You’re done living on campus and you’re ready to take a big step into renting an apartment off-campus. Congratulations, that’s so exciting! It can be a tricky process to find the right apartment for you and you need to know exactly what you are getting in for. Out of potentially hundreds of questions to ask, it’s vital that you ask the best ones first. Here is a list of the best questions to ask before renting an apartment.
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1. How much is the rent?
First, you want to ask how much the monthly rent is. This is must-know information before going any further into the renting process. If you cannot afford it, no point in continuing to look. After finding out the cost, ask follow-up questions about the rent. How do you pay for it? Do they use checks, a certain portal, or is it through cash sharing apps?
You can proceed to ask what all the rent includes. Is it solely the apartment, or does it include any amenities such as electricity, Wi-Fi, or water? There also may be additional costs to rent that you will be required to pay, including renter’s insurance or parking. You need to ask all you can to fully figure out your monthly cost before moving forward.
2. How long is the lease?
Next, it would be good to know the general terms of the lease such as duration. While many leases are one-year agreements, in college towns, landlords often rent out their apartments for shorter terms or solely the duration of the school year. Ask if they allow extensions of the lease month by month or if they only rent out for long periods. If you think you may be staying for more than the average lease length, this is good information to know so you will not be kicked out once the year ends.
You should also ask what happens if you break the lease. Every now and then, something comes up that requires you to move out immediately. It may be allowed but you lose your security deposit or you may be allowed to find someone else to move in for the rest of your lease term. Additionally, does this mean you are allowed to sublet your apartment if you are gone for an extended period of time? All of this will be detailed in the lease and it is good information to know.
3. How many roommates can I have?
If you are planning on moving in with a friend or a few, you need to know how many people are allowed to live in any apartments you are interested in renting. Will they all need to be on the lease? Even if you are planning on living alone right now, roommate policies are good to know in case someone decides to move in or you need a little extra help with the rent.
4. Are there any restrictive policies?
These restrictive policies are not a one-size-fits-all scenario, so it is not always necessary for everyone, but there is usually some kind of policy you need to be aware of. For example, are pets allowed? If you have a cat you do not plan on leaving, you need to know if they’re allowed to live here. Some buildings do not allow pets at all, while some allow a restrictive number or weight limit on pets.
In addition to that, some apartments have restrictive guest policies. Ask if you can have guests, if they can sleep over, if there is guest parking, or anything else relevant. While both of these seem like something you could hide, there are severe consequences for breaking these policies such as immediate termination of the lease. It is best to know beforehand if the policies will allow you to live your life the way you need it!
Other policies you may want to inquire about are noise restrictions, late fees, and if they allow you to decorate with paint or other permanent items.
5. When were the locks last changed?
Knowing when the locks last changed is very important for your safety! If they change between every tenant, that is a great thing so that no one out there has a working key to where you will be living. If they have not been changed in a while, it may be worth inquiring if they will cover the cost of changing them for you to keep not only your safety, but the safety of their property so they can control who is entering.
Ask Away
Now that you have these top five questions to ask before renting an apartment, you will get all of the information you need to find the perfect place for you to live. Always ask any question you have, regardless of how small it seems. You need to know everything before committing to renting an apartment!
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