The Top 27 Questions to Ask When Renting an Apartment

When you agree to rent an apartment, you’ll be signing a rental agreement. In most cases, it will be a one-year lease that obligates you to rent that apartment for one year at a specific rental price. But that's not always the case. For example, in towns with a lot of college students, it’s not unusual for landlords to rent apartments for shorter terms to accommodate the student market. A landlord may choose to rent on a month-to-month basis for various reasons. Understanding the length of your lease is vital for your own peace of mind.

Depending on your financial standing, you may need a co-signer or guarantor to rent an apartment. If you’re a student, a young professional with a limited credit history or someone whose income does not meet the property’s requirements (usually 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent, though this may be different in your city), you may need a co-signer or guarantor to secure the lease. Your landlord will typically let you know if there are specific income or credit requirements you need to qualify for a space and what your options are.

The move-in date can vary based on several factors, including the apartment’s availability, whether the landlord needs to make any repairs or renovations and other building policies. In some cases, if the apartment is vacant and ready, you might be able to move in immediately after your application is approved and you sign the lease. If you need to move in by a specific day — due to your old lease expiring or another reason — it’s important to communicate your needs and try to negotiate a new move-in date as soon as possible. You should also ask how long your application will typically take to process and whether or not others have already applied.

While an apartment may look perfect, knowing how long other tenants typically stay in the building can give you an idea of what living there is like in the long term. A higher average tenancy often suggests well-maintained properties, effective management and higher renter satisfaction. On the flip side, higher turnover may mean that there are problems that aren’t apparent on the surface.

The rent may not be your only financial obligation. Some complexes may require you to carry renter’s insurance, for example, or charge a small monthly amount for pest control services. Other monthly costs may include parking fees, fees to use the amenities or storage fees to use a storage area outside your apartment. Make sure you understand all of the fees you’ll be paying before you sign the lease.

You’ll nearly always need to pay more than a month’s rent in order to move into your new apartment. It’s typical for landlords to ask for the first month’s and last month’s rent. Most apartments require a security deposit, which can be as much as a full month’s rent. In some cities, like New York, you may need to pay a broker fee as well — a percentage of your annual rent. 

It’s important to know the laws about security deposits in your state or province. In some states, for example, it’s illegal for a landlord to require both a security deposit and last month’s rent. Your landlord may also be required to handle your security deposit in certain ways. In Massachusetts, for example, your security deposit must be kept in a separate bank account, and your landlord must give you the details of that account. Knowing the law can alert you to a landlord who’s not quite on the up-and-up or give you some bargaining power.

If you’re moving with pets, you’ll want to know whether your pet is allowed in your new apartment. Some other questions to ask: Do you have to pay a pet deposit? Is there a size/weight limit on the pets you can keep in your apartment? Is there a limit to the number of pets you can have? Are there specific breeds of pets — usually dogs — that aren’t allowed? Does the pet policy apply to small pets, such as guinea pigs? How about lizards or fish? 

It should go without saying but never try to sneak a pet past your landlord if they’re not allowed. It can negate the terms of your lease, cause you to lose your security deposit, and even result in eviction.

In addition to your rent and security deposit, there may be other costs you’ll need to pay as part of moving in. These include things like a key (or key card) deposit, an elevator fee, an application fee or an administrative fee. Sometimes, these fees may be lumped together into a single move-in fee. Understanding exactly what you’ll have to pay can make moving day less stressful.

Ask about any rules you need to follow regarding your move-in day at least a few weeks before moving. You’ll want to know things like where you can park a moving truck to unload your items and whether you’ll have to pay an elevator deposit — often refundable — to cover any accidental damage that happens during a move. There may be rules about how early or late you can move items into your apartment to avoid inconveniencing neighbors.

You’ll want to know if your rent covers utilities such as heating, electricity, water or internet. Some complexes include all utilities, but most leave it up to you to have your own accounts and be responsible for at least some of them. Be sure to make arrangements to have any utilities started at your new apartment on or before your move-in date so you don’t end up moving in the dark.

Amenities are the little extras that make an apartment especially attractive. They may include on-site parking, access to a swimming pool, a rooftop grill or the use of a fitness club or social room. It goes without saying, but amenities may or may not be covered by your rent. In some cases, you’ll have to pay a separate fee to use the facilities. Whether or not amenities are included or a separate charge, you should ask about any special policies. For example, when are you allowed to use the pool? Are your guests allowed to use the amenities with you? Most buildings only allow guests in the facilities when you accompany them.

Depending on where you live, the law may require the landlord to supply a stove and a refrigerator, but it’s not always the case. Some apartments may also come furnished with a dishwasher, microwave and even a washer and dryer. Other buildings may not allow you to have a washer in your unit or put other limits on the appliances you can have. If you know in advance, you can make plans to purchase the appliances you need — or dispose of those you can't take with you.

You'll want to know who can get into your apartment besides you and what the policy is for accessing your apartment. In most cases, management has to give you ample notice that they'll be entering the premises to do repairs or inspections, except in the case of an emergency.

You’ll also want to know if the locks to your apartment were changed when the last tenant moved. This should be a standard process, but it isn’t always followed. If the locks or lock codes aren't changed before you move in, you should ask that it be done as a condition of your renting the apartment. You — and management — have no idea whether the last tenant shared their keys with anyone else.

