Questions You Need To Ask Your Landlord Before Renting An Apartment

When you are moving to a new location, renting comes with a lot of unknowns. If you are moving to a new place, you may not know all the renting protocols followed in that place. Whether you are looking for luxury apartments in downtown Denver or a two-bedroom apartment, there are certain questions that you need to ask the landlord before you rent.

Whether you are renting the apartment directly through a landlord or with the help of a rental agency, you will come to see that most of these questions are already mentioned in the lease agreement. That being said, asking the landlord the following questions will help you choose the apartment.

Are all utilities included in the rent?

When you rent an apartment, this is the very first question that you should ask your landlord. Know if the rental budget includes all the utilities or you have to pay any additional amount. The utilities paid by landlords vary from apartment to apartment, so it’s better to know what is actually included in the rental budget.

How long is the term of the lease?

This is another important question that you should ask your landlord about. Generally, a lease is either for a year or 6 months. Before you sign a lease, get an idea of the time frame for which you are locked in on the agreement. 

If there are any non-refundable fees, what are they for?

Some landlords include a non-refundable deposit in their lease agreement, although some state laws restrict this practice. Before you sign a lease, ask your landlord if there are any non-refundable fees included in the agreement. Also, before you sign a lease, research the state laws well so that you can know if your landlord is even eligible to ask such fees.

How much is the security deposit?

The security deposit and the damage deposit that you pay, add a considerable amount of money to your rent money. Some rentals charge only the security deposit while some charge both the security and damage deposit. Ask your landlord what is included in your leases agreement and how much do you have to pay for the security deposit.

What is the application process and the screening requirements?

Instead of you guessing along the way, it is better to ask your landlord to simply put forward the screening procedure to you step by step. This way you can be prepared for the screening. Also, know if there is any credit report required for the screening process. If there is, then ask your landlord if it is a soft inquiry or hard inquiry. If your landlord doesn’t know then the chances are that it might hurt your credit if you apply.

Is there any pet fee?

If you have pets, then ask your landlord if there is any pet fee included. Most rentals charge a pet fee on the monthly rent. Also, there may be a pet damage fee included as well, on the occasion that your pet causes a significant amount of damage to the apartment while you live there. If should ask your landlord, if there are any such fee included.

What payment methods are included?

It is up to the landlord to decide what kind of payment they would accept. Generally, landlords choose a payment method that makes it easy for the renters to pay the money. Always ask the landlord what mode of payment they accept, before you sign any paperwork.  Avoid any rentals that ask for payment in cash.

Is parking space is included?

Generally, all apartments allow one parking spot at a monthly rental fee. But if you have more than one car, then you might be charged an extra fee for that. Also, if you want a street parking, know if there are any special permits required to do so in your city.

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Created on Nov 26th 2019 04:01. Viewed 476 times.

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