No Question too Dumb, Even for the First Time Renter
By Amber L. Gillette
For many, college is the first time they spend significant time
away from their parent’s home. Unfortunately, their inexperience
lends them to make mistakes when venturing out into their brave
new world.
“I didn’t know what to ask the leasing office agent when I
signed the lease. I assumed they would tell me everything I
needed to know,” said Becky Cummings, a 24 year-old from Howard
County, Maryland. Cummings was wrong. The leasing office didn’t
tell her everything she wanted to know simply because she hadn’t
asked.
“In my first apartment, I didn’t decorate because I didn’t know
if I could,” Cummings said. It is common for first time
apartment renters to not know what they are allowed to do and
what could get them evicted.
“They should ask questions because we [leasing agents] don’t
know what they don’t know,” said Michelle Brenner, a leasing
consultant at a Towson area apartment complex.
First time renters should ask questions like if people can be
added to the lease at a later time and what kind of things would
prevent a security deposit from being returned to the lease
holder at the end of the term.
Below is a list of common questions renters want to know before
they sign on the dotted line but don’t typically ask before its
too late.
Questions You Should be Asking:
1. What does the rent cost?
2. Are utilites (water, heat,etc.) included in the rent cost?3.
What is the average cost for this area for utilities not
included in the rent?
4. Are there any costs for setting up the utilities that are not
covered in the rent?
5. When is rent payment due?
6. If I am late, are there penalties? What are they?
7. How is rent payment accepted?
8. What is the income requirement?
9. How many people are allowed to live in one apartment
according to the local government?
10. How long is the lease?
11. Is sub-leasing allowed?
12. After the initial term of the lease, will I need to renew
for a year or will I be able to lease month to month?
13. What are the lease breaking fees?
14. Is there an application fee?
15. Is parking included in the rent or are there any additional
parking fees?
16. Where is the parking area?
17. Is there a pool? Can it be used by anyone? Are there any
additional fees for using the pool area?
18. How big is the hot water heater and is the hot water
heater shared with any other apartments? (This is a relatively
important question, if there is a small heater, or if there is
one shared with your neighbor who likes to take hour long
showers right before you have to get up, you may end up taking
cold showers more often than you’d like.)
19. How much is the security deposit? How much of the deposit is
returned at the end of the lease? What will prevent me from
getting my security deposit back?
20. What happens if I accidentally break an appliance?
21. How is routine maintenance completed for the unit?
22. Are maintenance people on call 24 hours a day? If not, who
should I call if there is an emergency?
23. Am I allowed to paint the walls?
24. Am I allowed to hang pictures with nails?
25. Am I allowed to have overnight guests?
26. What are the procedures if I decide to have a roommate at a
later time?
27. Do you require renters insurance?
28. Does the complex offer renters insurance to tenants?
29. Are there any noise restrictions?
30. Where are the smoke detectors located?
31. Am I required to change the batteries in the smoke
detectors?
32. If there isn’t an in-unit washer and dryer, where is the
laundry room? How much does it cost per load?
33. Can you get cell phone reception inside the apartment?
34. Am I allowed to have pets? If I don’t have one now, and I
get one at a later date, w ill my lease change?
In any realm,
knowing is better than not knowing. When you go into the leasing
office prepare yourself to find out what many people
don’t.
“If you don’t ask. They can’t tell you,” said Cummings.