A lease is a legal agreement that usually lasts a year or more, so it is worth taking twenty minutes to read it properly. Here are ten things to check before you sign — and questions to ask if anything is unclear.
1. The rent and when it is due
Check the monthly amount, the due date and how you can pay. Is there a grace period before a late fee applies, and how much is the late fee?
2. The deposit
How much is it, where is it held and when will it be returned after you move out? A good landlord holds deposits in a separate account and returns them within a set number of days, with a written list of any deductions.
3. The lease length and renewal
When does the lease start and end? What happens at the end — does it renew automatically, become month-to-month, or end? How much notice do you need to give if you want to leave?
4. Rent increases
Can the rent change during the lease? How much notice will you get of an increase at renewal?
5. Who fixes what
The lease should say which repairs are the landlord's responsibility and which are yours, how to report a repair and how quickly emergencies are handled.
6. Utilities and extra charges
Which bills are included in the rent and which do you pay? Are there charges for parking, amenities, pest control or rubbish collection? Are utilities billed from a shared meter?
7. Pets, guests and occupants
Are pets allowed, and is there a pet deposit? Who is allowed to live in the home, and how long can guests stay?
8. Changes to the home
Can you paint, hang pictures or put up shelves? Most landlords say yes to small changes if you ask first.
9. Entry to the home
How much notice will the landlord give before entering for repairs or inspections? 24 hours is common, except in emergencies.
10. The condition of the home
Make sure there is a move-in inspection report that records the condition of every room, with photos. Check it carefully and add anything that is missing — a scratch on the floor, a stain on the carpet — before you sign it. This report is what protects your deposit when you move out.
Our promise
At Smartweb Infotech every lease is written in plain English, signed online, and comes with a photo inspection report you check and sign yourself. If anything in your lease is unclear, ask us — we would much rather explain it now than have a misunderstanding later.
