How to rent an apartment safely in this cruel world?
Renting a place to live in is a great opportunity for tenants. But, unfortunately, it is also a great opportunity for home owners and agents to cash in on some naive people.
There are many questions to ask when renting an apartment. Now you’ll find out which ones should be asked in the first place in order to fully protect yourself from the risk of any disappointment!
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1. Do you really need an agent?
Their services will often cost you half of the monthly cost of the apartment. You can look yourself but beware of scammers: make sure that apartment is being let by its actual owner.
2. Check the apartment owner’s ID
Check the legal documents for the property:
- Certificate of ownership;
- Contract confirming ownership of the apartment;
- Civil passport of the owner.
3. Find out something about the history of the apartment
Try to get more information (from neighbours, for instance) about the owner of the apartment and the apartment itself. For example, they can tell you that pipes constantly leak there.
4. The terms of raising the monthly payment
The prices can go up unexpectedly: discuss all the details of changes in the cost of the rent with the landlord before you sign the lease.
5. Check the premises
When looking at the apartment you need to check all communications, household appliances and doors in the owner’s presence in order to avoid any unnecessary misunderstanding.
6. Make sure that you are the only tenant
Renting an apartment for the first time? Check all the lease clauses related to the number of meters being let to you.
For example: the couple rented a 3-bedroom apartment, but in 2 days a student moved into the apartment as well – she rented one room in the apartment. According to the lease the couple rented only two rooms (but it was indicated in the number of meters).
7. Photos may not correspond to reality
A luxurious apartment on the photo and a price lower than the market one means that you are most certainly dealing with some malevolent schemes of rogue agents. They will tell you that the apartment on the photo has been let and will advise you another one, of much lower quality.
8. Check the keys
Do not sign anything until you check the keys to the door. If there are several locks and the owner claims that one of them is broken, make sure personally that it is so.
9. Is there a fee for the apartment viewing?
Nobody has the right to require payment for viewing the apartment. The agents (often together with the owner) simply make money on it.
10. Utilities
Make sure that all the utilities for the previous periods have been paid for – ask for the payment receipt and check the counters.
11. Inventory of property
It specifies the property that is leased to the tenant. Make sure that the owner hasn’t included any non-existent objects.
12. Are interior decor or renovations allowed?
It really depends on the lease terms. Some owners require that you restore the apartment to the condition you received it in. In other cases, any decorations must be approved by the owner.
13. Can you have a pet in a rented apartment?
With some owners it will be a definite “NO!”. Others may allow smaller pets but forbid massive dogs. Check the lease carefully about all the details related to having pets. You may have to pay a pet security deposit if your landlord does allow pets.
14. Find out about local rules and regulations
A lot of apartment blocks have rules about quiet hours or limits on being loud. Check with the neighbors about how seriously these rules are enforced. You could also check the rules about using laundry rooms and gyms since sometimes you have to pay for using them.
15. Who handles maintenance problems?
It depends on the building as well: some have specialists living there others normally call repair services. Discuss all the details about emergencies with the landlord.
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