By Joy Peck, Executive Director

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Congratulations! Moving out on one’s own can be one of life’s most exciting adventures. Or it can be one of the first big disasters. Information and planning are the keys to make that move away from our childhood home an event we remember more with fondness than with horror. Landlords and experienced tenants agree on several pieces of information that are important for first-time renters:

Before beginning to look for that perfect place, decide whether you prefer to rent an apartment, duplex, or a house. And think about whether you want to rent from a small landlord or a property management company, or whether that matters to you at all. While renting a small apartment might be affordable to you alone or with just one roommate, renting a house usually means sharing the costs, (and cleaning, yard work, and minor chores) with several roommates. And choosing compatible roommates will be an extremely important matter. For the first foray into the rental world, find your roommates prior to even looking for a place to share. Find roommates with adequate income and be firm about sharing all pertinent financial information, social expectations, work/school schedules, and general interests. Does he like to practice the guitar in the evenings or have an aversion to sharing the housework?

Be clear about the costs and never go over your budget. The first expense will be an application fee, usually $25-$45, that the property management company or landlord pays for background screening. Since you may not have much of a credit record, a co-signer might be requested. Sufficient income and being able to afford the rent is vital, so be sure you can show a well-thought-out budget to your prospective landlord and your co-signers. And don’t forget to add the cost of utilities, phone, cable, transportation, food, and cleaning supplies to the monthly budget.

Another rather sizable cost for first-time renters is furnishing the apartment. Even if you sleep on a futon and use TV tables for a while, you will still need to spend some of your funds on bedding, dishes, a few pieces of furniture, and window coverings. Being unrealistic about the costs is the biggest mistake most new renters make, and can often begin a cycle of debt that follows your credit history for years.

Once the decision is made as to which place to rent, be sure you understand whether the rental agreement is a year’s lease or a month-to-month agreement. If you sign a lease for a set period, you are obligating yourself to pay rent for that length of time. As a tenant, you have become part of a contract, so be clear about whether you (and any roommates) are ready to contract for one year or select a place that rents month-to-month. Ask the amount of the security deposit, any fees for cleaning, pets, or smoking. Absolutely view the apartment thoroughly before signing the lease. Turn on the faucets and shower for just a minute, look inside the refrigerator, flip the garbage disposal switch, look at the door locks – all before agreeing to sign the lease.

Ask the landlord or property manager if there are “house rules” that might restrict gatherings, parties, overnight visitors, number of cars per unit, who covers costs of repairs for wear and tear (things not broken by the tenant). Find out when the utilities must be changed into your name. Usually, they are in one tenant’s name, and if one or more roommates move out or doesn’t pay their share, the bills must still be paid, and paid on time.

On the day the lease is signed, there will be a walk-through. Be focused so that you and the landlord agree about the condition of the unit. If you encounter something that is broken or needs repair, be sure it is noted on the Walk-Through form so you are not charged for it. Ask for a copy of the Walk-Through (sometimes call a Property Condition Report), and keep it in a safe place. It can end up saving you quite a bit of money at move out. Remember, that the cost of repairing anything that is damaged after you move-in will be deducted from the security deposit. The landlord should not be expected to pay for tenant carelessness or damages.

Do not rush your reading the lease. It is a legally binding document and will dictate a large part of your life for the next year of your life. If you have questions, speak up and get clear answers. After all parties have signed the lease, unless all signatories agree to changes later, you are bound to that agreement.

And keep in mind that you are being granted the ability to live in someone else’s property and investment. Be aware that damages cost money to repair, that unpaid rent can throw a landlord in his or her own financial stress. This is the beginning of your rental and financial record and will follow you for years down the road. Enjoy the adventure.

Landlord Association of the Inland NW

3 S. Washington Street, Spokane, WA 99201

www.landlordassoc.org

509-535-1018