Three Things You Should Expect in an Apartment for Rent

Renting an apartment is confusing. How can you be sure that you have chosen the right apartment? Further, is the apartment legal, or is the real estate broker and landlord pulling wool over your eyes? If you have done your research and narrowed down the apartments you are looking at, it is time to work on due diligence.

After you have performed due diligence and researched the landlord, neighborhood, and real estate broker, there is one thing left to do, and that is to visit the apartments you have narrowed down in your search for an apartment for rent.

Here is our list of the things you should expect in an apartment for rent.

Basic Habitability Requirements

As part of your due diligence, you should have researched the legal requirements that a landlord must meet in order to rent the apartment. In the United States and other countries, this legal concept is called the warrant of habitability. 

The warrant of habitability is the bare minimum criteria that a landlord must provide or otherwise meet to rent the apartment. In the United States, for example, a landlord must provide an oven/stove unit, refrigerator/freezer unit, a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink, a shower, and a toilet. All of these must be in working order and the landlord will usually be responsible for maintaining them.

The Lease

If you researched the law, then you would know what is legal to include in a lease and what is not. In short, the lease must contain all the legal terms that you agree to abide by while renting an apartment and must be in accordance with the law.

The lease will also spell out the duties that the tenant has and the ones that the landlord has. For example, a tenant may be required to shovel off his or her front porch if it snows, while the landlord may be responsible for plowing the driveway.

As part of your due diligence, you should always read the lease before signing it. This will ensure that you and the landlord both know the rules and the “playbook” of the apartment for rent so each can hold the other accountable.

Paying the Rent

Finally, before you agree to get the apartment for rent, you should inquire about paying the rent. Some landlords want you to mail a check, while others will want to collect the rent in person. Others do not care about how they get the rent so long as it is delivered on time.

For instance, my landlord and I made an agreement that he would visit me every month when he collects the rent. This allows me to tell him if I need anything done at the apartment, while it allows him to collect the rent and continue to lease the apartment to me. Since I am limited by transportation, this is an ideal arrangement for me.

Conclusion

From paying the rent to basic habitability requirements, there are many things to look for in an apartment for rent. The method of paying the rent is important, as is making sure that you read the terms of the lease, as well as ensuring that the apartment for rent meets the basic requirements for the warrant of habitability.

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