What questions should one ask a landlord?

[EllenFrasier]

My dd24 is thinking of moving in with her long term boyfriend. Having never rented before, I am trying to come up with some questions for her to ask the landlord or things to look for in the apartment and/or in the lease.

Any experienced renters out there?

 

[csullivanx978]

first thing- drive by at night! that may or may not change their mind of the area

being from new england i'd ask; the questions of does it flood in area?(parking wise)
how is the snow removal?
about 2 years ago we had a really bad ice storm;and several areas went weeks without power (i wouldn't move into an area that wasnt recovered in a quick manner during storms/poweroutages)
and ofcourse the simple questions of (trash pickup; best laundry situation; cable prices; how much for water/gas/electric


ask the landlord how the other tentants are; this will help feel out the landlord; if they are very involved/helpful or not :/

good luck !!

 

[gk90]

Does the landlord want a security deposit?
What rights do they have re. parking?
Is the apartment furnished or unfurnished? If furnished, is there an additional fee for furniture?
Is the apartment in a house or an building? If it's in a house do they have access to the yard, basement (for storage/laundry), if a building are there any common areas that they can use?

 

[java]

First plea Don't move in together! I am helping my sister divide up the junk from her boyfriend and her apartment. They have been together for years and just broke up. It's a mess. And to quote judge Judy "don't play house and expect me to clean up your mess"

Now that being said I did live with my now husband after we got engaged for about 6 months. And we've been married for 22 years.


Why did the previous tenants move out
Where there ever noise complaints?
Who do I contact with a maintenance problem?
Will I have. Parking spot?
Are there any restrictions on things like laundry facilities? (time of use ect)
Has the rent changed in the past 5 years?
Is there a yearly increase?
Do any buses run by on this street?
Is there a hospital nearby? ( noise)



And I agree check out the place workday, weekend, and a weekend night.

 

[Zim]

I rented a lot in my 20's. The most beneficial advice I can give is during the initial walk through, take photos and write down everything that is wrong with the apartment before you move in. Then file a dated copy of the photos with the property managers or the owner and keep one for yourself.

The reason I say this is we moved into a nice condo with some carpet damage in front of the deck door from rain. I took photos thank goodness, as when we moved out they tried to call it 'pet damage', even though the carpet cleaners we hired actually improved the area.... she made us come over to prove it wasn't rain damage and when we got there she wanted us to shove our noses in the carpet and smell! We informed her that we didn't do that during the initial walk through we certainly weren't doing it now. She tried to keep our deposit to replace the carpet, then downgraded it to further cleaning the carpet, when we told her we'd see her in court, she sent us the deposit.

Also, when they DO move out, don't let the owners bring in painters and other maintenance workers until AFTER the final walk through. We had one owner try to charge us for damage to the front panel of a new dishwasher, when it was her painters who scratched the panel. Fortunately, we'd already done the walkthrough and I had a voicemail of her stating everything was fine.

Pets are very expensive for renters... if they are going to have them you need to find out if the rental allows them, and if there is a separate pet deposit. And sometimes the deposit becomes non-refundable if there are pets involved.

Also I think someone else mentioned, find out if utilities are included in the rent payment. If not, call the utility company for the monthly costs for the property.

 

[EllenFrasier]

First plea Don't move in together! I am helping my sister divide up the junk from her boyfriend and her apartment. They have been together for years and just broke up. It's a mess. And to quote judge Judy "don't play house and expect me to clean up your mess"

Now that being said I did live with my now husband after we got engaged for about 6 months. And we've been married for 22 years.


Why did the previous tenants move out
Where there ever noise complaints?
Who do I contact with a maintenance problem?
Will I have. Parking spot?
Are there any restrictions on things like laundry facilities? (time of use ect)
Has the rent changed in the past 5 years?
Is there a yearly increase?
Do any buses run by on this street?
Is there a hospital nearby? ( noise)



And I agree check out the place workday, weekend, and a weekend night.

Thank you, but I have already told her my opinion of moving in together. They have known each other as children, grown up together, and have been exclusively seeing each other for 7 years. But, I told her that if they are going to get married anyway, why not get married first. She said they want to see if they can remain happy while living together. Give me a break! She knows how I feel about "playing house" but she's 24 so can more than make up her own mind.

Thanks for the helpful tips. During my almost sleepless night, I thought about visiting the neighborhood at night to see what it's like too, so great advice!

