Renting an off-campus house or apartment with or without roommates can have it’s challenges for students and landlords. To avoid pitfalls do your research. In today’s off-campus housing environment with more student in need of housing than there are places available renters have to be careful so they don’t sign up for something they did not really want. Here are some of the things we found to help with the process:
- Get a copy of your lease, make sure you pay your rent on time
- When you’re looking for a place, if you have a bad feeling about it, then don’t rent it. You’re probably right to have that bad feeling.
- Communicate with your landlord clearly — and in writing — to avoid confusion when conflicts arise.
- Do basic background research on the landlord. A few clicks on Google could reveal a host a horror stories or heaps of praise.
- It’s important for people to know what rights they don’t have under current legislation.
- Landlords should be clear with prospective tenants about the building’s rules and expectations.
- Tenants should take care of the property and report the need for repairs.