Moving Into a Rental

You can save yourself some landlord-tenant headaches by protecting your legal rights while moving in.

Deciding Where To Live

When looking at a place to rent, consider:

• The cost of utilities and who pays them
• What appliances are included
• Whether the basement rooms are dry
• Whether there are enough outlets for your computer and electronic equipment
• Security features such as deadbolts and locks
• Whether there are smoke detectors in each bedroom
• Whether pets are allowed
• Whether there are repairs to be made before you move in.

If possible, check the place out at different times of the day and night, so you'll know if the neighborhood can be noisy or congested.

Ask your potential landlord for references from past tenants.

A call to your local tenants' union is also a good idea.

Housing Discrimination Is Illegal

It's illegal for a landlord to treat you differently because of your:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• National origin
• Sex
• Age
• Handicap
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Family status

Contact your local human rights commission or tenants' union for more information.

Roommates

It's a good idea to have a written agreement with roommates as to:

• How you'll split rent and utilities
• Any house rules regarding pets, smoking, drug use, late hours, overnight guests, etc.

Signing a Rental Agreement

The length of a lease determines some of your basic rights as a tenant.

An oral month-to-month tenancy can be ended with as little as 20 days notice - depending on your state's laws - but a written lease typically guarantees a place to stay for a specific period of time, such as a year.

You shouldn't sign a lease that requires you to give up rights you have under your state's landlord-tenants laws or under local tenant ordinances.

Before you sign it, read every single word of the lease. Ask questions about anything you don't understand. Don't sign something you don't agree with, no matter what the landlord says.

Security deposits should cover any damage you or any of your guests do to the apartment and generally must be refundable. In some states, a landlord can also apply the security deposit toward unpaid rent if you break your lease.

Make sure you get a receipt so there won't be a dispute later over how much you paid.

Many landlords require credit checks and references, the costs of which you should expect to pay.

In some states, it's legal for a landlord to charge a "holding deposit" to reserve an apartment for you if you can't move in right away. Be sure to find out whether this holding deposit is refundable if you change your mind about the apartment.

Most leases permit you to sublet to another tenant only if you find a subtenant the landlord is comfortable with and approves of in writing.

If the landlord has promised to make repairs before you move in, make sure you get those promises in writing in the rental agreement.

If you have a pet, make sure the lease allows it.

On Moving Day

Tour the place with your landlord and make a detailed checklist of anything that's not in perfect condition. Have the landlord sign this checklist as an accurate representation of your apartment's condition. For a sample checklist, contact your state attorney general or local tenants' union.

It's also a good idea to take photos of areas where there's any damage.

Taking these simple steps can make the renting life a bit easier.

Related Web Links:

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