Know your lease...

 

Know your lease terms! Finally, look carefully at any lease provisions allowing you or the landlord to end the deal early. Typically, the tenant has the right to stay until the lease expires even if the property is sold. Many leases allow the tenant to leave early, with notice of a month or two, for a new job or transfer a minimum distance from the property.

Breaking the lease...

 

If you break the lease, the landlord will keep your security deposit and may well sue you for the remaining months’ rent. This could also mark your credit history and hurt your credit score.

PAY YOUR RENT!

 

Pay your rent! Don’t assume you can use your security deposit to pay the rent as you get ready to move out. That would leave the landlord with no fund to pay for repairs, and most leases prohibit this.

READ THE FINE PRINT!

 

Check your lease! In many cases, the renter is required to pay the first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit, often equal to a month’s rent. Read the fine print so you know what is expected of you and what to expect from the landlord.

DON'T COUNT ON IT!

 

Don’t count on getting the whole deposit back. Some landlords do everything they can to hold on to this money, knowing many tenants won’t bother with a legal fight. The lease should state details as to what you will be charged for.

GET IT IN WRITING!

Get it in writing! Whether you rent from an individual or a company, the signed lease governs the relationship, so be wary of relying on oral promises that stray from terms of the contract. Make sure the lease is clear about each party’s obligations.

 

CREDIT SCORE

 

 

Rental Tips: Know your credit history & check your credit history for errors. A history of late payments and low FICO score can scare off a landlord.