You have found the perfect apartment to rent. You’ve liked what you read in the listing, toured the place, and loved it. You’ve covered the most important points – how much the rent is, what the lease terms and conditions are, when you can get the keys, etc. – and found everything to suit your needs. You’re ready to sign the lease agreement and move in.
Before you take that final step, however, you need to get clear on the details in order to avoid misunderstandings, missteps, and rental regrets down the road. Every landlord and management company has their own policy, rules, and procedures – you need to ask, not assume, so you know exactly what your rights and responsibilities are, what you can do and what you can’t, and what you can expect living in that rental complex. And you need to ask before signing the lease – while you still have the option to back out, if it turns out that something is not to your liking.
So, what to ask when renting an apartment? The specific questions will be different in each particular situation, of course, but there are some essential issues that apply in every case.
Here are the most important questions to ask when moving into a rented property:
What is included in the rent?
If you’re about to sign a lease, then you already know how much the rent is – yet, you may not be sure exactly what is included in it.
Some monthly rents cover water and garbage fees but leave gas and electricity to the tenant to pay. Others include all basic utilities. Some even offer additional amenities like cable and WiFi. Parking, property maintenance, and other services also may or may not be covered in the cost of the rent – you need to find out for sure.
(And if the utilities aren’t included, you need to ask your landlord how much they usually cost – so you can plan your finances.)
See also: How to budget for your first apartment
When is the rent due? How do I pay it? What happens if I’m late? Will the rent go up upon renewal of the lease?
You may assume that you will have to pay rent on the first of the month and by check, but different landlords and management companies have different requirements, accept different forms of rent payment, and offer different flexibility in terms of grace periods.
Most apartment complexes nowadays allow online payments – but some charge additional fees for paying online. Many landlords still require payment by check, while others accept credit cards.
Rent is usually due on the first of the month, but some landlords may collect payment on the day you move in or on the 5th, 10th, or 15th, etc. There will likely be a fee if you happen to be late on your rent, so you need to know exactly when – and how – you have to make the payment.
You need to also know how your landlord handles late payments – there may be a grace period of a few days before a late fee kicks in, but some landlords and management companies charge a fine if the rent is late by even one day. So, be sure to ask if there is a late fee (and how much it is) and if there is a grace period (and how long it is) – these are some of the most essential questions to ask before renting an apartment.
If you plan to stay in your rented apartment for a long time, you should also ask about any potential changes in the rent when you renew the lease – will the rent increase and by approximately how much.
How far in advance do I need to give notice before vacating the rental property? What happens if I need to break the lease?
When renting an apartment, you will already know when the lease begins and when it ends – but you may not know how it ends. You need to find out how much advance notice you need to give before moving out, if there is an automatic lease renewal, and what will happen if you need to break the lease early.
In most cases, you’ll be required to give your landlord a notice about 30-60 days before moving out. If you fail to do so, you may lose your security deposit or your lease may renew automatically. (Even though lease agreements are signed for a set period of time, your contract may be automatically renewed unless you give written notice that you’ll vacate the property when the initial term is up.)
If there isn’t automatic renewal but you want to stay after the lease expires, you will most likely be able to resign your contract – but the rent may go up. Or you may be able to get a month-to-month lease agreement – but the amount of notice required may change. You need to know your lease renewal options in advance.
Even more importantly, you need to know what will happen if you need to move out early. What will be the penalty for breaking your lease? Can you sublet the apartment?
The penalty for breaking a lease varies depending on state laws and individual landlords – you may lose your security deposit, may be responsible for paying rent until a new tenant is found, may have to pay a percentage of the amount of rent left in your lease term, etc. If you’re allowed to sublet the apartment, you may be able to avoid penalty for breaking the lease by finding a new renter quickly.
Related: What to do when moving out of a rental property
Do I need renter’s insurance? If yes, what it should cover?
Some landlords and management companies require all tenants to get renters’ insurance prior to the start of their lease terms.
