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Whether you're renting for
three months or three years; these rules apply to anyone
wanting to be a responsible renter.
1. Get everything in
writing.
Anything not specifically
outlined in your lease should be put into a written
document. Without documentation, you have no proof to back
yourself up. For example, if you've reported a repair
request to your landlord, and three weeks later it still
hasn't been taken care of, you won't be able to go to your
landlord and complain. How can you prove that you informed
your landlord of the problem if you have no physical
evidence to back yourself up? Make sure you write down
EVERYTHING from repair requests, to amendments in the
lease, to lease termination notifications.
Get these documents signed
and dated by your landlord, and you and your roommates
should do the same. If you would like to see some great
examples of form letters, please visit theColorado
Tenant's Organization's web site and click on “CTO Model
Letters.”
2. Read EVERYTHING before
you sign it, and don't sign it if you don't understand.
This rule sounds so
simple... but SO MANY PEOPLE don't follow it. The language
in a lease is confusing. Don't feel stupid if you don't
understand a lease. You should only feel stupid if you
sign something without understanding it. Your landlord and
the representatives at the place you choose to rent from
are not out to hurt you! Don't be afraid to ask them what
the lease means.
3. Remember that a contract
is a legally binding document.
Depending on the state your
renting in, the lease can cover everything from what you
pay to who's responsible for the yard work. Regardless of
what the lease states, if you sign it, you must abide by
it. If you break the lease without your landlord's
approval, you could end up losing everything from your
security deposit to your credit.
The only exception to this
rule is if you, your roommate(s) and your landlord agree
to add an amendment. This amendment can nullify or add to
the original agreements made in the original lease. The
amendment must be signed and dated by all parties involved
in the lease.
4. Don't be afraid to talk
to your landlord.
If you're worried about
making a payment, or you don't think you're going to be
able to fulfill the lease term, talk to your landlord
before you do anything. Maybe you'll be able to work out
some sort of agreement. While landlords don't have to make
any exceptions for you, they'll be much more likely to
help you out if you approach them before there's a problem
rather than after you've missed a payment, etc.
Whether you're renting for
three months or three years; these rules apply to anyone
wanting to be a responsible renter.
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