Before you sign a rental lease agreement, you need to be certain that there are no hidden caveats. Too many tenants end up getting duped by shady landlords and end up having to pay for things they didn’t expect or having to live in an unpleasant property. Below are just some of the biggest traps to avoid when looking for your next rental property.
Moving in without signing any contract
It is vital that a landlord supplies a written contract to sign. Oral agreements are legal across much of the US for leases of one year or less, but they can carry so many risks. Because nothing is put in writing, you have no proof as to what you agreed to – which could allow a devious landlord to implement all kinds of terms and conditions that could be difficult to dispute. The majority of landlords will provide an agreement in the form of a written document, and it’s important that you keep a copy once you’ve signed it.
Signing a joint tenancy with nightmare roommates
Joint tenancies are often more affordable than renting somewhere alone. However, you need to be very careful of who you are moving in with. When moving into a property with family or friends, make sure that you fully trust who you’re moving in with. If you’re moving into a multiple occupancy property with existing tenants, make sure that you meet these tenants beforehand so that you can get a good idea as to what type of person they are and whether you could happily live with them. The ideal roommate needs to be clean, friendly, and responsible. Be wary of agreeing to a joint tenancy in which you may be responsible for another tenant’s rent if they don’t pay it – instead, look for agreements that only require you to pay your part of the rent.
Failing to take photos before you move in
Taking photos is a great way to keep a record of the physical condition of a property before moving in. If a landlord later claims that you caused damage and the damage is visible in photos you took before moving in, you then have evidence that you didn’t cause the damage. Similarly, if a landlord claims that certain furniture is missing from a room, you may be able to prove that the furniture wasn’t there when you moved in.
Dismissing signs of mold
Landlords are legally required to provide safe and habitable housing and to remediate any mold on the property. Unfortunately, many rental properties still end up having mold issues. While mold is easy to clean and get rid of, it can return if the root cause is not dealt with. Sometimes this root cause can be something as simple as excess condensation, which legally may be the responsibility of the tenant to deal with. Overall, mold can often be a recurring problem that could cause many disputes and be damaging to your health. If you see any mold on the walls or ceiling when viewing a property, be very cautious about moving in.
Overlooking expensive early termination fees
When signing a rental agreement, you typically agree to pay rent for a certain term (usually 6 months or 12 months – but it can be longer). In case you need to exit your lease early, you should check that there are no expensive early termination fees. Some landlords may stipulate that you have to pay a large fee – or, in some cases, the remainder of the rent. This could end up being extremely costly.
Finding out late that you’re responsible for maintenance
Landlords are typically responsible for repairing any wear and tear. However, it’s not illegal for a landlord to pass this responsibility to the tenant, providing that they write it into the contract. It is vital that you check that you are not responsible for repairing any wear and tear, such as roof repairs or fixing plumbing. A benefit of renting should be that you don’t have to pay for this, and any landlords that try to make you pay for this are being exploitative.
Getting caught by other sneaky small print
There could be all kinds of other important terms and conditions hidden in the contract. Given that some contracts can be very long, it’s very easy to overlook certain clauses. Before signing a lengthy lease agreement, it may be worth paying for lease abstracting. This involves paying a professional to summarise all the key points so that you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.
Conclusion
Avoiding the following traps could prevent you from signing a lease agreement that you later regret. The majority of landlords are not out to deceive you, but it’s important to be wary just in case. You should similarly be careful of moving in with untrustworthy co-tenants.