If that is so in your case, you’ll likely need to show proof of renter’s insurance before moving in – you’ll need time to get a policy in place, so you need to know in advance whether renter’s insurance is required and what it should cover.
Even if renters’ insurance is not necessary, it’s still good to have – it costs only $15-$30 a month and covers your belongings in the event of damage or theft.
What is your pet policy?
If you have an animal friend (or plan to get one), this will be among the first questions to ask before moving into an apartment. You need to find out if pets are allowed in the rental complex – and if yes, to clarify what pets are allowed. Certain species may not be permitted, there may be breed restrictions for dogs, there may be weight or size restrictions, etc.
If your pet is allowed, do not forget to also ask about any fees connected with them – most landlords will require either an additional monthly pet rent or a non-refundable pet deposit (to cover deep cleaning after you move out and any damage your pet may have caused).
What is your guest policy?
Having visitors in your rented apartment shouldn’t be an issue, but you need to find out how long your guests can stay and whether there are any specific rules connected with their stay.
Visitors may be required to sign in, guests may not be allowed to stay for longer than two weeks, you may have to notify your landlord if you’re going to have long-term guests, etc. – you need to know in advance, so you don’t unwittingly violate your lease terms.
What is the parking situation?
If you have a car, you need to know your parking options. Does the rental apartment come with a garage or a reserved parking lot? If yes, is parking included in the rent or do you need to pay extra?
These are key questions to ask when renting an apartment, since parking can add considerable extra costs to your rent – and if the apartment complex doesn’t offer parking, it can be quite a problem as street parking can be hard to find.
How are repairs handled? Who do I contact in case of emergency?
Even if everything appears to be in good condition when you rent the apartment, you need to know how repairs are handled.
Find out how you can submit your maintenance requests – are you supposed to call the landlord directly, is there an online portal for submitting requests, etc. Then, figure out how maintenance requests are carried out – who handles the repairs, what is the turnaround, how much notice you’ll have before a maintenance person comes to your apartment, etc.
Be sure to ask about emergency situations, too: Is maintenance available 24/7? Who do you contact? How quickly do they typically respond?
You need to learn these details ahead of time, so you know what to do if the heater breaks in January, a pipe bursts during the night, or the washing machine starts leaking all of a sudden.
You need to also know if you will be responsible for paying any of the repair costs.
Can I make changes to the apartment? Are there restrictions about decorating?
One of the most essential questions to ask when moving into an apartment is what you’re allowed to do with the space. Can you paint the walls? Can you hang pictures? Can you add shelving?
You need to know what changes you can make to the apartment and how they will impact your security deposit and your rent:
- Some design-related changes may be allowed, but you may be required to get the apartment back to the way you found it before moving out;
- You may not be allowed to paint, make holes in the walls, or even burn candles in the apartment – in such a case, you won’t get your security deposit if you do any of these things;
- If you do an upgrade, you may be able to subtract the cost from the month’s rent, etc.
Discuss the specifics with your landlord before moving in, so you know what you can do and what you can’t.
Are there any moving rules and restrictions?
Last but not least, before moving into a rental property, you need to be aware of any rules and restrictions that there may be about moving in and out of the complex:
- What is the move-in process? Are moving trucks allowed at the rental complex? What about on the streets leading to the complex? Can you reserve a parking place for the moving truck in front of the apartment building? Can you reserve an elevator? Are there any time restrictions?
- What is the move-out process? Is there a time when moving out is not permitted?
- Are there any moving-related fees?
See also: How to estimate the cost of moving
There are many other questions to ask when moving into a rented property, of course. (What is the security system in the complex? Will the locks be changed before I move in? Is there ongoing construction happening at the building? Are there plans to make updates to the complex? What are the sublet rules? What is the smoking policy? etc.)
Find out all the answers that you need and make sure you have everything covered before signing the lease – knowing what to ask when moving into an apartment will save you a lot of headaches down the road.
