1. How to Rent an Apartment Office of Residential Life and Housing Amy Gauthier, Director of RLH Michelle Esposito, Area Coordinator

2. What are you looking for? Start with a list of preferences Start with a list of preferences Privacy vs. economic implications Privacy vs. economic implications What items are non-negotiable? What items are non-negotiable? Location Location Metropolitan area vs. rural area Metropolitan area vs. rural area Commute for work vs. commute for social life Commute for work vs. commute for social life Neighbors Neighbors

3. So you want a roommate? Possible considerations Possible considerations Professional/school schedule Professional/school schedule Social schedule/habits Social schedule/habits Cleaning habits Cleaning habits Financial situation Financial situation Common space issues Common space issues Kitchen, bathroom, other common living spaces Kitchen, bathroom, other common living spaces Pets Pets

4. What is realistic? What type of space is ideal vs. what type of space is practical What type of space is ideal vs. what type of space is practical Rent should be about 25-45% of gross income Rent should be about 25-45% of gross income What will utilities run you? What will utilities run you? What is included in your rent and what is extra What is included in your rent and what is extra What perks are important to you? What perks are important to you? Laundry on site Laundry on site Central air Central air Workout facilities near by Workout facilities near by Location of nearest green space Location of nearest green space Parking situation – off street parking Parking situation – off street parking How much will transportation cost you? How much will transportation cost you? Financially and how much actual time invested? Financially and how much actual time invested? Furnished vs. unfurnished? Furnished vs. unfurnished?

5. Checklist of factors youll want to consider when checking out a neighborhood: Is it close to your place of employment? Is it close to your place of employment? Is the neighborhood safe? Is the neighborhood safe? Is it close to your synagogue, church, mosque, etc? Is it close to your synagogue, church, mosque, etc? Is it close to stores, banks and the post office? Is it close to stores, banks and the post office? Is it close public transportation? Is it close public transportation? What are the parking regulations? What are the parking regulations?

6. Other factors to consider… Types of accommodations Types of accommodations Room in a private home Room in a private home Apartment Apartment Room in a group house Room in a group house Townhouse/condo Townhouse/condo

7. Where do I begin? Craigs List Craigs List http://boston.craigslist.org/ http://boston.craigslist.org/ http://boston.craigslist.org/ Easy Roommate Easy Roommate www.easyroommate.com www.easyroommate.com www.easyroommate.com Rent Net Online Renters Guide Rent Net Online Renters Guide www.rentnet.com/apartments/home.jhtml www.rentnet.com/apartments/home.jhtml www.rentnet.com/apartments/home.jhtml Apartment Guide Apartment Guide www.apartmentguide.com www.apartmentguide.com www.apartmentguide.com Roommates Roommates www.roommates.com www.roommates.com www.roommates.com Apartment Center Apartment Center www.apartmentcenter.com www.apartmentcenter.com www.apartmentcenter.com Apartments.com Apartments.com www.apartments.com www.apartments.com www.apartments.com

8. Other sources… Friends Friends Local and area newspapers Local and area newspapers Bulletin boards Bulletin boards Signs Signs Realtors Realtors Local college web sites Local college web sites

9. Viewing the space… Make an appointment and arrive on time Make an appointment and arrive on time Dress appropriately Dress appropriately Be persistent Be persistent Ask good questions and take notes Ask good questions and take notes Carry your checkbook Carry your checkbook Begin your search early Begin your search early

10. Viewing the space… Take a second look at the area Take a second look at the area At night, without the realtor/landlord At night, without the realtor/landlord Safety features Safety features Locks, windows, fire safety equipment Locks, windows, fire safety equipment Check all major utilities/plumbing Check all major utilities/plumbing Water tank, heating and ac units, light switches, outlets, appliances Water tank, heating and ac units, light switches, outlets, appliances Noise factors Noise factors Thickness of walls, pets or children in the building, location in relation to major roadways Thickness of walls, pets or children in the building, location in relation to major roadways Storage space Storage space Condition of the space Condition of the space Use your senses! Use your senses!

