Before you start looking for a new rental property, you need to be sure that it is the right decision. You should ask yourself if you are happy with your current home or whether you are actually in the market for something else. If this isn’t your first time renting, maybe you have some ideas about what features would make a good house. Whatever the situation may be, there are always things that people don’t think about when they rent a property, and these can lead to significant problems down the line. This blog post will give you a list of some contentious issues that you should clarify before renting.
The Tenancy Agreement
There is nothing more important than having a well-drafted tenancy agreement. It protects the landlord and tenant, clarifies their respective rights and responsibilities, and establishes good practices for maintaining the property. Unfortunately, many landlords are unfamiliar with the legal language of a tenancy agreement. If they are not, it is imperative that you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
Before signing any tenancy agreement, the tenant should read through the document thoroughly and ask their landlord for clarification on anything that is unclear or does not make sense. The tenancy agreement will be legally binding, so if you do not understand, you may want to consult a lawyer before signing.
Liability During the Renting Period
While the landlord is generally responsible for most of the property damage that occurs at the rented premise, it is often unclear who should pay if someone gets injured. This usually results in a long-drawn legal battle with no clear winner. Therefore, when signing an agreement about renting something, make sure to get all “what if” questions clarified.
In order to avoid further tenant-landlord disputes, make sure you understand the conditions of your agreement and who will be responsible for certain situations. For example: – If a pipe bursts, causing flooding in the apartment under yours – who should pay? The landlord or you? – What if one day an intoxicated neighbor comes to your apartment and breaks a window? If you rent an office space, will the landlord be responsible for lost income if there is no electricity during the day because of repairs carried out by power companies?
If such issues are not clarified in advance – it could result in further disputes between tenant and landlord. Therefore, make sure to discuss all critical points. In addition, it is worth mentioning that when renting property, responsibility for accidents or damages to the rented premise may fall on you even if your landlord was responsible. For example, if the landlord did not warn you that there is a crack in the ceiling and you got injured because of it – this would be your fault.
Having Pets
Whether your tenancy agreement allows pet rental or not, you should always make sure to clarify this before moving in.
Having a pet can be very rewarding, but it also has its downsides. For example, if the property is on the market, then having an additional occupant might decrease its value or cause trouble for future tenants who would like to move there.
If the landlord or agent has an issue with you having a pet, then try to find out why and negotiate it. For example, they might want more money as pets are allowed on the property but not in certain rooms such as the kitchen.
It is also worth noting that some landlords will charge a higher deposit for people who have pets due to wear and tear on carpets. This does not mean they are being unfair; it just means you need to be ready for this coming out of your initial payment or negotiate with them if it isn’t fair.
Making sure to clarify these issues before signing the tenancy agreement will save any potential problems in the future, such as your deposit being withheld or not allowed into your new home at all.
Having a pet can make you less likely to complete your tenancy agreement. So, when renting, it is essential to check whether or not pets are allowed as this could affect many aspects of your future.
Repairs, Upgrades, and Maintenance
Repairs, upgrades, and maintenance are often separate in the lease. Clarify who is responsible for each before signing a lease or making an offer on a property. The landlord should be liable for any problems that arise during the tenancy, but it’s essential to make sure this is explicitly stated in your paperwork. If there were repairs that needed to happen before the tenancy began, it is not uncommon for you to need to cover them.
If an upgrade or maintenance issue arises during your stay that was already present in the unit when you moved in (such as a broken heater), then the landlord should cover this cost. However, if there are upgrades or repairs needed due to damages caused by you or your guests, this may be a cost that you pay.
When it comes to renovations and fixes in between tenancies (such as replacing the siding), landlords are not typically responsible unless they agreed to them during lease negotiations. If possible, get these changes included in your agreement so that there aren’t future disagreements.
It is important to address these issues before signing a lease, as they will affect your monthly rent and security deposit. However, suppose money was already exchanged without clarifying responsibilities for repairs. In that case, you may be able to negotiate this with the landlord or real estate agent if it would cause financial hardship otherwise.
When it comes down to it, if repairs and maintenance are not clearly stated in your lease agreement, then they should come out of the landlord’s pocket. If this is ever unclear, consider looking at other similar properties nearby and comparing their leases so you know what to expect.
Conclusion
Highlighting points in the lease agreement that you disagree with or are not comfortable with will help avoid future problems between yourself and your landlord. It is important to be aware of what might happen if a tenant does break the rules, especially when it comes to breaking a lease without penalty. The last thing anyone wants is to pay for an apartment they no longer want to live in. Clarifying what is expected of your relationship will help avoid these problems. For example, if you are not willing to pay for the utilities that were initially included in the monthly rent, then it would be beneficial to know before signing a lease agreement with an apartment complex or landlord. If they do not agree to remove them from the rental price, this could be a deal-breaker.
The same goes for pets, parking spaces, smoking or even children that are not on the lease agreement. Not only will it save money for the tenant, but it will also ensure that they are living somewhere where rules and policies can be followed. Having this information in writing is beneficial because there may not always be an opportunity to discuss what you want out of your agreement with a landlord or apartment complex manager after moving in.
This means that any problems could result in legal issues. If you feel like rules and policies in the contract will not benefit you, then it is best to clarify them before signing a lease agreement. Not only does this ensure tenant happiness but it makes living together easier for both parties involved.
