Questions To Ask Your Landlord

Before signing a lease, future tenants should read through their leases and review any agreements made with landlords. Most leases hold tenants responsible for rent and damages. Some students sign leases with “joint and several clauses,” which mean the landlords will hold each roommate responsible.

Consider the following questions before signing any leases:

Exterior

• What are the neighbors like?
• Who is responsible for lawn care and snow removal?
• Does the unit permit smoking?
• Is there guest parking, and are overnight guests allowed?
• How many parking spots are allocated per apartment or house? Is there a parking pass or decal needed to park on the premises?

Interior

• Are the bedrooms big enough for personal belongings, such as a computer, a double size bed and a dresser?
• Does the roof or basement leak?
• Is there enough lighting?
• Are the walls, floors and ceiling clean and in good repair?
• Can tenants paint?
• Can tenants hang things with nails? What are the standards for hanging items?

Facilities

• Are laundry facilities on the premises or nearby?
• Are there adequate means of disposing trash? Are trash costs included in rent?
• How is the unit heated? Does the landlord control the thermostat? Are there ducts in every room?
• What utilities do tenants need to pay for?

Rent

• When is rent due? Is there a grace period?
• Can rent be paid individually among roommates? Can everyone sign separate leases? What are the policies for subletting?
• Can rent be changed in the duration of tenants' stay in the unit?

General

• What kind of rental insurance does the complex offer?
• What are the complex’s maintenance policies?
• On what conditions are tenants denied security deposits at the end of the lease period? What are the conditions under which leases can be terminated?
• Are pets allowed? Are there any additional charges for having a pet?
• What is the maximum number of occupants allowed in one unit?
• Is the landlord's home number available to tenants?
• Will the landlord give prior notice before entering tenants' apartments or houses for an inspection? How often do landlords inspect their units?

Remember, it can be helpful to ask current tenants what the conditions are like. It is strongly recommended that a tenant inspect the complex. If anything is wrong, ask the landlord if it will be fixed before move-in. The Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization recommends that tenants always have any promised repairs written into the lease before they sign it. Before tenants decide where to move, they should be sure to visit all the places that interest them. Make a “pros and cons” list to help decide the best place to live.

Sources:

http://coso.kent.edu (Commuter and Off-Campus Student Organization)

http://www.osuoffcampus.com/documents/checklist.asp