{"id":9698,"date":"2018-10-23T11:07:12","date_gmt":"2018-10-23T15:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/content-manager\/?p=9698"},"modified":"2023-07-22T11:36:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-22T15:36:59","slug":"10-questions-you-should-ask-your-new-landlord-before-signing-a-lease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.renthop.com\/blog\/10-questions-you-should-ask-your-new-landlord-before-signing-a-lease\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Questions You Should Ask Your New Landlord Before Signing a Lease"},"content":{"rendered":"

After days of researching and trekking around neighborhoods to find your perfect New York City apartment<\/a>, you\u2019ve finally found it! Yay! The logical next step is to sit down with your new landlord to sign the lease. While most leases are quite comprehensive, even the most knowledgeable landlords can forget to include certain less common but important policies\/terms in their leases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, you can expect most leases to outline when and how to pay rent. They’ll outline rules for subletting<\/a> or lease breaks<\/a>. It should also cover included utilities. However, there are some less common topics that you should know about. Today we\u2019ll review those policies and why they are important to discuss with your landlord. <\/span>10 Questions to Ask Your New Landlord<\/p>\n

Make sure you know the answers to the following questions before you sign the lease.<\/p>\n

1. When Do They Change the Locks?<\/h3>\n

Many people might not consider this until it\u2019s too late! A good landlord should always ensure to change the keys to the apartment\/house with each tenant change. Your new landlord should also change the keys for the front door of the building from time to time. You should also inquire about the lockout procedure<\/a> in case you lose your keys!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. How Will They Revamp the Unit Before Move-in?<\/h3>\n

Will old appliances be replaced? Will there be a fresh new coat of paint for the walls? What about any existing damage? Asking these questions will ensure that you have an idea of what to expect when you actually move into the apartment. <\/span><\/p>\n

3. Do They Provide Furniture or Appliances?<\/h3>\n

You might assume that your landlord is legally required to provide you with basic furnishings or appliances; however, they are not! This is why it is important to ask your landlord before moving in to get a better understanding of what furnishings and appliances are provided. Knowing what\u2019s being supplied by the landlord will also help establish who is in charge of fixing normal wear and tear issues that may arise. \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

4. Any Upcoming Construction?<\/h3>\n

This one is quite self-explanatory, but as a tenant, this information would be important to know so you\u2019re aware and ensured your right to quiet enjoyment of the unit in the future. <\/span><\/p>\n

5. How Do They Handle Maintenance?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s inevitable that at some point, something in your apartment might stop working. That\u2019s why it is best to have an understanding of what you\u2019re responsible for fixing and what the landlord is responsible for. Outside of that, you should also know who to go to (the super or the landlord?) and also the general timeline for when issues will be resolved. It\u2019s also good to find out from the landlord, what he considers to be an emergency maintenance request and if there is someone available 24\/7 to assist with these types of issues. <\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more:<\/p>\n