Top Ten Red Flags: Top Ten Red Flags: Things to consider for Things to consider for

before rentingbefore renting

Presented by Off-Campus Student ServicesWSC 203

offcampus@ups.edu

1.) Is the Landlord on Time?1.) Is the Landlord on Time? The behavior of the potential The behavior of the potential

landlord at your first meeting is a landlord at your first meeting is a precursor to how they will act in the precursor to how they will act in the future. If they are irresponsible in future. If they are irresponsible in regards to your first meeting, they regards to your first meeting, they will probably be irresponsible during will probably be irresponsible during your tenancy.your tenancy.

2.) Is there a lease already written 2.) Is there a lease already written that you can review?that you can review?

Read things thoroughly before you Read things thoroughly before you sign them. Take a copy of the lease sign them. Take a copy of the lease and look over it before you enter into and look over it before you enter into a binding contract. (Off-Campus a binding contract. (Off-Campus Student Services is more than willing Student Services is more than willing to go through a lease with you!)to go through a lease with you!)

3.)Do all the lights and water work?3.)Do all the lights and water work?

Don’t be embarrassed about checking Don’t be embarrassed about checking everything as you walk through the everything as you walk through the apartment or house. You’re going to be apartment or house. You’re going to be living there, and you deserve to have living there, and you deserve to have things working properly! So, flick all the things working properly! So, flick all the lights on and off. Turn on all faucets lights on and off. Turn on all faucets and showers. Take note of how long it and showers. Take note of how long it takes to get some hot water…(that will takes to get some hot water…(that will be important on cold Tacoma mornings)be important on cold Tacoma mornings)

4.) What kind of heat is used?4.) What kind of heat is used? There are many kinds of heat: gas, There are many kinds of heat: gas,

electric, oil, etc. It’s a good idea to electric, oil, etc. It’s a good idea to know what kind the apartment uses know what kind the apartment uses because that will give you a good because that will give you a good idea as to how much you’ll be paying idea as to how much you’ll be paying for it. Also, make sure it works! for it. Also, make sure it works! When those winter months come When those winter months come around, you don’t want to be around, you don’t want to be freezing to death.freezing to death.

5.) Who pays utilities and how?5.) Who pays utilities and how? Ask the landlord how they want to Ask the landlord how they want to

work the payment of utilities. work the payment of utilities. Sometimes they want the bill in your Sometimes they want the bill in your name, other times, it’s in theirs. If name, other times, it’s in theirs. If it’s in their name, ask to see a copy it’s in their name, ask to see a copy of the bill every month to ensure that of the bill every month to ensure that they are not overcharging you. Don’t they are not overcharging you. Don’t just take their word for it.just take their word for it.

6.) Are there any obvious damages 6.) Are there any obvious damages that the landlord “promises” to fix?that the landlord “promises” to fix?

It’s generally not a good idea to sign It’s generally not a good idea to sign a lease if the unit has major a lease if the unit has major damages. After you’ve signed it, damages. After you’ve signed it, there isn’t a lot of incentive for them there isn’t a lot of incentive for them to fix those damages. Make sure to fix those damages. Make sure everything is in working order before everything is in working order before you commit to a place that is you commit to a place that is potentially unlivable. potentially unlivable.

7.) Know what’s involved with a 7.) Know what’s involved with a credit check.credit check.

Your landlord has the right to do a Your landlord has the right to do a credit check. However, it’s in your credit check. However, it’s in your best interest to know what is best interest to know what is involved with that. There are some involved with that. There are some things that a landlord can NOT ask things that a landlord can NOT ask you. Know what these things are, you. Know what these things are, and be wary of a landlord that insists and be wary of a landlord that insists on knowing them. (These include on knowing them. (These include things such as race, orientation, etc.)things such as race, orientation, etc.)

8.) Is it clean?8.) Is it clean? If the unit is not clean when the If the unit is not clean when the

landlord is trying to lease it, then odds landlord is trying to lease it, then odds are, they aren’t going to keep it clean are, they aren’t going to keep it clean after that. Again, make sure the unit after that. Again, make sure the unit is livable before you commit yourself is livable before you commit yourself to it. You have a right to live in a to it. You have a right to live in a decent space.decent space.

Also, know what is your responsibility Also, know what is your responsibility to clean, and what is their to clean, and what is their responsibility to clean.responsibility to clean.

9.) What is refundable?9.) What is refundable? Make sure that everyone involved is Make sure that everyone involved is

clear about what fees and deposits clear about what fees and deposits are refundable at the end of the are refundable at the end of the leasing period. Credit history fees leasing period. Credit history fees are usually not, but cleaning deposits are usually not, but cleaning deposits usually are (but only if you keep it usually are (but only if you keep it clean). Make sure you know what clean). Make sure you know what you’re supposed to be getting back.you’re supposed to be getting back.

10.) Do the locks work?10.) Do the locks work? It’s not safe to live in a place with a It’s not safe to live in a place with a

broken lock! Don’t be shy about broken lock! Don’t be shy about checking all outside doors to make checking all outside doors to make sure that they can’t be broken into. sure that they can’t be broken into. This is the law and it’s also a safety This is the law and it’s also a safety issue. issue.

11.) Ask about subletting 11.) Ask about subletting agreementsagreements

Occasionally a landlord will not want Occasionally a landlord will not want you to sublet to a friend. It is you to sublet to a friend. It is important to ask what their important to ask what their requirements are for this requirements are for this circumstance. Every landlord is circumstance. Every landlord is different and you don’t want to make different and you don’t want to make them angry.them angry.

Remember:Remember: Landlords are not bad people. Off-Landlords are not bad people. Off-

Campus Student Services just wants Campus Student Services just wants to make sure that you’re safe and to make sure that you’re safe and going about leasing in the proper going about leasing in the proper way. We’re here to help, so please way. We’re here to help, so please come ask us any questions you have come ask us any questions you have now, or in the future.now, or in the future.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Off-Campus Student ServicesContact Off-Campus Student ServicesWSC 203WSC 203

X3374X3374offcampus@ups.eduoffcampus@ups.edu

Ask for Anne, Shelli, or YoshikoAsk for Anne, Shelli, or Yoshiko