People often rush to sign a lease for fear of losing the property to another desperate tenant. However, before proceeding to sign it, it is vitally important to stop and take some time to make sure everything is correct. Renting a property can be easy or turn into a complete nightmare. Therefore, you should always make sure you have all the information you need and never let anyone pressure you into signing a lease without first reading it properly.
We give you nine tips that you should keep in mind before signing any lease:
- Everything must be reflected in writing: The first thing is to make sure that the lease has all the relevant information. Then proceed to read it in its entirety. Carrying out this action is of the utmost importance when renting a property, as this way you can avoid unpleasant surprises later on. You should always bear in mind that everything verbally discussed with the landlord of the property must appear on paper. Only then will it be perfectly clear exactly what the responsibilities of each of the parties are.
- Always establish a good relationship with the landlord: You must be courteous and professional when we have arranged a meeting with the property owner. Making a good impression early on is a great way to have a successful rental negotiation. The best thing is that the landlord trusts you because the more he trusts, the happier he will be that you are the person who is rented in his property. Never forget to be open, ask questions and above all take the time you need to form a good relationship with the owner from the initial meeting.
- Find out what changes you can make: You must be clear about the modifications that can be made to the property. These changes include: what is the landlord’s policy for making extra keys, hanging pictures, painting walls, changing lights… It is always better to know this information from the beginning so you will know first hand what the landlord allows or does not allow. In the event that you do not agree with any of the rules indicated by the lessor, you must notify him or her to make that modification to the contract (whenever possible).
- Do some research on the landlord: Do some research on the landlord to make sure they are the rightful owners of the property.
- Visit the property again: Before signing any type of contract it is a good idea to visit the property on a different day and at a different time. This will give you a better idea of what the property is like during the day and night, as well as during the week and weekend. You will know the different noises, light conditions and different climatic conditions, aspects that will be decisive when making the decision to rent or not the property.
- Check all appliances and fixtures: Don’t assume everything works. During the first visit, go through the house, turn on the faucets, the toilets, turn on the oven and any other appliances that are part of the deal. This is the only way to ensure that everything is working properly. Make a note of anything that isn’t working so you can tell the landlord so it can be fixed before proceeding to sign the lease.
- Document the condition of the property: You should take a walk around the property and make sure that every damage (whether big or small) is documented in a list of inconveniences. Both you and the landlord must sign this acknowledging that these problems were there before you moved in and it is not the renter’s responsibility to fix them. This will help in the future, should problems arise regarding repairs to the property. It will also be very useful when the rental property is vacated, as both the renter and the owner will be able to distinguish between pre-existing and new damage.
- Find out about flatmates or roommates: If you think you might want a flatmate/roommate at some point, ask your landlord what the rules would be to have one. You must ensure that the owners approve this condition.
- Understand the contract termination policy: You never know what can happen in life and if at any time you might consider moving to another neighborhood or city. Therefore, you should be familiar with the lease termination policy because only then will you know exactly what is required to get out of the lease early. Check aspect
