Most Common Mistakes as a Tenant

Renting an apartment can be a stressful ordeal. Between the hefty application fee, the stress of finding a place that fits your needs and budget, and dealing with landlords who may or may not know their stuff, it's no wonder renters get a little nervous. But there is help! We've compiled a list of the top some mistakes renters make so that you don't have to go through those headaches.

1. Signing a Lease When You Haven't Seen the Apartment

One of the biggest mistakes that renters make when renting an apartment is to sign a lease without first seeing the apartment. Often, it's done because landlords are eager to fill their vacant apartments, or they're offering incentives (like free rent) if you move in right away. Sometimes, it's because people are afraid of losing the apartment they want. Whatever the reason, don't do it. You should absolutely see the apartment first before signing anything official.

2. Signing a Non-Refundable Application Fee

One of the biggest problems with signing a lease without seeing the apartment is that you can't get out of it if you don't like it. Even if there is no lease, your signature on an application form means you are committing to signing a lease even though you haven't seen the apartment. If you don't want to sign a lease, then simply give three days notice before moving out, in which case your deposit would be refunded.

3. Pausing Your Lease/Moving Out Without Notifying Your Landlord

A lot of tenants decide to move out when they can get a lower rent or find a better place to live. However, if you break your lease early, you are giving the landlord no incentive to rent an apartment to you than someone else if your lease is already expired and you're looking for a new place. If the landlord gives you an early termination notice, then he is saying that he expects more people to move in after your lease expires. If not, then you should probably renew your lease.

4. Not Having Rent in Cash or a Money Order

You may think that it's a good idea to pay rent with a check or money order, but if it bounces, your landlord is going to see you in small claims court. You don't want that. The best way to pay rent is cash or a money order. It's a little bit more inconvenient, but it's much less hassle and you don't get into any sticky legal situations.

5. Not Keeping a Good Record of Your Rent Payments

Many tenants will pay their rent on a quarterly or semi-annual basis, but they won't keep track of every penny that they spend on their apartment. It's a huge mistake. If a tenant doesn't keep track of his rent, then it may seem as if he paid more than he did. A landlord can send you to court for non-payment of rent because he has no recordkeeping either. If you want to be able to prove that you paid your rent, then you should get statements and receipts.

6. Making Late Payments Without Notifying Your Landlord

If you make one late payment on your rent, it's not that big a deal. But if you make multiple late payments in a row, then your landlord is likely to pass them all onto the next tenant. When that happens, the landlord is giving up a lot of money–they paid rent on time to the previous tenant and they're not going to get more than they could have gotten from an expectant new tenant. If you make too many late payments, you should contact your landlord and let him know that you will be making the upcoming rent on time.

7. Not Having a Written Lease Contract

A written lease contract is a very important thing to have. If a tenant doesn't have a written lease, then landlords have no way of knowing whether the tenant paid the rent on time or not. This means that they can't deduct any late fees and there's no recordkeeping either. What's more, landlords don't like signing anything without knowing what their tenants are agreeing to. It's best to be as specific as possible in your lease contract.

8. Moving in with a Friend or Family Member

Some landlords will allow you to move in with a friend or family member. However, it's not very common and it can get tricky when they want to move out. Before you give someone permission to move into your apartment, make sure that you know what the people who would be living there are going to do for the rent.

9. Not Knowing Your Rights as a Tenant

The most important thing to know about renting an apartment is that your landlord can't do anything underhanded. If your landlord is violating one of your rights as a tenant, then you need to know what you should do. The first step is to see if the problem can be solved amicably. If not, then call some building inspectors and/or get in touch with an attorney who is familiar with tenant law.

There you have it. These were some of the most common mistakes tenants do as they move into their new home. Make sure you check all of the boxes above before doing anything else.

Thank you so much for reading. See you on the next one!