Questions to ask when renting

A lease is easy to sign and hard to leave. These sets cover apartment tours, landlords, property managers, leases, roommates, and the questions landlords themselves should ask before handing over keys.

35 sets · 938 questions · each with a note on why

A few to start with

Do you use a verification service or a form you require me to submit, and what is the turnaround?
Larger employers route everything through a paid service or a written request, which can take several days and sometimes a fee. Find out on the first call so the timeline does not surprise you or the applicant.
From: Questions to Ask When Verifying Employment for Rental
When something breaks, who calls the landlord and who pays?
Small repairs get ignored for months when it is nobody's job. Agree who reports faults and how you split anything the landlord will not cover, including the shared items like a vacuum or a router.
From: Questions to Ask Before Moving in With Roommates
What has the rent on this unit done at the last two or three renewals?
A landlord who raised rent nine percent each year has told you your real second-year budget. Someone who cannot or will not answer is signaling that the renewal number is not yet decided.
From: Questions to Ask When Viewing Apartments
How do after-hours emergencies work, and what counts as one?
Some complexes route night calls to an answering service that only dispatches for flooding or fire, leaving a failed heater until Monday. Get the definition and the phone number before you sign.
From: Questions to Ask an Apartment Complex
Are you bringing anything big, a fridge, a printer, a rug? Should we split what we buy?
Practical, and it saves money, since most first-year rooms end up with two of everything and space for neither. Sorting it by text in July also shows you how they handle a shared decision while nothing is at stake yet.
From: Questions to Ask a Potential College Roommate
What is the rent, and what is the total amount due before I get the keys?
First month, last month, deposit, pet fee, application fee, key and parking deposits can add up to several times the rent. Ask for one figure and the list behind it, because the advertised rent is rarely the number you need in the bank.
From: Questions to Ask Before Moving Into an Apartment

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