It may sound cliche, but knowledge is power when it comes to being a renter. Knowing your rights and responsibilities as a renter will ensure that you don’t lose your shirt during your time as a renter. When you decide to sign an apartment lease at a new place, make sure you know what you are getting into and the terms and conditions of everything you sign.
Things to Look for on Your Lease
Lease Length – Apartment leases vary from place to place, so you need to review any new leases you sign very closely. Just because the last lease you signed was for the same amount of time, it does not mean the new one you are about to sign carries the same terms. First check the duration of the contract, whether it be month to month, 6-month, 1 year, etc.
Rent Payments – Be sure to understand the amount of monthly rent you are going to pay and if it could potentially fluctuate during the time of the signing of the lease. Also, check the lease to see how long the grace period is for late rent and how much you may be charged for late payments.
Early Termination of Your Lease – Early termination fees need to be examined in detail to see how much it would cost you in the event that you need to relocate for work, family etc. Some leases have much stiffer penalties for early termination than others, so it is important to know what it is for each apartment building.
Utilities – Check the lease to see which utilities you will be responsible for and what type of utilities your apartment utilizes like gas or perhaps the apartment is all electric.
Subleasing – Also, check to see if your DC apartment lease allows subleasing. If the termination fees are too steep for your liking, maybe you can find someone to sublet your apartment in the event that you should have to relocate.
Maintenance – Apartment maintenance is often a matter of contention in tenant/landlord disputes. This is where you need to understand your tenant rights and the responsibility that your landlord has to you to provide a clean, functional and pest free environment. This section may also include a point about when your landlord has right to access your apartment without permission for routine maintenance checks.
Online Resources for Understanding Your Lease
There are many resources available online to help you navigate through the sometimes complicated and wordy legalities involved in tenant rights and apartment leases. For matters involving different types of discrimination or violations of civil rights, Fair Housing Laws.org is a resource to find out if you have been discriminated against or evicted unfairly.
For all of your other basic tenant rights information and advice, consult the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Their website has state specific information to navigate you through any rental related situation.
Always make sure you get a copy of the original signed lease in case of future disputes between you and your landlord. Get informed and don’t get cheated. Renting is a situation where what you don’t know can cost you a lot of time, money and stress.
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