11. Signing your life away! What is a lease? What is a lease? A lease is a legal agreement that is a controlling document of the landlord-tenant relationship that sets forth the rights and duties of both parties. A lease is a legal agreement that is a controlling document of the landlord-tenant relationship that sets forth the rights and duties of both parties. Tenant with a lease Tenant with a lease You and the landlord have agreed to a lease or contract that allows a certain length of occupancy at a set rent. You and the landlord have agreed to a lease or contract that allows a certain length of occupancy at a set rent. Tenant at will Tenant at will You have consent to occupy the rental unit but do not have a lease. Renting month-to-month. You have consent to occupy the rental unit but do not have a lease. Renting month-to-month.

12. Top 10 List (Key components of a good lease) 1. Repairs 2. Rental Payments 3. Security Deposit 4. As Is Clause 5. Utilities 6. Length 7. Landlords Access 8. Subletting or Assignment Clause 9. Rules of Behavior 10. Addendum

13. Landlord Responsibilities Provide facilities for hot water, heat, gas and electricity Provide facilities for hot water, heat, gas and electricity Provide receipts for rent payments Provide receipts for rent payments Dated and signed when requested Dated and signed when requested Avoid interference with tenants quiet enjoyment of the premises provided the premises are used lawfully. Avoid interference with tenants quiet enjoyment of the premises provided the premises are used lawfully. Provide smoke detectors and ensure they work properly when a new tenant moves in. Provide smoke detectors and ensure they work properly when a new tenant moves in. Provide adequate locks and keys. Provide adequate locks and keys. Put security deposits in a separate bank account and promptly return the deposit, with interest, at the appropriate time. Put security deposits in a separate bank account and promptly return the deposit, with interest, at the appropriate time. Premises must have a warrant of habitability (approved for occupancy) Premises must have a warrant of habitability (approved for occupancy)

14. Tenant Responsibilities Pay rent, and if required, a security deposit Pay rent, and if required, a security deposit Avoid damaging the premises Avoid damaging the premises Maintain the premises in sanitary condition Maintain the premises in sanitary condition Dispose of garbage properly Dispose of garbage properly Inform the landlord of needed repairs Inform the landlord of needed repairs Avoid interfering with neighbors environment and living conditions Avoid interfering with neighbors environment and living conditions Inform the landlord, within 30 days, of your intent to move out Inform the landlord, within 30 days, of your intent to move out Upon moving out, restore the premises to the same condition as when you moved in, besides normal wear and tear Upon moving out, restore the premises to the same condition as when you moved in, besides normal wear and tear

15. Apartment Condition Report This is your opportunity to go through the apartment with the landlord and identify possible damages: This is your opportunity to go through the apartment with the landlord and identify possible damages: Holes in walls Holes in walls Broken appliances Broken appliances Fire safety equipment Fire safety equipment Outlets and lights work properly Outlets and lights work properly Carpet/flooring in good condition Carpet/flooring in good condition

16. Welcome to the Neighborhood… Investigate the following because they are now your responsibility: Investigate the following because they are now your responsibility: Trash pick-up/recycling Trash pick-up/recycling Parking (winter parking bans) Parking (winter parking bans) Post office/mail delivery Post office/mail delivery Utilities (telephone, cable, internet, electricity, etc.) Utilities (telephone, cable, internet, electricity, etc.) City noise ordinances City noise ordinances

17. Renters Insurance Why is renters insurance important? Why is renters insurance important? Provides protection of personal property against theft, vandalism, fire, water or smoke damage Provides protection of personal property against theft, vandalism, fire, water or smoke damage Often covers theft of personal property on and off the premises Often covers theft of personal property on and off the premises Covers personal liability for lawsuits Covers personal liability for lawsuits