Ask These Questions Before You Sign an Apartment Lease

Once you have finalized what apartment community, you will want to gather a list of questions that you can give to your landlord to answer. This will be that last step in the apartment process and a way to have some closure and make sure you have made the right decision.

This will give you an idea on how responsive a future landlord will be.  If you have any problems with your apartment, or a situation that occurs on the premises, a good landlord will respond accordingly.  It is now time to get together a list of questions so you can be sure the apartment home will be perfect for you.

Here are some questions that most tenants should ask before they sign the lease.

 How much is rent, when is it due, and how much are the late fees?

What is the length of the lease term? Does the lease revert to a month to month after the term has expired? Do you have to provide notice if you intend to move out? If you do decide to renew your lease, can I expect an increase in the monthly fees?

What are the application and deposit fees that you will be responsible for. If you bring a pet with you, what is the amount of the pet deposit? What portion of these deposits are refundable?

Is there a pet weight or breed restriction limit? Individuals who tour apartments are turned away when they find out their pet is outside the permitted list.

Are there any utilities that are included with the rent? If not, who provides water and electricity to the apartment home, and what can you expect to pay on a monthly basis? This will help you form a monthly budget that you can expect each month when it comes down to utilities.

What parking is available to you and is the parking assigned? What if you have friends come over? Will they have an easy time finding enough parking?

Once you feel comfortable, you can put down your deposit, and go ahead and sign your lease.