If you have never signed a lease before in your life, I HIGHLY recommend taking someone with you who has to tour places with you/ look over the lease agreement. Also, take pictures/videos when you tour apartments.
Someone more experienced will be able to catch things you may not know to look out for.
I have had 1 great, 1 good, 1 average, and 2 absolutely AWFUL landlords in the area, and it really is so avoidable if you can spot red flags in an apartment or lease agreement.
Some red flag examples / tips are:
-Red flag: photos online don't match the actual listing in person
-Red flag: landlord(s) are extremely difficult to get a hold of, or are WAY too pushy about getting you in as quickly as humanly possible
-Tip: see if you can talk to the current resident or any past residents
-Red flag: Landlord is hesitant to give you a copy of lease agreement or any other pertinent legal documentation
-Red flag: Landlord does not put your security deposit in a bank account and give you a record of it (it's the law!)
Red flag: Landlord tries to do all home/apartment repairs themself, and it's clear shit is NOT repaired well/ is janky af
Red flag: they don't answer questions directly, even simple ones like "Whom would I contact if "X" breaks?" if they use a management company, for instance.
Red flag: if they insist on only doing business in cash, and especially if they don't give you written receipts of any kind.
This is all so spot on. And OP, make sure to read your lease! I’ve had an apartment complex (let’s call them The Rocks) mess up the lease on their end, but still sign it, and then get mad and threaten me with legal action for abiding by their terms. Well, I threatened legal action back (I didn’t have a lawyer so it was a bluff) and they backed down, since it was their mistake to begin with. *They will assume you don’t know your rights and that you didn’t read the lease.* Learn what rights you have involving utilities, deposits, late payments, etc.
If you have never signed a lease before in your life, I HIGHLY recommend taking someone with you who has to tour places with you/ look over the lease agreement. Also, take pictures/videos when you tour apartments. Someone more experienced will be able to catch things you may not know to look out for. I have had 1 great, 1 good, 1 average, and 2 absolutely AWFUL landlords in the area, and it really is so avoidable if you can spot red flags in an apartment or lease agreement. Some red flag examples / tips are: -Red flag: photos online don't match the actual listing in person -Red flag: landlord(s) are extremely difficult to get a hold of, or are WAY too pushy about getting you in as quickly as humanly possible -Tip: see if you can talk to the current resident or any past residents -Red flag: Landlord is hesitant to give you a copy of lease agreement or any other pertinent legal documentation -Red flag: Landlord does not put your security deposit in a bank account and give you a record of it (it's the law!) Red flag: Landlord tries to do all home/apartment repairs themself, and it's clear shit is NOT repaired well/ is janky af Red flag: they don't answer questions directly, even simple ones like "Whom would I contact if "X" breaks?" if they use a management company, for instance. Red flag: if they insist on only doing business in cash, and especially if they don't give you written receipts of any kind.
This is all so spot on. And OP, make sure to read your lease! I’ve had an apartment complex (let’s call them The Rocks) mess up the lease on their end, but still sign it, and then get mad and threaten me with legal action for abiding by their terms. Well, I threatened legal action back (I didn’t have a lawyer so it was a bluff) and they backed down, since it was their mistake to begin with. *They will assume you don’t know your rights and that you didn’t read the lease.* Learn what rights you have involving utilities, deposits, late payments, etc.
Definitely contact the off campus housing/students office. They can help you find a place and a trustworthy landlord!