What is an occupant?

A renter is somebody who pays rent to reside in a residential or commercial property (house, home, condominium, townhouse) that belongs to somebody else.

What is a property owner?

A property owner is the owner of the residential or commercial property that the tenant resides in.

What is a residential or commercial property supervisor?

Sometimes, the owner of the residential or commercial property employs someone to oversee and handle their residential or commercial property for them.

What is a lease?

A lease is a written arrangement between you (the occupant) and the proprietor, enabling you to reside in the residential or commercial property in exchange for lease. For your protection, you should just get in into a written lease. The lease says what you are accountable for, and what the proprietor is accountable for. Both you and the property owner sign the lease and you both must do what the lease says. Leases are often tough to understand, even for native English speakers, so it is best to have somebody you trust help you understand your lease, or call a lawyer to assist you.

What is rent?

This is the quantity of cash you will pay the proprietor each month. Rent is paid ahead of time, implying that rent is due at the start of the month, normally on the first of the month, for that month. Ensure you know where and how to pay the lease - online? By check? Cash? If you pay your lease in money, constantly get a receipt as proof of your payment.

What is the regard to the lease?

This is the time duration you and the property owner concur that you can reside in the residential or commercial property, and you will pay rent. The majority of the time the term is for one year, but it can be less or more if both you and the property manager concur. When this term is over, you and the property owner can sign a brand-new lease-if you both agree-and start all over. Or, you can leave the residential or commercial property.

What are the important things the property manager is accountable for?

Mainly, the property manager is accountable for making certain the residential or commercial property is fit to reside in and basic things work. Most repairs are usually the landlord’s responsibility, specifically bigger things like the furnace, warm water heater, air conditioning unit, stove, refrigerator, dishwashing machine, and so on. Make certain the lease has either the property manager’s or residential or commercial property supervisor’s contact information-telephone number, e-mail address, etc.-and how to contact the landlord or residential or commercial property supervisor in an emergency situation.

What are the main points the occupant is responsible for?

You are needed to 1) pay lease and 2) keep the residential or commercial property in good condition. Any other obligations will be noted in the lease. Sometimes the tenant is accountable for minor repairs and the proprietor is accountable for major repair work. Ensure you understand what repair work you are responsible for before you sign the lease. The tenant is likewise accountable to pay for any damages that they, or any of their guests, cause.

What is a security deposit?

This is money that you give the landlord to hold in case you fail to pay rent or if you harm the residential or commercial property. The security deposit is your money. If you do everything that the lease says you are needed to do (in many cases, remain for the complete regard to the lease, pay your lease, and do not damage the residential or commercial property) then you should get your down payment back at the end of the lease. This should occur within 1 month after the lease has ended, or 60 days if that’s what the lease states, however it can never be more than 60 days after the lease has actually ended. The landlord must provide you a written statement that reveals any reductions from the down payment, and why it was subtracted. Along with this declaration, the landlord should provide you any money that is because of you. If you do not concur with the part of your down payment that was kept by the proprietor, you can go to small claims court and have a judge decide. You can get more details about small claims court from the county in which you live. Also, see the resources listed below for more assistance.

What am I expected to pay before moving in?

The majority of the time you will be needed to pay the first month’s rent plus a security deposit, which is generally equivalent to one month’s lease. Sometimes it can be more. Also, if you are relocating the middle of a month, you might be needed to pay rent for the part of the month you will be residing in the residential or commercial property. For instance, let’s say the lease is $1,500 each month and you are moving in on the 1st of the month. You will pay the 1st month’s lease, $1,500, plus the security deposit, $1,500, for an overall of $3,000. But if you move in on the 20th of the month, you will probably need to pay $500 for the 10 days of the current month (1/3 of a month), plus the $3,000 explained above.

What else do I have to pay monthly besides rent?

Rent might not be all that you need to pay. Usually, most utilities-electricity, natural gas, water, web, cable TV-are paid by you. Everything that you are responsible to spend for will be noted in the lease. Sometimes, some utilities are consisted of in the lease, but many of the time they are not, and you are needed to pay them. Make sure you understand everything that you are needed to pay for before you sign the lease.
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Is the lease negotiable?

Many products in the lease are flexible and can be changed if you and the proprietor both agree. The two most typical things that people attempt to work out are the term and the lease. Let’s say the landlord desires a tenant for one year, but you only wish to remain for six months. The term will be chosen by what you both consent to. Same with the lease. Remember, both you and the property manager must concur.

How should I interact with the property manager or residential or commercial property supervisor?

Try to communicate with your property manager in composing when possible (email, etc) Obviously, you can call, but attempt to follow that with an e-mail to validate what was stated. If it is a crucial matter, you ought to send out a letter by qualified mail. In an emergency situation, call the emergency situation number that must be in your lease. If that number is not in your lease, ask for it before you relocate.

How do I submit a grievance on a residential or commercial property manager?

You can file a problem against a residential or commercial property supervisor with the Division of Real Estate.

Filing a Complaint

Can the property manager or residential or commercial property manager go to the residential or commercial property while you are living there?

Your landlord or residential or commercial property supervisor may wish to go to the residential or commercial property from time to time to look at its condition, but the landlord or residential or commercial property manager can not simply come by whenever they desire (an exception is if there is an emergency). They should provide you affordable notice or get your authorization, and it needs to be at an affordable time. Check your lease agreement concerning this notice and the property manager’s right to go into the residential or commercial property. Once you lease the residential or commercial property from the property owner, it is your home for the regard to the lease, and you have a right to personal privacy.

Can I be charged a late fee if my lease payment is late?
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Yes, just if your lease payment is late by 7 or more days and the late charge is mentioned in your lease. You need to receive notice of the late fee within 180 days of the date on which your lease payment was due. Late charges charged by property managers and or commercial property supervisors are limited to the greater of $50 or 5% of the past due lease payment.

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Can I be evicted from the residential or commercial property?

An eviction is a legal process that a landlord must go through to remove you from the residential or commercial property. This procedure is usually used when an occupant violates one or more lease terms, for example, stopping working to pay lease, not leaving the residential or commercial property after the lease term ends, allowing people who aren’t on the lease to stay in the residential or commercial property, or performing prohibited activity on the residential or commercial property. For details on your rights if you are being forced out, see the resources below.