There are plenty of renters out there just like yourself who have questions throughout their rental journey. It’s important to stay up to date on renter lingo, common rules and regulations, and general tips or renting!
What do I need to bring for an apartment tour?
Touring apartments can be one of the most enjoyable parts of the apartment searching process. While it takes up some of your personal time and every apartment may not be the perfect choice for you, it’s fun to get your own personal viewing of the place, and it’s vital to check out the apartment before signing a lease. Pictures don’t always do it justice (or sometimes the opposite)!
When you’re preparing to go on an apartment tour, be sure that you bring some form of ID, preferably your driver’s license (if you have one). While you should always carry some form of ID on you regardless, you’ll need to have an ID in order to tour the apartment with the landlord, property manager, or leasing agent. They’ll request your ID and hold it in the leasing office while you take the tour together for assurance purposes.
To make sure that you get any and all of your questions answered about the apartment, bring a list of said questions with you on the tour! Questions could include a timeline of updates on the apartment or the square footage of the unit. While you’re in the unit, go through and check the appliances. Turn on the shower to see what the water pressure is like, open kitchen cabinets, the fridge, freezer, closets, etc. You want to get a good look at this place to be sure it’s to your liking and there aren’t any hidden issues.
If the apartment turns out to be just what you’re looking for, then be sure to bring a form of payment with you on the tour. After you return to the leasing office, you may be ready to take the leap and fill out an application to rent the unit! If so, the landlord, property manager, or leasing agent will ask for a form of payment (usually anywhere from $25-$100) that will cover the application fee – either by credit card or money order.
How old do you have to be to rent an apartment?
If you’re at least 18 years old, then congrats! You’re old enough to rent an apartment (maybe even your first apartment). However, if you’re under 18, you still have a few options. If you are legally emancipated, then you are able to rent an apartment underage. Another option is to get parental consent or a cosigner. What’s a cosigner, you ask? A cosigner for an apartment is a person who applies for an apartment with you, agreeing to pay the rent in your place if you do not make the payments.
Both marriage and military service are exceptions to the law as well (if this applies to you). So, if you’re married under 18 (with parental consent or emancipation) or are in the military, then you can rent an apartment under 18 years of age.
What does it mean to break the lease?
Breaking the lease means that as the tenant, you are terminating your lease agreement before it’s officially over. But don’t think you’re getting off scot-free! There are consequences when it comes to breaking the lease. In many apartment communities, the consequence is monetary. It’s common for the tenant to have to pay two months’ rent in order to legally break the lease.
If this doesn’t sound fair to you, then consider staying put until your lease is up. But if the circumstances are right, and breaking the lease is your only option, then keep in mind that you will have to pay a certain amount in order to get out of your lease without any negative impacts on your rental history. Review your lease to find out what the terms and regulations are for breaking it. Be sure to notify your landlord or property manager ahead of time, if possible!
What types of pets can you have in an apartment?
If you have a pet, then you know you need to be looking for a pet-friendly apartment. But what fits into pet-friendly, you ask? Most pet-friendly apartments allow small dogs and cats. There are often breed and weight restrictions for pets as well. For instance, there may be an apartment community that doesn’t allow certain breeds, or only allows pets under 40 pounds. You may find other apartment communities that are a bit more lenient, allowing pets up to 60 pounds or more. It completely depends on the property management of the apartment community.
If you have a fish, turtle, guinea pig (or anything of this sort), then you may likely have these pets in the apartment as well. Be sure to ask the landlord or property manager about their official pet policy before you sign a lease. Be aware that with pet-friendly communities come pet fees, deposits, and rent! Pet fees and deposits typically go towards the damage that the pet may do to the apartment, while the pet rent is typically to keep up the community and may go towards pet perks in the community, such as a dog park, pet washing station, pet waste bags, and more.
Luckily, your fish won’t require you to pay any of those things, but it’s still best to ask the property manager what types of pets you can have in that specific apartment. Ask about breed restrictions, weight restrictions, and the number of pets you can have per unit, along with what pet fees, deposits, or rent you’ll be required to pay.
