Leases and deposits
What should I check in a lease before I sign it?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Check the money, the dates and the ways out. Confirm the rent, due date, late fee, deposit and every other fee match what you were told, then check the start and end dates, how much notice you must give to leave or renew, and what happens if you need to break the lease early.
Read the whole lease, not just the first page. The clauses that cost renters money are usually ordinary ones that nobody reads until something goes wrong.
- Who handles which repairs, and how you request them
- Which utilities you pay, and whether any are billed back to you through the landlord
- Rules on guests, subletting, pets, smoking, parking and quiet hours
- Whether the lease renews automatically, and how many days' notice you must give to stop that
- Early termination terms: a fixed fee, a notice period, or nothing at all
- How much notice the landlord gives before entering
- Every name on the lease, and whether each tenant is responsible for the whole rent or only a share
If something was promised in person or by message, such as a new fridge or a parking spot, ask for it to be written into the lease or a signed addendum before you sign. Verbal promises are hard to enforce later.
Ask about anything unusual before signing. A reasonable landlord will explain or adjust it. Keep a fully signed copy, not just the version you signed. For the full picture of first-time renting costs, see Renting your first apartment.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting Your First Apartment: Applications, Leases and Move-in Costs.