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Renting your first apartment, or any apartment, come with questions, concerns and excitement. Apartment living might seem much easier because you have a situation that is move-in ready and when things go wrong, get broken, or stop working, there is seemingly always someone there to call for a quick fix.
Although all of these things are benefits to you as a renter, from time to time you might find yourself in a situation where you feel hopeless, mistreated or misguided when things go wrong in your living situation. From untruthful portrayals, to a non-existent landlord – there are problems that can arise even in apartment-style living. Below we have listed important things you need to know before renting an apartment so you can enter your new living situation informed and secure.
Most states and cities require that landlords file and provide a Certificate of Occupancy. This document is usually issued by the local zoning or building authority and maintains that the landlord has proven that both the structural and living standards are all in accordance with local code. With newer construction projects, the Certificate of Occupancy must be presented with a general building permit – attesting to the structurally-sound nature of the home, as well as electrical and plumbing regulations.
It is important to ask for this item before deciding to sign a lease – if a landlord is hesitant, or worse, refuses to submit this to you upon signing, you can forego the lease or closing on your new home.
After the permits for your new apartment are presented and authenticated, it is time to look at the equipment within your home. A Declaration of Conformity (for equipment,) states that all equipment in your home meets all relevant requirements for safety. This means each item should go through the conformity assessment process and be formally declared good.
It is important to note that this is not a quality certificate, nor does it guarantee a certain amount or type of safety – it is just a document stating it has been approved through a long chain of manufactures, suppliers and distributors and with no defects. Consider things like your heating/cooling system and kitchen and washing appliances!
An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is something that must be ordered by potential homeowners and/or apartment tenants. In some areas you must display the EPC somewhere within the vicinity of the home (most can be found next, or attached to the heater or energy box.)
This document will be a landline for you, as it should state the property's energy use and typical energy costs. Even if this is supplied, it is still smart to inquire about the energy costs with either the landlord, or the current resident of your new home – they will be well-informed on the matter as well!
Tip: Homes with brick walls and hardwood flooring will generally use more energy than those with drywall and carpet!
Before renting your new apartment, ask the right experts for advice. During a showing or walk-through, if anything seems out of place, or questions aren't answered in a straight-forward, responsible manner – look for advice. Whether this be an agent, a realtor, a lawyer or a family friend with renting experience.
Ask about maintenance issues and how they are solved – what is the turnaround time to have anything fixed? Is there a chain of management or contact when issues arise? How are the tenants in the other areas of the building? And most importantly for safety reasons, how is the surrounding neighborhood? Only people with seasoned experience will be able to properly answer questions like these – they will also have nothing to gain or lose by giving you an honest answer!
Things can often seem pretty cut and dry when renting a new apartment. You know the monthly rent, the energy costs, the cost of water, wireless, cable and the deposit – everything seems great, right? Think again. There will always be monthly extraordinary expenses that can pop up on you at any given moment – and usually, they find you at the worst moment.
Do you live in a colder climate with extreme winters? Well, the energy costs might seem low in the summer, but when you're using high heat everyday for 4-5 months during the winter, this can offset the costs and be more expensive in the long run. Will you owe any money for a monthly maintenance fee? Is there a monthly/annual cost for local/private parking? Theses are all questions to be considered before signing that lease.
Is your apartment furnished like the one pictured here What would be the cost if any damages were to occur? Consider every possible question you can prior to renting!
Even though most landlords do a great job at handing over a clean slate apartment before you move in (freshly painted white walls, clean flooring, etc;) there might still be some things you wish to change. Ask your landlord if they're okay with you doing any work around your apartment. Are you allowed to paint? If you can paint, is there a limited colour scheme you can work with? What about changing light fixtures and appliances? Screwing and hanging pictures? Temporary or permanent structures like hanging chairs, shelves, etc;?
Due to the fact that this is their property that they will eventually have to prepare for the next tenant, landlords are typically quite direct about inquiries such as these, so ask away!
Tip: Particularly ask about hanging items from the ceiling and larger items on the walls – like the items pictured in this room!
