Long before I ever finished law school or became a licensed attorney, my friends would always ask me legal questions, either hypothetically related to the conversation, or based on their own lives or those of people they knew. More often than not, the topic was related to landlord/tenant law; fitting as most of my friends, as well as myself, were students at the time who were merely renting for the school year.
Today, with only a few months as an attorney, I've handled multiple cases that deal with this issue directly. Since I know that I am still a renter, and many people in my generation have yet to take the leap to home ownership, I'd like to share with you some of the key tips that I have learned about renting an apartment or a home:
Before Moving In - Get the facts about the lease: How long does it last? Will you need to sign a new lease after that or will it be month to month? How much is the security deposit? What utilities will you be responsible for? Do they allow pets? Is their laundry on site? Storage? Is there parking available? Etc.
While many of these questions seem obvious, its easy to forget them during a quick tour the landlord provides. If you forget something, call and ask before you sign. The only way to avoid renter's remorse is to have all the facts available when you finally make that decision.
Move-In Day - Take pictures, take pictures, take pictures! The day that I moved into my apartment was the day that I found every blemish, fault, scratch and other problem with the walls and appliances. I documented every single one I could find before I moved in a single piece of my own property. Keeping records of the conditions prior to moving in will help you to restore the property to the way it was given to you, the only thing that is required by a tenant upon moving out.
Furthermore, many landlords require, and I would encourage if they don't, that the tenant prepare a list of any item in the property that is damaged. The landlords require this list so they know what they can easily charge you for when you move it. If you didn't put it on the list, you can bet it will come out of your security deposit. All tenants should complete this list fully so that they have documentation of what the landlord cannot charge them for. Nothing is too small for this list. You see that scratch on the front door kick plate? Put it down! It certainly can't hurt you.
During the Lease - Report any issues that you have with the property immediately, especially if it wasn't your fault, and even if it was. Reporting issues promptly ensures two things: 1) the landlord has notice of the problem and that it should be fixed, and 2) if it wasn't your fault, you won't be paying for it. Days after I moved into my apartment, the landscaping company that cuts the grass put a rock through my car window. By immediately reporting the incident, not only was the window fixed quickly, but I was credited for the repairs on my next rent payment.
Abide by the terms of the lease. The worst thing that a tenant can do is breach the terms of the lease. If the lease says no pets, don't be sneaking fido in the backdoor. Landlords know all the tricks and you won't get away with it. Instead, be open with your landlord and ask if the lease could be amended to allow for dogs. Being open and honest will cause your landlord to not only respect you, but may also allow for fido to be a resident at your apartment at minimal cost to you.
Finally, don't forget to make your rent payments on time, everytime.
Upon Move-out - Time to get your elbow grease to work. Whenever its time to move out of your apartment, the best thing to do is to create a schedule that allows you to move out all of your belongings 2-3 days prior to the lease ending. Removing all of your items will help you thoroughly deep clean the entire place. Here, its about making it as new looking as possible, in fact, if you can clean it better than the day you moved it, do it! Every hour you spend will help you regain those value security deposit dollars.
Remember, that a landlord must either refund your security deposit or give you an itemized list of the deductions are made within thirty days of the lease ending. BUT, remember that as a tenant, you are required to remove all of your possessions, return the keys, and provide your landlord with a forwarding address in writing.Hopefully these tips and tricks are helpful to you in whatever leasing situation you are in. If you find yourself in any sort of dispute with your landlord, contact me today to determine your rights and remedies.
