Tenant screening list of rules

When it comes to tenant screening, there are landlords who are satisfied with stating their rules verbally and not in writing. If you are a tenant, it is imperative that you ask all the necessary questions you have in mind in terms of not breaking the trust of your landlord, even when he’s not vocal enough of his rules or doesn’t have a copy of them posted on the walls of his property. If you have a landlord like this, then you must have the list below prepared before you move on to your first meeting and to signing a lease contract.

1. Unit Maintenance. Ask the landlord if it is the apartment management’s prerogative to perform regular maintenance of every unit. When it is done by tenants, then perhaps you should check his rates. It is unfair to spend for repairs when you have a high monthly rental.
   
2. Vehicle Parking. When you are eyeing an apartment with a wide parking space, check the apartment’s rules on parking. You may ask for a parking space specifically reserved for you.
   
3. Garbage and Trash Disposal. For your convenience, ask about schedules of disposing garbage and trash. Your landlord might not want to have garbage disposed daily by different tenants.
   
4. Noise policies. Insist on his general prohibition regarding noise for the peace and quiet of everyone in the apartment so you won’t be unintentionally violating the rights of other tenants.
   
5. Smoking on the property. Some apartments may or may not allow smoking in units. There may be units allowed for smoking with consideration to tenants living nearby.
   
6. Other charges: utilities, electricity, water. Take into account the landlord’s policy on these areas.
   
7. Pets. Especially when you have one, tell the landlord the kind of pet that you possess. By doing so, you will may get a positive feedback and allow it in your rented space, or the landlord could possibly have an allocated space for pets when he doesn’t allow them to stay in your unit.