Leasing a home can be daunting as there are several moving parts involved (and your landlord is not responsible for any issues that pop up). You will need to know what you can and cannot do in the rental lease agreement.
How do I have a smooth leasing experience?
If you follow these simple steps, hopefully, your first renting experience will be smooth and enjoyable.
Before You Lease:
Throughout the process of leasing a home, it is important to recognize that your landlord is not responsible for any issues that pop up (although they will try their best). The landlord’s only obligation is to provide you with a safe and habitable living space. There are laws in place for these circumstances, but it is ultimately up to you to take the steps in resolving the issue.
If your home requires repairs or maintenance before you can move in, notify your landlord immediately so they may be able to have the issues resolved prior to leasing. This will help smooth out the renting process for both of you.
During Your Lease:
Once you have moved in, you should notify your landlord right away of any issues that arise. If there are no repairs or maintenance needed, simply report the issue and provide a reasonable timeframe for repair. In some cases, it may be up to you to hire a professional to fix the problem if the landlord does not have access to the property.
If you are not satisfied with your landlord’s response, do not withhold rent. There is no reason to withhold rental payment over small issues that should be fixed immediately if the lease agreement states so. This will only prolong the issue for both parties.
During Your Lease or After You’ve Moved Out:
After moving out of the property, you should leave the place in good condition to avoid chargeable fees. Inspect the property and leave it as clean, or cleaner than it had been when you first moved in.
If not, your landlord may deduct money from your deposit claiming you have damaged the property.
To smooth out this process, there are several steps to take before ending the lease.
Once you have decided to move out, give at least 30 days notice to your landlord so they may prepare the property for a new tenant. During this time, it is important that you do not break any rules in the lease agreement as doing so will put your deposit at stake.
After giving proper notice, you should spend the next month or so looking for a new tenant. In the meantime, you should begin cleaning and preparing the property for a new occupant.
If not addressed immediately, small issues can become big problems down the road. Take every step necessary to smooth out your first renting experience with good communication and proper documentation.
Property management is a full service property management company that offers a smooth leasing experience. In this smooth leasing process, they handle all of the responsibilities for you and make it easy to focus on your career and other daily activities. With proper management, smooth leasing is achieved.