Once you have found the perfect apartment, don't sign the dotted line just yet. There are a lot of things that must check before agreeing to the tenancy. When you sign the tenant’s agreement, you are bound by the contract to follow the terms. Signing means you agree to whatever’s in there.

That being said, here are a few things you must specifically check about the house and the contract before signing the agreement.

Take a look around the house

For the final time, just take a look around the house and ensure everything is in order. If you notice anything broken, make a note of it and report it to the landlord lest you want it to be blamed on you! You should also ask about Landlord's Gas and Electrical Safety Certificates to ascertain the safety of the property before renting it.

Check the tenancy agreement

If you are sharing your house with a couple of others, make sure that you get a joint tenancy contract that holds everyone accountable for rent payments and utilities. This also means that if joint tenants want to terminate the agreement and move out, then all of them may be asked to vacate the property unless they can come to a common consensus with the landlord. If possible, ask for an individual contract between the landlord and each tenant. This type of contract prevents others from bearing the brunt of someone else’s negligence.

Understand the fine print

Contracts are tedious and complicated. However, that doesn’t mean you can skip over the details and not acquaint yourself with the small print. A small step here can go a long way in preventing a lot of trouble later. For starters, check the start and end date of your contract. Every tenant’s name should be mentioned on the contract and you must carefully read about all your obligations. Make sure everyone agrees on everything. Also, check the rent amount to ensure that it is what you all agreed on. Whatever amount is mentioned there you’ll be liable to pay. If you asked for any repairs before moving in, then these should also be mentioned here and handled by the landlord by the agreement date. If there is anything that looks off, discuss it with your landlord.

Whatever has been agreed on verbally should be mentioned in the contract so that it is honored by both parties.

Protect your deposit

Believe it or not, most people overlook the deposit in their tenancy agreement. Deposits are usually one month’s rent as security with the landlord. This money is refundable when you leave the property and collected before you start your tenancy. This money will be adjusted towards your rent in case of a delay or if you damage anything on the property during your stay.

As a tenant, you should know what you are paying and what you pay should be fully protected when you live there. The Law dictates that the deposit collected by landlords should be registered in a deposit protection scheme within 30 days. Make sure your landlord submits your deposit as required so that it remains safe.

Guarantors

Sometimes landlords require a tenant to have a guarantor, this is mostly true in the case of student tenants. A guarantor is someone who will be held liable in case the renter is unable to pay the rent payments. If your landlord has to chase the guarantor to make the payment, then they can be sued for missing payments.

Negotiate your rent

As is with everything else, you can negotiate with your landlord to lower the rent, if possible. However, make sure that the property you are after for example, apartments for rent in Austin do not already have many takers because the landlord is likely to drop you in favor of someone who is willing to pay a higher price.

If you want to protect yourself against all hassle that comes with negligence, you must read your rent agreement carefully and build a strong rapport with your landlord. These two factors together can help you have a pleasant and hassle-free stay in your rented house. 

Also, Read : Top 10 deciding factors before buying Residential Properties in India