 

[LSchrow]

if they look at an apartment in a house, find out if the homeowner has a valid permit (if applicable in your area). without a permit, they may need to move if the town finds out it is there.
there is also a very real possibility that fire codes were not adhered to with "illegal" apartments. even if a permit is not required, check that there are ways to exit rooms in case of a fire (this comes into play especially with basement apts), and fire detectors are installed.

as pps said, ask about parking (if they have 2 vehicles, make sure each will have a spot), and utilities.
visit at various times of the day (friends learned this the hard way, when they were awakened early M-F by the kids at the busstop in front of her house, and often blocked in her driveway by the buses).
if it is an apartment house, try to speak to the existing tenants. find out if they are happy there, if there are any noise problems, how receptive the landlord/maintenance is when there is a problem .(i.e., are the walkways cleared quickly when it snows, are things fixed in a timely manner, etc). of course, they can ask a tenant of a house-based apt, but it might be a bit more difficult.
definattely find out how much security is required, and how long the lease is good for (especially for coouples living together, find out the terms if they need to break the lease in case of break-up, etc).
as a previous landlord, remind them that they are also being interviewed. we had quite a few ppl who were interested in the apt in our home, and went with the ones that we felt were most mature, quiet, and responsible - we wound up with wonderful tenants!

good luck

 

[girli565]

Thank you, but I have already told her my opinion of moving in together. They have known each other as children, grown up together, and have been exclusively seeing each other for 7 years. But, I told her that if they are going to get married anyway, why not get married first. She said they want to see if they can remain happy while living together. Give me a break! She knows how I feel about "playing house" but she's 24 so can more than make up her own mind.

Thanks for the helpful tips. During my almost sleepless night, I thought about visiting the neighborhood at night to see what it's like too, so great advice!

I think your DD is smart for wanting to see if they can live together happily before actually getting married. It's much easier to break up and go their separate ways, when they're not married, if they realize that living together isn't as great as they think it is.

I lived with my now husband prior to getting married and I thank God we did because we had a good 7 months of getting used to each other before even thinking of getting married. There was no pressure to make it work and we just had fun, traveled, and played house. Once we knew we were comfortable we got married. You stated that your DD wants to try it out for a while before getting married, so at least marriage is in the plans for the future. She seems like she has a good head on her shoulders.

 

[jedijill]

Get renter's insurance!!!!! Your landlord's insurance does not cover the tenant's possessions or liability. It is cheap and worth every penny.

Read the terms of the lease carefully--i.e. when rent is due, how much notice is required, tenant's responsibilities, etc. They will be enforced!

HTH

Jill in CO

 

[KarenAylwood]

OP- I think you've gotten a lot of good advice so far. Best advice though is renter's insurance!!! I had it when I was with my ex-BF and we were broken into, it was a lifesaver.

I think your DD is smart for wanting to see if they can live together happily before actually getting married. It's much easier to break up and go their separate ways, when they're not married, if they realize that living together isn't as great as they think it is.

I lived with my now husband prior to getting married and I thank God we did because we had a good 7 months of getting used to each other before even thinking of getting married. There was no pressure to make it work and we just had fun, traveled, and played house. Once we knew we were comfortable we got married. You stated that your DD wants to try it out for a while before getting married, so at least marriage is in the plans for the future. She seems like she has a good head on her shoulders.

Speaking as someone who moved in with a BF at 23, after about 2 years together- yes, things can go wrong and she and he may break up even after 7 years... it happens! I think it's a good decision to move in together to see what it's like. My earlier relationship ended badly, I moved out, took my stuff and that was the end of it. I don't regret it. I think the best decision I made was that we did not buy anything together. So when it came time to move out, we didn't even really need to discuss anything

I moved in with DH about a year before we got engaged (after 6 months of dating) and it went amazingly well and we're happily married. You'll hear stories from all different sides- she's got to do what's right for her and if he's it, he's it. If he's not- she'll move out. Not the end of the world and a good learning experience. I wish her and all of you the best.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

Find out who will be doing repairs if something breaks and how long of a response time there will be. We've rented for many years because we are military and move every couple of years. The worst experience has been renting from a home owner who doesn't have a property manager. They don't want to fix anything, take forever to get back to you, etc.

Also, this may sound crazy but DH and I have had bunches of problems with the plumbing in different houses. Turn the shower on, see how the water pressure is, flush the toilets, make sure everything is working.

Don't assume that the landlord will be coming in and fixing stuff before you move in. Every house we have rented has been in the exact same condition when we moved in as when we first looked at it. No cleaning, no paints, nothing.

Take pictures of the places you look at. They all start to blend in your mind when you are thinking about them later.

I second renter's insurance, checking the neighborhood out at night and asking about the neighbors. Best of luck.

 

[cookingqueen123]

The most important advice is to check public records and see if the home is in foreclosure.

 

[Lucille1963]

We have a few apartments that we rent out and I've been a renter. My responses come from both sides of the situation.

*Ask what the current tenant pays for utilities during different months of the year (i.e., gas bill in the winter and electric bill in the summer).

*Look for outlets. This sounds silly, but older buildings don't have a lot. Or any at all in some rooms! I saved a girlfriend from a bedroom with NONE, because I knew to look. A lesson I learned the hard way after renting an apartment with only one socket in the bedroom.

*Even if you don't have pets, ask about what the buildings pet policy is and if there are others in the building. It can be an allergy or a quality of life issue.

*Know what the laundry situation is; in unit, in building, none at all. It makes a huge difference.

*If you like satellite TV, ask if its even allowed.

*Bring your checkbook and perhaps even a copy of your credit report. Our units tend to go fast. It isn't unusual for us to have multiple offers in a day, writing that check for the deposit puts you at the front of the line and shows that you are serious.

