model lease project

  • Home
  • Get Started
    • Step 1: Plan
    • Step 2: Research >
      • Ask Your Landlord
      • Ask Your Roommate
    • Step 3: Avoid Scams
  • Lease
    • Key Terms
    • Rules
    • Fair Housing
    • Moving In
  • Tenant Tips
    • Eviction
    • Habitability
    • Renters Insurance
    • Repairs
    • Quiet Enjoyment
    • Security Deposit
  • Resources
  • Home
  • Get Started
    • Step 1: Plan
    • Step 2: Research >
      • Ask Your Landlord
      • Ask Your Roommate
    • Step 3: Avoid Scams
  • Lease
    • Key Terms
    • Rules
    • Fair Housing
    • Moving In
  • Tenant Tips
    • Eviction
    • Habitability
    • Renters Insurance
    • Repairs
    • Quiet Enjoyment
    • Security Deposit
  • Resources

Suggested Questions for Landlords:

Tip: If the landlord says one thing and then you sign a lease that says something different - the lease controls. Get promises in writing!
Payment
  • Do you take checks from all tenants in the unit, or just one check from the group?
  • Can I pay my rent with a credit card?
  • Do you accept online payments?
  • Is there a convenience fee for online payments?
Lease
  • Can I take a copy of the lease with me to review before I sign?
  • Do I need to have someone provide a financial guaranty after I sign the lease?
  • Would I be signing an individual lease, a joint and several lease, or a joint and several lease with individual rent responsibility?
  • If the lease includes a partial month at the beginning and/or end (such as half of August, rather than the full month), what is the amount of rent I would pay during those partial months?
  • When will I be expected to renew my lease?
  • Am I permitted to sublet? What is the process? How much is the fee?
  • What happens if my unit is not ready when my lease starts?
Cost
  • Are there fees I would be required to pay in addition to the rent and security deposit?
  • How much is the security deposit?
  • What should I do to receive as much of my deposit back as possible?
  • What utilities are included in the rent? If any are not included, what is an estimate of my monthly cost?
Amenities
  • How many parking places are available to the apartment? Is there a fee for parking?
  • What appliances are provided?
  • Is internet service included? If so, what is the speed of the internet?
  • Is there a washer and dryer in the unit or facility? If not where is the nearest laundry facility? If there is a laundry room, how many washers and dryers does it have, and is it coin-op or is there an electronic payment system?
  • Where is the nearest bus stop?
  • Is a bus pass included in the rent?
Maintenance, Safety & Security
  • Is there a maintenance person on call 24/7? What is the emergency phone number?
  • Is there any security in the building or in the area? Is security different during weekdays vs. weekends, or during the academic year vs. breaks?
  • Are there exterior lights and are they working?
  • Do all the bedrooms have smoke detectors? Are they hard-wired or battery operated? If they are battery operated, who is responsible for checking and replacing the batteries?
  • Does the unit have an emergency sprinkler system? Who pays for the damage if the system is triggered?
Tenant Responsibilities
  • (For a house) Who is responsible for grass cutting? Snow removal? If they are the tenant's responsibility, what are the local rules about how often these need to be completed?
  • If no one is in the apartment for the summer, can the utilities be turned off?
  • Are there local or community rules? Where can I find those rules?
Created by a collaborative group of attorneys, landlords, students, and public officials.