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Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease

College students living away from home have an option to choose apartments off-campus as their temporary residence. Signing a lease then becomes a major commitment apart from enrolling in a college or university. First timers may not be knowledgeable about this agreement they need to sign to rent an apartment so it’s advisable that they research on this matter beforehand. 

A lease or rental agreement is a contract that binds the landlord and tenant, in this case, the college student. Since a lease contract contains all the terms and conditions a tenant has to follow, renters then should make it a point to get a copy first and review it at home before signing the document. Read carefully every word of the document notably the stipulations and understand them well to avoid problems later. To be doubly sure, you can have your parents read the agreement as well before signing it. 

After you’ve read the contract, it is to your advantage if you ask the landlord other specific questions that still bother you so that everything is clear before you commit. Sometimes lease agreements are straight to the point and may not include other details. So you may ask the landlord about the basics which are as follows:

When is the rental fee due? How should it be paid? Is it one check for every tenant or one for each roommate?
Do you charge a penalty for late payment?
How long is the lease? Is there a penalty if you leave early?
How often do you increase the rent?
Do you charge an application fee?
What utilities are included or not included in the rental fee?
Do you charge a parking fee? If yes, is it included in the rent or not?
How many units are there in the building?

The other specific questions that you may ask are below:

How far is the unit from the school?
Is the building near a bus line or any other public transport?
Are there noise rules? Pet rules?
How many washers and dryers are in the building? How much is the fee for using them?
Is storage available?
Is the unit new? When was it last renovated?
How often is the building exterminated?
What about safety of the building and neighborhood? 
Do you require a security deposit?
How and when can I get the security deposit back?
Are we allowed to paint the walls?
Do mobile phones get a good reception in the area?
How many roommates are allowed?
Do you allow a sublease?

You may have other important concerns that are not here in the list so it’s a good thing that you write them down on a piece of paper and bring it with you on the day you are set to sign your lease agreement. In that way, you will be able to ask the landlord all the questions that you want answered. 

If you’re planning on subleasing during school breaks, you should also ask your landlord’s policies on this subject. Some require tenants to pay a certain fee to be able to sublease the unit. 

So, don’t be afraid to ask. It’s the best way to get the necessary information you want. 

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