How to Be a Smart Renter

As a young renter myself, I have run into landlords and management companies who are eager to take advantage of my youth and what they see as inexperience. Landlords see students as an opportunity to overcharge for rent, services, deposits, and for some, the chance to not return a large rental deposit. Even before you get a landlord, many real estate companies and brokers will try to take you for a ride by charging fees to look at apartments. Learn how to look for a rental in a smart way and then how to live in and then leave the apartment without incident.

Even though looking in papers and online sites with apartment listings are a good way to find a place to live, a better way to find a place is to ask friends, classmates, and co-workers. The best way to find out whether a landlord will respond to phone calls, whether there are bugs in the apartment, and whether the neighbors are noisy is to find out from people who already live in the apartment.

If you are moving to a new place where you don't know anyone, if you're a student, ask the student housing department for ideas on neighborhoods and insight into the location. If you have ABSOLUTELY no one, read the newspapers. Alternative newspapers, especially in large cities, are a good read to find out what's what in different neighborhoods.

When you meet with the rental company or a landlord, be sure to ask these questions:

1. What's the rent?

2. How long is the lease?

3. What happens if I need to leave the lease?

4. Are pets allowed (if applicable)?

5. Is there a guest policy? (if you even want to ask. Some landlords care. Most don't)

6. What is the security deposit?

7. Will I need a co-signer (if you're a student or new graduate, someone with little money)

8. What is maintenance like? (they'll probably not tell you the truth but sometimes, if you can get someone to say something, you may have ammunition later if they are non-responsive)

9. What utilities are included?

10. If utilities are not included, do I have my own meter that monitors my own usage?

Let's say you decide on an apartment and are ready to sign the lease. READ the lease. In fact, have someone else read it too. Make sure you understand every aspect of it. It may not seem important now but later on, a provision that you didn't think twice about initialing next to may be really important for when you move out. Check for rules about landlord ingress into the apartment (i.e. how he/she and when he/she can come into your apartment with/without your permission). Check to see when your rent is due and what happens if you're late(are there fines? Do you get evicted?) After reading, if there are things you still don't understanding, ASK! ASK FOR EXPLANATIONS. Don't let someone tell you that it's not important. It is! Also, it would be ideal to get these explanations in writing. That's ideal and probably won't happen but if you can get it, keep it.

Also, before signing the lease, go through the apartment and see if there are defects with it. If there's a crack in the wall or some sort of damage, have that documented with pictures and possibly in writing. Also, if there's something in the apartment that you want that isn't there, use it as leverage. If the bathroom is old, ask if it will be fixed. If not, ask to see if the rent can be negotiated.

Okay, now that you've signed the lease and are moving in, take more pictures! These pictures will come in handy if your landlord won't give you your deposit back at the end. Hold up the frontpage of the paper in the picture so as to verify the date.

When you're ready to move out. Don't just TELL your landlord. WRITE THE LANDLORD. Write the landlord when you are moving out and where to forward your security deposit or when you will come to pick up the money. If the landlord doesn't want to give you your money back, write again. ASK WHY. If you've destroyed your apartment then don't expect your money back but if you left if in basically the same condition as when you entered it, there's something wrong. Landlords should not keep your security deposit for normal wear and tear.

In some states, landlords have to give you a specific list of why they are keeping the deposit. Specifically, they need to let you know how much it is going to cost to fix whatever it is that they say you've destroyed and needs repairing. Carpet cleaning, maintenance work that is part of normal wear and tear should not be reasons why landlords keep security deposits.

Finally, if after written communication with your landlord/management company, it cannot be resolved, consider small claims court. To best defend your case, document! Document! Document!