Whether you are renting your first apartment or are an experienced renter, it is important to be a good renter. Leaving your current landlord or property management company with a good impression can help you later on when you are renting another place. In some cases having a positive rental history is required to be allowed to rent a house or apartment and in some cases it can even allow you to pay less in rent.
Here are some tips for being a good renter:
1. Pay your rent on time.
This is really important. Most likely your landlord depends on your rent to make the mortgage payment on the rental property. Paying rent late can cause significant financial hardship for your landlord.
2. Read the lease so that you understand what you are agreeing to when renting the property.
Remember, the lease is a legally binding contract that you are entering into with the landlord. The lease should specify things like the names of the people who will be living in the rental property, the length of time you are agreeing to live at the property, the amount of rent, and the date on which it is due. It should also list any penalties for late payment. Finally, it should let you know if pets are allowed and if there is an additional pet deposit required.
3. Treat the property with respect.
Taking good care of your rental unit can help you to get your damage deposit back at the end of your lease. Normal wear and tear is expected, but taking care of a property is always appreciated.
4. Ask before making any changes like painting walls or installing new hardware.
You may love the idea of dark brown walls, but your landlord might not, so be sure to ask permission before doing any modifications.
5. Communicate any problems to your landlord or property management company so that they can be taken care of in a timely manner.
Not only can this save you money, for example with a leaky faucet, but it can also prevent expensive damage to your home.
6. Don’t allow other people to move in who are not listed on the lease agreement without notifying the landlord or property management to get permission.
Rent is often based upon a particular number of people sharing the space. More people living there means more wear and tear on the house or apartment. It should be up to the landlord to decide if additional people are acceptable and what any extra charges should be.
7. Don’t break your lease.
Moving out early before the end of your lease can really put your landlord in a bind because they will be forced to find a new tenant sooner than they had planned. Also do not keep pets in your rental property if they are not allowed. Pets can do a great deal of damage to a home, possibly more than your damage deposit could pay to fix. Also, the landlord’s property insurance may not cover any animals.
8. Keep it clean.
Keeping your house, duplex, or apartment clean not only will help you avoid becoming infested with vermin, but it will also help you to get your deposit back when you are ready to move.
Being a good renter helps both you and your landlord. At Fort Lowell Realty and Property Management we work hard to provide excellent service to both property owners and tenants in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. We believe that being the best property management company goes a long way toward helping tenants to be good renters. We are always available for problems, concerns, or maintenance requests, plus we make it easy to pay your rent by offering multiple payment options. If you are considering renting property in the Phoenix or Tucson areas, contact Fort Lowell today.