In most rental situations, the landlord provides certain services and the tenant is responsible for the rest. In general, the owner only provides the services listed in the rental agreement. If there are others you want to include, you must negotiate them before signing the lease. This may require a higher rent, and you`ll need to determine if it`s worth the extra cost. Make sure that the amount of the deposit is also expressly stated in the rental agreement. Provide any other relevant information, such as . B how the deposit can be used or whether the deposit will be transferred to your broker. Whether you`re studying abroad or taking a longer work trip, you may need to be away from your rent for a longer period of time. It makes sense for someone to take care of the rent and rent payments while you`re away – this is called subletting. Before you arrange this, read your lease to determine if you are allowed to sublet. Some owners prohibit it, others allow it, and others only allow it with their consent.
If the lease is silent on the sublet, it is best to ask your landlord for permission first. It is, after all, their property. This part of the agreement details whether or not you can make changes to the property. It depends on the owner or the owners` association. Questions to address: If you are allowed to make changes, what types of changes are you allowed to make? What are the rules? What is the tenant`s responsibility? What happens if damage occurs during the change? If you have pets, make sure your house lease allows them. Also look for the extra fees you have to pay because of your pets. The lease should explain what you need to do before you move. How much notice is required? What type of cleaning are you responsible for? The lease must also specify your options if you need to move before the lease expires. If you want to allow the tenant to make repairs to the property, your lease must include a clause describing this agreement. Otherwise, your contract may prohibit tenants from repairing or modifying the home. Your lease may not be a dazzling document, but you still need to read it carefully, as many landlords still rely heavily on standard lease forms, which often serve to protect the landlord more than the tenant. When it comes to roommates and other important people, „you`re allowed to let at least one additional resident live with you while you`re at it, even if the lease is only in your name, as long as you notify the landlord,“ Wagner explains.
Make sure that the rent you have accepted is actually specified in the lease, with the start date and end date correctly indicated. Check the address and number of the apartment. Check the date of each month when the rent is due. Make sure the deposit amount is correct and remember that landlords can only charge one month`s rent as security. If the landlord has agreed in advance that you can make improvements or modifications to the apartment, be sure to get it in writing in the lease. Otherwise, you will be responsible for the cost of returning the apartment to its original condition. This even applies to something as benign as a paint job, for both parties. Your lease will tell you what your rent is and when it is due. Make sure the amount is what you expect. This is another provision that is usually set out in the lease itself. It is usually processed by paying the rent for a certain number of months.
For example, suppose you have a one-year lease and are forced to move after six months due to a job transfer. The lease may require you to waive two months` rent after you move. This gives the landlord time to rent the property to another tenant while receiving rent from you. In other situations, the landlord can only repair or replace large appliances, but hold the tenant responsible for everything else. And then there are agreements where the tenant is responsible for all repair and maintenance costs. There may also be provisions on the maintenance of the yard or outdoor spaces. „You can get a lease,“ says Fausto Rosales, a Miami lawyer who regularly handles tenant-owner cases. „The question is, how much will it cost you in terms of penalties?“ „People are sometimes in a hurry and mistakes are made,“ malin says. You should also check the lease for an interruption clause. Landlords are required to make reasonable efforts to re-rent your apartment if you have to leave in the middle of your lease, but there is a risk that you will be liable for the rest of the term if another tenant does not take your place.
To make sure you understand what you`re getting into, take the time to read your lease. If you don`t understand something, ask the landlord for clarification or contact a local real estate law specialist. Keep in mind that while many of these policies are at the owner`s discretion, others (such as the owner`s right to enter and evict) may be governed by state or city orders. „If the landlord promises to have the apartment painted before the move-in date, but it`s not done, you may be able to get a rental loan,“ Hakim says. .