What To Ask When Touring An Apartment For Rent
Are you in the process of searching for your next apartment? You are likely going to see a bunch of places until you settle on one that is best for you. Here are some things to ask as you tour various places in hopes of finding your next home for at least the next year.
Can You Sublease?
You never know what is going to happen with your living situation before the year is over with. You may get a job offer that takes you much further away from where you are now or decide to buy a home with a closing date that doesn't line up with your lease expiring. Find out if you are allowed to sublease and what the procedure is if you decide to do so.
For example, you may be responsible for finding the next tenant or have to pay a fee for the landlord to do it for you. It's also possible that all people that sublease must be approved through the landlord and pass a background check. As long as you are clear on what the rules are, you won't be surprised if the need to sublease comes up.
What Utilities Are Included?
It is common for apartments to have some shared utilities as part of living in a larger building. For example, if the apartment building has a central boiler in order to provide radiator heat, that typically means that the water and heating bills will be covered as part of your rent. That is because there is no way for the landlord to monitor water usage when it comes from a central location on site. Make sure to factor these utilities into your monthly cost since you will easily be saving a bit of money by not paying for them.
Do Roommates Need To Sign The Lease?
If you are renting a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment, you may be living with a roommate to help cover the bills. Find out if it is required for their names to be on the lease or if they just need one of you to sign the paperwork. Having two names on the lease often means that both people must pass a background check and pay application fees, which may be avoided if one of you is the main person responsible. However, you may find that having a roommate on the lease has its perks, such as having an additional parking spot next to the building.
Look for a complex like the Flats at Springhurst to find one- or two-bedroom apartments.
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