Apartment hunting for the best apartment for rent requires a lot of research. Indeed, when you browse multiple apartment options, asking the proper questions will help you into the conversational mode and get to know each potential home.
It guarantees that the time you spent on a potential rental apartment tour wasn’t a waste of time. Furthermore, this helps in determining whether the location and the property manager are a good fit.
Here is a list of questions to ask when renting an apartment building to help you gain an all-around view of the apartment’s residential policies and other costs.
1. Inquire About the Lease Contract and Terms
Before you even begin asking questions while taking a tour of an apartment, you should ideally already know when the lease begins and ends. Ensure to clarify about the month-to-month lease and late fees.
Get more information regarding the date of move-in and the lease length. Ask whether there are any additional standard lease terms you need to be aware of, such as any limitations on painting or making holes in the walls.
Before finalizing any apartment for rent, thoroughly understand each and every part of the lease agreement.
2. Ask About the Rent Amount and Other Costs
The most important part of the apartment hunt process is to find a home that fits your budget. Ask the manager about his or her late-rent policy and the rent amount for a month.
If you are late with a payment, be sure to inquire about a grace period. Additionally, find out the costs and how much cash you need to bring with you to the lease signing.
A security deposit and perhaps the first and last month’s rent should be included, but additional expenses might be taken into account. Ask if there is any extra fee you may roll into your monthly rent and pay over time if the up-front costs are too high.
3. Requirements of Moving-in
Each apartment property administers the formalities and procedures for moving in differently. These include the additional costs associated with moving in. Thus, it is best to inquire about the cost of moving in.
Request the Following Information:
- Does the apartment charge for relocating or using the elevator?
- Does the tenant need to obtain a special permit in order to park a moving van on the street?
- What portion of the street parking lot is yours to occupy on the day of your move-in, and is it blocked off by the property management company?
- What can be the parking situation on the day of your moving?
You could have to fight for space and wait for the elevator if you are moving in on a busier day. If so, try to delay your move by a day or arrive a day early to avoid all the hustles.
4. Utility Cost
Not always, the price of the rent includes the cost of utilities. Commonly considered is water. However, the tenant frequently foots the bill for electricity, gas, heating and other utilities included in the apartment. Get an estimate from your local supplier if you’re worried about utilities.[1]
Ask about the cost of the utilities if the unit does not include them. Most likely, your property manager will only be able to speculate.
In contrast, if utilities aren’t included in the rent, they ought to have an estimate of how much you’ll have to spend on your own.
The cost of energy and pertaining state laws differ from city to city as well. Therefore, it is best to constantly plan for a little bit more while budgeting.
5. Available Facility for Internet
Additionally, enquire about internet connectivity in the building. It is uncommon for apartments to have accessible Wi-Fi for you.
You must seek out your own internet service provider. However, as an ideal tenant, you must ask about any restrictions or obligation required to install your personal internet connection beforehand only.
6. Do Not Forget About Your Furry Friends
When browsing multiple apartments for rent, regardless of whether you already have a pet or believe you might want to acquire one, be sure to enquire about the building’s pet policy. But before that, confirm – are pets allowed?
Prior to getting into the finer points, such as pet fees, additional cleaning fees, etc., make sure pets are even permitted. While there are many variations in pet regulations, most apartments either require a non-refundable pet deposit or monthly pet rent.
In a property which does not allow pets, never try to break any rule by hiding your pets. Getting caught can cost you money and force you to give your pet away. Verify any limits on the kinds or varieties of pets that are permitted.
Especially if the rental apartment is already furnished, many landlords may disapprove of you bringing your pet into the apartment. In light of the foregoing, answer this query before you find yourself confined to an apartment and forced to give up your loving pet.
7. The Building’s Guest Policy
It may not occur to you to inquire about the guest policy when seeing an apartment, but it is crucial to do so. Although most leases specify one, some are tighter than others.
A friend’s idea to spend the summer on your sofa won’t work, for example, because it’s not legal in some regions to host visitors for more than two weeks.
Additionally, it may limit your capacity to host overnight visitors, even for a little period. Make sure you are aware of the restrictions before making any preparations.
Some landlords may impose a curfew, just like they might with visitors. Tenants often aren’t subject to the curfew, but visitors are: no overnight guests permitted.
8. Amenities Included in the Rent
When renting an apartment, amenities are one of the main benefits. Inquire about the amenities that come with the rental unit and being a building tenant. Also, make sure to ask whether or not you need to pay extra to avail a certain amenity.
Parking garage, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, gyms, pools – ask about whether these amenities are available and their accessibility.
Related Article: Essential Questions to Ask When Renting A Condo in Toronto
9. Discuss the Subletting Policy
As long as their lease contains a subletting clause, renters generally have the permission to sublet. In the event that you need to temporarily leave your apartment but do not want to break your lease, having a subletting provision gives you a lot of flexibility.
10. Is Renters Insurance a Requisite?
An additional consideration when looking for an apartment is renters insurance. Generally speaking, in the event of an unfortunate accident, renters insurance will protect your belongings.
Some apartments demand renters insurance, even though it is always a good idea. It is crucial to inquire going forward when paying visits. The day before you move in, don’t rush to buy insurance; else, you might not get the keys.
11. Who Will Take up the Maintenance Costs?
Nothing is worse than living in an apartment with a malfunctioning washing machine or a fused light bulb. To avoid getting stuck with a hefty fee, make sure you understand who is responsible for replacing and fixing what is in the apartment while browsing.
Ask upfront whether the cost of maintenance and repairs is the landlord’s or tenant’s responsibility. Do not forget to ask about the emergency repairs as well.
12. Early Termination of Lease
Although you probably intend to keep the lease until its completion without any problems, there are some situations where you may need to terminate it early. If your landlord does permit early termination, you should be aware of the repercussions that could follow.
13. The Security Aspect of the Property
As you explore the apartment and its premises, ask the property manager to brief you about the security measures. Has there been any burglary, break-ins, or any unpleasant surprises?
You should be aware of both internal and external security features. Asking about the neighbourhood and the general safety of the location is also not harmful.
14. Property’s Pest Control Policy
You don’t have to worry about pest control if you are renting an apartment, which is a benefit. Generally, the property manager is responsible for the pest control as it impacts the entire property. To find out if they use a regular pest treatment procedure, whether they will set traps if necessary, and how to report a pest infestation within an actual flat, ask these questions.
Lastly!
The above questions to ask when renting an apartment will help you find the most ideal home for you while ensuring long-term comfort. Getting the landlord answers to all the above-mentioned queries will help you to gain clarity about every aspect of renting the right apartment.
Healthy communication and discussion lay the foundation of a beneficial tenant-landlord relationship. Before signing a lease, conduct informed questioning to gain more knowledge about the rental; also, this gives the landlord the opportunity to reveal their genuine intentions. Do not forget to inquire about the following matters as well:
- Security deposit
- Whether they accept cash or online payments
- Quiet hours of the building
- Tenant screening criteria
- Application process
Happy house hunting!! More information on Precondo.ca