How long can a guest stay with you before you have to let management know? Is there guest parking? Can you have overnight guests? This may not seem like a big deal, but breaking the guest policy can void the terms of your lease, so it’s important to know what the policies are about guests. It’s one thing if your boyfriend stays over once in a while. If it happens every weekend, though, your landlord (and other tenants) may consider him a long-term guest or even an unofficial resident.

Most lease agreements require you to list everyone who will be living in the apartment. Many also require that all adults living in an apartment sign the lease. This is for your protection as well as the landlords. You should ask: How many people are allowed to live in your apartment? Must they all be on the lease? Can you take on another roommate in the future? Even if you’re planning to live alone, it’s good to know the official policy for future reference.

While it’s important to know how much rent you’ll be paying, it’s equally important to know when and how to pay it. The rent may be due on the first of the month, but many places give you a grace period before they hit you with a late fee. It’s becoming more and more common for landlords to accept electronic rent payments via Zelle, PayPal, bank transfer, or even Venmo. Others require a paper check or money order, delivered or mailed to the management office.

Virtually all rental agreements outline a late fee policy — i.e., the grace period after the rent due date before you owe a late fee. However, these fees can vary from lease to lease. Whether it’s a set percentage of the monthly rent or a fixed amount, understanding the late fee structure and making sure it’s clearly explained in the lease is important. Check your state or city laws to make sure that the fee your landlord is imposing is legal.

You may find yourself needing to sublet your space for a variety of reasons: losing your job and needing to move, studying abroad or going on an extended work trip. However, subletting is subject to the landlord’s policies and often requires approval to ensure the new tenant meets the landlord’s requirements. Be sure to double-check your lease terms for any rules regarding subletting. Ask if there are any restrictions on how you go about it (i.e., via a platform like Airbnb or shared housing groups on social media, etc.).

Sometimes, circumstances require you to move out before the end of your lease. You should know whether or not you’re allowed to sublet (see above) or if you plan on breaking your lease, as well as what the consequences are (often, your landlord simply won’t give you your security deposit back). In some cases, however, you may be on the hook for paying one or two months’ rent for breaking the lease.

So you've found an apartment in the perfect neighborhood, and it's got a pool — but you'd really love it if the kitchen had sunshine yellow walls. Whether you want to take advantage of the latest decorating trends or hang your favorite posters on the wall, your landlord has some say about what you're allowed to do. In some cases, they'll be fine with anything as long as you can leave the apartment as you found it. In others, there are no changes allowed at all. Knowing in advance what you can do will save you a lot of trouble and expense in the long run.

Will your lease automatically be renewed? Is there a typical rent increase each year? How much notice will you get if they choose not to renew your lease? Is it possible to switch to a month-to-month rental agreement if, for example, you're not sure about another full year? While it may seem awkward to talk about ending a lease before you even sign it, it’s important to know about the way your landlord handles lease renewals. It can save you from unexpected surprises further down the line. You should also learn the laws in your community. They’ll tell you how much notice you must be given before lease cancellation or non-renewal and may put limits on how much your rent can increase from year to year.

Trash disposal is a surprisingly contentious item in many apartment buildings. It helps to know how trash collection works and who is responsible. Small multi-family units, for example, may rely on municipal trash collection. In that case, you'll want to know when you can put your trash out for pickup and where you can keep it while waiting for trash day. Larger apartment complexes may have rules about what and how much you can put in the dumpster. Some newer complexes provide trash concierge service — you put your bagged trash outside your door at night, and the staff picks it up and disposes of it.

If your radiator stops working or your shower sprays brown water, what do you do? Knowing who to contact (sometimes the landlord defers maintenance to a superintendent or handyman) and how (email, phone, text) is crucial to know in case you need urgent apartment repairs.

Not all buildings have security or surveillance, which means that your landlord may not have any way of helping you if your packages are stolen or your apartment is broken into. You may need to invest in your own Ring camera (ask if it’s okay to install one on your door) or have packages delivered to your workplace or a P.O. box to avoid theft, especially if you won’t be available to receive them.

Knowing when your building was last renovated can give you insight into the building’s upkeep. It’s especially important to know if you live in an older building. Additionally, you should ask if there are upcoming plans to renovate the building — which can signal improvements and upgrades but also mean potential noise and disruptions to your routine. If there are long-term construction projects scheduled during the time you’ll live in the building, you may want to consider re-negotiating your rent or specific lease terms, especially if certain amenities — like a nice view, quietness, etc. — will be affected.

Your camping gear, your kayak, your Christmas tree, the living room chair that goes with your set but doesn’t fit — it all needs to go somewhere where you won’t be falling over it all the time. Many apartment units offer storage space in the basement of the building, which may be included in the rent or incur an additional fee. Townhouses may have an attic or basement space. Ask about access to storage and if there are locks in each tenant's storage area. If there are items you need every day — like your bicycle — ask where it’s acceptable to park or leave it.

These cover some of the most basic questions to ask when renting an apartment, but it’s impossible to cover everything. One of the most useful things you can do is to make a checklist of important amenities for your new apartment, from public transportation access to quiet neighbors, and take it with you when you're looking at apartments. By the time you're done, you’ll have a pretty good idea of which apartment your new home sweet home is.