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As you look for rental housing, please ask the following questions of prospective
landlords or property managers. Learn as much as you can about a place before you submit
a rental application or lease.
- How much is monthly rent?
- How many of us may rent and live at this rental address?
- May I rent from you for a twelve-month, nine-month, or lesser time period?
- Where and when must the rent be paid? If rent is paid after that date, do you charge a late fee? How much is it?
- If one month's rent is late, does the lease contain an acceleration clause that causes all remaining rent to become due and payable?
- May each roommate pay his/her portion of the rent with separate checks?
- If my roommate leaves during the lease, who's responsible for
paying that share of the rent?
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- heat (electric, gas, or oil)
- water/sewer
- hot water
- parking (What about guest parking?)
- air conditioning
- garbage collection
- repairs of any kind. If so, why?
- pets (Are pets allowed at all?)
- cable TV
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- Must prospective tenants submit an application for a lease?
- Is a fee required with my application? If so, what happens to that money?
- Does the act of submitting an application commit me and/or my parents to sign a lease?
- What are my obligations if my application is accepted?
- Can you give me a copy of the lease at this time?
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- How much is the security deposit? When must it be paid? When is it returned, or may it be used as my last month's rent?
- Do I receive interest on the deposit?
- What must I do to have my security deposit returned in full?
- Which bank will hold my security deposit?
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- Who is the landlord and/or the landlord's property manager?
- What are their addresses?
- Will the lease be written or oral?
- What rules and regulations must I follow upon signing the lease?
- How much notice is needed to renew or terminate the lease?
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- Will my rent payments have to be guaranteed? If so, why and by whom?
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- Does the lease contain escalator clauses that could cause my rent to increase during the lease period? For example, are energy-cost increases
passes on to the tenant?
- In previous years, were such assessments made; and if so, by what amount did they exceed the base rental figure?
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- May I sublet or assign my lease?
- May I find someone who is willing to make a new lease and end my responsibility?
- Must you approve my sublessee or assignee?
- Will you assist me in finding a sublessee or someone willing to assume
a new lease?
- Are fees charged for these options?
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- Is notice required to terminate or renew the lease, or will it automatically renew for another
year? When must notice be given and in what form?
- If the lease automatically terminates, will I have the first right to renew it?
- Is it possible to terminate the lease before the stated date? What fee, if any, is charged for early
termination? How much notice is required for early termination? In what form?
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- Is the apartment furnished or unfurnished?
- Are a stove and refrigerator provided?
- Are drapes and curtains provided?
- Are there screens on the doors? Windows? Sliding glass door?
- Is there a fire extinguisher in the apartment? Are there smoke alarms? How often are they
checked or tested?
- Has the apartment been insulated or weather-stripped for more energy
efficiency? What are the average heating/cooling bills?
- Is a laundry available on the premises? If no, where is the closest
laundromat?
- Is a storage area outside of the apartment provided? how is access to the area obtained?
Is a fee charged?
- Is indoor or outdoor bicycle storage provided? Does a bicycle have to be registered?
If so, with whom?
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- How many parking spaces are provided per apartment? How do I get a parking space?
Is a fee charged?
- If I pay for parking, is it assigned? What if someone parks in my space or the lot is full?
- Can my guests park in the lot? Is there a designated guest parking area?
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- Is a super market within walking distance? Is a corner grocery store within
walking distance?
- How accessible is public transportation? Do you provide a bus pass for public
transportation?
- If public transportation is unavailable, does the apartment supply bus service?
- What are the hours of bus service to and from town/campus/shopping?
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- Who are the other tenants in the building/apartment complex? Will we be compatable?
- Are building quiet hours imposed? How are they enforced?
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- How do I notify you of emergency repairs during the work day, on weekends,
and after offic hours?
- Do you have an on-site maintenance staff to handle normal repair requests?
- how soon after my request will repairs be made?
- If I want something special done, may I request that you do it if I
am willing to pay for it (eg., paint my apartment a color other than standard white)?
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- How much advance notice will I recieve before your staff comes to make repairs
or conduct an inspection?
- Do I have to let someone in if doing so is inconvenient?
- If I am not renewing my lease, will I have to allow people in to see my apartment?
How about if I am renewing?
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- Do you change the locks at no charge between teh moving out and moving in of tenants?
Is there a charge for keys?
- Do you have a dead-bolt lock or other secure locking device that
operates only from inside the apartment on all doors?
- Do you have a mechanical locking device operated only from inside the
apartment, other than those manufactured as part of the window or door,
on all windows and sliding glass doors?
- If I wish to install a dead-bolt lock or other locking device, may I do it?
Will there be a charge?
- Do you have a peephole or viewer in solid doors that enables the tenant to
see who is at the door before opening it?
- If I loose my key and want either another key or the lock changed, is there a charge?
If so, how much?
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- What is the earliest date I may move in?
- May I move in earlier if the present tenant leaves early?
Do I need the tenant's written permission to do so? Is there a fee for moving in
early? If so, do I pay you or the tenant?
- If my apartment is not ready, clean, or in good repair, who is responsible? When
will the repairs or cleaning be done?
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- Will someone help me complete the damage report when I move in or out?
- How much time is allowed to report damage that was not initially apparent (eg., a
broken regrigerator-shelf support that won't stay up when groceries are put on it)?
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- Does the lease contradict a tenant's legal right to have visitors for a "reasonable
time"? Does it attempt to define "reasonable time"?
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- Do I need to purchase it or do you provide it?
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Also, keep copies of all correspondence between you
and your landlord/property manager.
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