Moving In – Part I

A tenant should be smart enough to protect his / her legal rights at move-in time, thereby saving the landlord and himself / herself considerable headaches, later on.

If, you are on the look out for a rental unit, pros and cons must be weighed carefully, while considering the following:

1. Utility costs and who will be responsible for paying them.
2. Whether, the rental unit comes equipped with appliances.
3. Whether, the basement rooms are dry and damp-free.
4. Whether, the rental unit has sufficient outlets for computers and electronic equipment.
5. Whether, doors and windows come equipped with security features e.g. deadbolts and locks.
6. Whether, bedrooms have smoke detectors in each of them.
7. Whether, pets are allowed or not.
8. Whether, repairs need to be made to the place before you move in.

If, you have the time, it would be a good idea to check the place out at different times of day and night, as this will give you a fair idea on how congested and noisy the neighbourhood can get. As well, get your potential landlord to show any references past tenants may have given him / her, including a call to the local tenants’ union, which could prove helpful.

Landlords on their part, should make themselves cognisant with all rules and regulations before drafting a lease, and must take all necessary precautions, such as, screening tenants and conducting background checks on prospective tenants, including ensuring all promises in the rental lease are adhered to, as their insurance for a litigation free landlord / tenant relationship. A simple click of the mouse and any landlord or property manager can visit www.e-renter.com for tenant screening and background check services. www.e-renter.com, the best tenant screening agency in America!