unexpected loss of rental income. 2. Damage.
• Check with the local housing resource agency to find out about the area’s ordinances. They spell out specifics, such as what qualifies as leaving an apartment unreasonably unclean.
• Tour the rental with the landlord before moving in and again when moving out. Make a list of all existing damage on surfaces and appliances within the rental and throughout and exterior area you’ll be using (porch, garage, etc.). Both parties need to sign and date the document and keep a copy.
Budget considerations:
• Rent: 1/3 of monthly income. Most landlords will ask for the first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit, totaling approximately 3 months of rental fees when you sign the lease.
• Basic furnishing/decorating costs.
• Utilities: Electricity, telephone service, natural gas or oil, water, and sewer service.
- In addition to monthly bills, there’s a charge for turning on utilities, and deposits are required for new accounts. Some companies will the deposit if a customer in good standing (a friend who already has an account) agrees to co-sign on your account.
- Heating and cooling are the most expensive. Find out how well insulated the space is.
- Extras: Cable? Internet?
Looking at the apartment:
1. How much is rent, and when is it due? Is there a grace period? Is there a penalty for a late payment?
2. How much is the deposit? Under what conditions is it held?
3. Is the apartment furnished or unfurnished?
4. Are all the appliances, the plumbing, the heat, and the air conditioning in good working order?
5. Who do I contact for repairs when they’re necessary? Are maintenance hours restricted? How is emergency service handled?
6. Are utilities furnished? What about parking, extra storage, or garbage and recycling services?
7. What can you tell me about the neighbors and the neighborhood?
8. Am I allowed to have pets? Overnight guests?
9. Can I sublease or get roommates?
10. When could I move in?
• Move furniture to see every inch of the wall, floor, and ceiling. Check for peeling linoleum or gouges in the walls.
• Listen for loud heating or cooling systems, drips, traffic, neighbors, etc. Open and close windows and doors.
• Test the appliances.
• Check the apartment or the building for:
- exposed wires, faulty electrical appliances, scorch marks, smoke damage
- lack of emergency exits or smoke alarms, or blocked exits
- pet odors or damage on carpets, floors, or walls
- water stains near toilets, tubs, or sinks, or temporary fixes on drains (faulty plumbing)
- discolored floors, ceilings, or windowsills (water damage)
- holes in the walls
- mouse droppings, cockroaches, flies, ants, and other indications of pests
- leaky or broken windows, or windows that don’t open smoothly
- cluttered or damaged entryways, halls, or stairs in a multi-unit building
- loud, unruly neighbors
Note: Call utility companies to tell you how much they charged previous tenants for water, electricity, gas, and oil. Have the exact address on hand and, if possible, the name of the person who holds the current account. Ask how many days are in the billing cycle, and for both the highest single cost and average cost based on one year of service.
Signing the lease and other legal jargon:
Standard apartment lease (signed by tenant and manager):
• Tenant name
• Length of stay (starting and ending dates)
• Payments involved and when and how they’re to be made
• Responsibilities of tenant and landlord
• Utilities available
• Eviction clauses
• Whether or not the space can be sublet
• Rules concerning pets and guests
• Liabilities
• Address of residence
• Contact info. for the manager
Additional landlord responsibilities and entitlements:
• Providing a livable and safe home for the tenant. Includes, but is not limited to: ensuring the space passes building, health, and safety codes; installing locks and security devices; and making utility services available.
• Should have adequate insurance. Renter’s insurance purchased by the tenant may cover losses the landlord’s policy does not.
• May enter a rental to handle repairs, to show the space to potential renters, or, in some cases, if the renter has left for more than 7 days. A landlord must give a tenant notice in advance. The tenant’s permission is always required for non-emergency visits by a landlord.
Security deposits:
• Two general instances in which a landlord can legally retain a security deposit: 1. A tenant moves out before the lease is up. A landlord can then keep the deposit to cover the unexpected loss of rental income. 2. Damage.
• Check with the local housing resource agency to find out about the area’s ordinances. They spell out specifics, such as what qualifies as leaving an apartment unreasonably unclean.
• Tour the rental with the landlord before moving in and again when moving out. Make a list of all existing damage on surfaces and appliances within the rental and throughout and exterior area you’ll be using (porch, garage, etc.). Both parties need to sign and date the document and keep a copy.
Budget considerations:
• Rent: 1/3 of monthly income. Most landlords will ask for the first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit, totaling approximately 3 months of rental fees when you sign the lease.
• Basic furnishing/decorating costs.
• Utilities: Electricity, telephone service, natural gas or oil, water, and sewer service.
- In addition to monthly bills, there’s a charge for turning on utilities, and deposits are required for new accounts. Some companies will the deposit if a customer in good standing (a friend who already has an account) agrees to co-sign on your account.
- Heating and cooling are the most expensive. Find out how well insulated the space is.
- Extras: Cable? Internet?