Top 10 things to know before signing a lease

For many students moving out of the dorms, finding a place to live off-campus in Athens can feel like a daunting task. Whether it’s an apartment or a house, ensuring that you, your roommates and your landlord are on the same page is a vital step to prevent your first housing experience from turning into a nightmare. If there’s a time when reading the fine print is truly necessary, it would be when signing a housing lease.

Ohio University’s Office of Off-Campus Living is dedicated to helping students with the house-hunting process. John Hummell, graduate assistant for Off-Campus Living, said “Take your time when searching for a rental. Despite what most people think, off-campus housing is available year-round in Athens. Do not simply sign a lease to secure a place to live, especially without reading it closely and meeting with the landlord.”

When it comes to signing a lease, the Off-Campus Living site raises a variety of questions students should ask before signing a lease, which is a binding legal contract once signed.

1. What type of lease is it?

   First and foremost, students should ask themselves what kind of lease their landlord offers. Hummell said, “Joint and Severally Liable leases state that tenants are jointly liable for the property, meaning if one tenant were to not pay their rent, then all the tenants could be held legally liable for that payment.” Those types of leases are common in Athens, but students can also find Individual Leases, which only hold the individual legally liable, not jointly liable.

   Hummell added that joint leases can pose problems and said, “It is important to consider whether your future roommates or housemates will be able to uphold the lease. Choosing the right roommate or housemate can make or break your experience with living off campus, especially with this type of lease.”

2. What amenities does it include?

   Some places in Athens include more amenities than others. Amenities may include things such as a washer and dryer, a garbage disposal and on-site parking. Be sure to clarify what is included to better prepare your budget for any added costs.

3. When are the move-in and move-out dates?

   Different leases will have different move-in and move-out dates, and they won’t necessarily match the typical “school year” calendar of OU students. Even if you don’t move in at the start of your lease, you are responsible for rent. Also, double check with your landlord what the expected conditions are for moving in and moving out. Particularly with moving out, you may be charged fees if the property is deemed damaged or unclean in any way.

   The Office of Off-Campus Living strongly recommends taking pictures or video footage of the apartment or house to record any areas that appear damaged or hazardous at the time of move-in and move-out. This can protect you from future security deposit disputes. Video cameras can be rented from the Off-Campus Living office for this purpose.

4. What utilities are included with rent?

   Before you officially move in, you may or may not have to set up utilities. “The terms of your lease may specify that either you or your landlord are responsible for the maintenance of utilities or some combination of the two,” according to the off-campus living website. Similarly, when you move out, be sure to disconnect utilities if your lease leaves you responsible to do so. Utilities include water, sewage, garbage and recycling, electricity, gas, cable or satellite and Internet. Double-check with your landlord which utilities, if any, are included with rent. Note that there may be extra “turn on fees” when setting those up.

5. What are the terms of subleasing?

   Since many leases don’t follow the school year calendar, many students need temporary tenants, or subleasers, to fill their place. Whether you want a subleaser for summer or for other reasons such as studying abroad, Hummell explained, “Property owners will not consider events such as a tenant deciding to study abroad as a way to end a contract. It is best to ask about the subleasing policy before signing.” Otherwise, if you decide to study abroad or go home for the summer, you will still be responsible for paying rent.

6. When is rent due?

   That may sound like a silly question, but it is important to clarify that with your landlord. Some landlords collect rent quarterly, while others collect it monthly. Make sure that you pick a payment plan that will work with your budget. Some students like to use loan money to pay for rent, in which case, double check that the dates of reimbursement will work with the dates of rent. It’s also wise to ask if rent can be increased and what the penalty is for late payments.

7. Is there a security deposit?

   Some rental agreements will require security deposits, which are defined under Ohio law as “any deposit of money or property to secure performance by the tenant under a rental agreement.” Security deposits are typically used to cover the costs of any damage caused during your tenancy. The Office of Off-Campus Living strongly advises students to give landlords their forwarding address in writing upon moving out. After your move-out date, landlords are required to return your deposit within 30 days, otherwise they must send a statement explaining what they deducted.

8. Are they pet-friendly?

   Every landlord will have a different policy on whether or not pets are allowed. Along with your security deposit, there may be an additional deposit for pets. If you have a pet, or are thinking about getting one, be sure to clarify any additional deposits or fees.

9. Can I decorate the place?

   Though you are no longer living in the dorms, you are still renting a place, not owning. Clarify with your landlord what you can and cannot do to avoid racking up any more fees. You will want to ask about things such as window treatments, wall décor, wall painting, lighting and whether or not it comes furnished.

10. Ask questions and more questions.

    Do not be afraid to ask your landlord for clarification on anything, no matter how silly it may seem. Hummell said, “Leases contain quite a bit of legal language. For students who have paid their eight-dollar fee, I recommend speaking with an attorney at the Center for Student Legal Services (CSLS) before signing. CSLS attorneys are skilled at finding “red flags” in leases that tenants should be aware of.”

The Office of Off-Campus Living offers a range of advice for students seeking off-campus housing, whether it be their new housing listing site to find and compare local housing, their survival guide that gives housing tips or even advice on how to save money. They even have a Community Assistant Program (CA) where they hire OU students to coordinate information, resources and programs to students on off-campus streets, similar to the dorms’ resident assistants. For more information, services and advice on off-campus living, check out their website at www.ohio.edu/offcampus.