And as others have said......BUY RENTERS INSURANCE!! The landlord's insurance only covers the building, not any of your belongings.

 

[Lucille1963]

As far as living together before marriage. I moved in with my DH within a month of beginning to date. We've been together for 12 years, married for nearly 10 and we're going strong!!

 

[seashoreCM]

Note that each person is responsible for all of the rent. Not two people each responsible for half of the rent.

If one moves out then the landlord can still go after him for rent for the rest of the lease if the other fails to pay all of the rent.

You do not have the right to have a satellite dish installed on the roof or on outside walls or other areas not part of your rental for your explicit access to and use.

 

[LJSquishy]

first thing- drive by at night! that may or may not change their mind of the area

being from new england i'd ask; the questions of does it flood in area?(parking wise)
how is the snow removal?
about 2 years ago we had a really bad ice storm;and several areas went weeks without power (i wouldn't move into an area that wasnt recovered in a quick manner during storms/poweroutages)
and ofcourse the simple questions of (trash pickup; best laundry situation; cable prices; how much for water/gas/electric


ask the landlord how the other tentants are; this will help feel out the landlord; if they are very involved/helpful or not :/

good luck !!

It is actually against the Fair Housing Act for a landlord/leasing agent/other property management employee to answer any questions regarding the "type" of residents in a rental property. I used to be a leasing agent and was frequently asked by prospective renters if there were many families that lived there, if the neighbors were quiet, etc. and unfortunately we were not allowed to answer questions of that nature. I generally gave a blanket statement such as, "there are many different types of residents here" or "most residents love it here", etc. We were not allowed to say anything about the income level of residents, race, sex, family, etc.

With that said, some people will surely answer those questions but it is against the law and they can be fined and even jailed (I think) if someone reports them. It's happened before. If they don't seem interested in answering questions like that, it doesn't mean they are not involved landlords or don't care.

 

[LJSquishy]

Some general questions to ask would be:

-Utilities: Water/sewer/garbage included? Heat? A/C? Figure out what is an additional expense. It varies from property to property.
-Pet Policy: Aquariums (usually not allowed without separate renter's insurance), dogs, cats, small animals, etc.
-Deposits: What portion is refundable and non-refundable? Many properties have a refundable deposit except for around $100 which is generally used for carpet cleaning upon vacancy.
-Lease Term & Renewal: What are the terms? 6-12mo lease is standard for initial lease; does it automatically go month-to-month after initial lease terms are met, or is a new lease required after initial lease? This also varies from property to property.
-Laundry: In-unit or on property?
-Cable/Satellite: Some properties include basic cable and/or high-speed internet, some charge a reasonable fee, and some do not include it at all.
-Rent Due: When is rent due, what forms of payment are accepted, and how much is the late fee if it is late?
-Maintenance: What is the process for having something repaired in the apartment? Is there a work order to fill out, etc?
-On-call Emergency Number: Is someone always on-call for maintenance emergencies such as a burst pipe? Usually there is.
-Snow Removal: If you live where there is snow, it can be important to know whether or not they plow the complex!
-Parking: Garage? Carport? Off-street uncovered parking? Does each apartment get 1 space?

 

[lovemygoofy]

Here are questions not just for the landlord but when deciding to rent when not married.

1. How do things get fixed? Who to call?

2. Is routine maintence scheduled( a/c filter change or spray for bugs)

3. How often is the rent increase? How long of a lease?

4. Are utilities included? Does the apartment have its own water, gas and electric meter?

5.Put only one name on the lease while list the other as a guest and the same name on the utilities. If they do break up, it would be a nightmare to break the lease with both names on the lease and the utilities.

6. Is there an application fee and what is required for new renters? Most require pay stubs, credit check and landlord references or a higher deposit. That is also the same with utility companies.

7. Do a complete walk through noting anything that could be dinged, torn or other than perfect before signing the lease.

 

[reginaastralis]

I live in Central Florida were the rent has gone up over $200 in the past two years in our apartment. Due to the high foreclosure rate in our area, apartments are a hard commodity to come by. Looking at houses, they are almost $300 more a month than our apartment. It's INSANE! I would really check out the options in renting, and deciding what you want, because the differences are crazy here. We're buying a house and with insurance and taxes, our mortgage is $200 cheaper .... the housing market is crazy here.

One of the things I wish I would have thought about was asking friends in the area their thought on the apartments, and really go by their recommendations. Our apartment complex owns five others in the general area, and they all have similar problems. Problem was, I didn't find this out until AFTER moving in. For example, our air conditioner has broken down six times in the last eight months, and my friend lives in a different complex, and her a/c has broken down three times. Living in Florida, this is a complete no go.

 

[clh2]

Some general questions to ask would be:

-Lease Term & Renewal: What are the terms? 6-12mo lease is standard for initial lease; does it automatically go month-to-month after initial lease terms are met, or is a new lease required after initial lease? This also varies from property to property.

This is really important...

Also - are there any local laws that protect renters in your area? All renters should know what these are!