What is an occupant?

A tenant is someone who pays rent to live in a residential or commercial property (home, home, condo, townhouse) that belongs to another person.

What is a property manager?

A property manager is the owner of the residential or commercial property that the renter lives in.

What is a residential or commercial property manager?

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 renter) and the proprietor, enabling you to reside in the residential or commercial property in exchange for lease. For your protection, you should only participate in a composed lease. The lease states what you are responsible for, and what the property owner is responsible for. Both you and the property manager sign the lease and you both need to do what the lease says. Leases are frequently hard to understand, even for native English speakers, so it is best to have somebody you rely on help you understand your lease, or contact a lawyer to help you.

What is lease?

This is the quantity of cash you will pay the landlord each month. Rent is paid ahead of time, meaning that lease is due at the start of the month, typically on the first of the month, for that month. Make sure you understand where and how to pay the rent - online? By check? Cash? If you pay your rent in cash, constantly get an invoice as proof of your payment.

What is the term of the lease?

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

What are the things the proprietor is accountable for?

Mainly, the proprietor is accountable for making sure the residential or commercial property is fit to live in and basic things work. Most repairs are normally the proprietor's obligation, specifically larger things like the heating system, hot water heater, a/c, stove, fridge, dishwasher, and so on. Make sure the lease has either the property owner's or residential or commercial property manager's contact information-telephone number, e-mail address, etc.-and how to contact the property owner or residential or commercial property manager in an emergency.

What are the primary things the renter is accountable for?

You are required to 1) pay lease and 2) keep the residential or commercial property in excellent condition. Any other obligations will be listed in the lease. Sometimes the renter is accountable for minor repairs and the property owner is accountable for major repair work. Make certain you understand what repair work you are accountable for before you sign the lease. The tenant is likewise responsible to spend for any damages that they, or any of their guests, cause.

What is a down payment?

This is money that you give the property manager to hold in case you stop working to pay rent or if you damage the residential or commercial property. The security deposit is your cash. If you do whatever that the lease states you are required to do (in many cases, remain for the full term of the lease, pay your rent, and do not damage the residential or commercial property) then you must get your security deposit back at the end of the lease. This must happen within 30 days after the lease has actually ended, or 60 days if that's what the lease states, however it can never ever be more than 60 days after the lease has ended. The property owner should provide you a written declaration that shows any reductions from the security deposit, and why it was subtracted. In addition to this statement, the property owner needs to provide you any money that is due to you. If you do not concur with the part of your down payment that was kept by the landlord, you can go to little claims court and have a judge decide. You can get more information about little claims court from the county in which you live. Also, see the resources listed below for more help.

What am I anticipated to pay before moving in?

Most of the time you will be needed to pay the first month's rent plus a down payment, which is typically equal to one month's rent. Sometimes it can be more. Also, if you are moving in the middle of a month, you might be needed to pay rent for the part of the month you will be living in the residential or commercial property. For example, let's say the lease is $1,500 per month and you are moving in on the 1st of the month. You will pay the first month's rent, $1,500, plus the down payment, $1,500, for a total 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 described above.

What else do I need to pay each month besides rent?

Rent might not be all that you have to pay. Usually, most utilities-electricity, natural gas, water, web, cable TV-are paid by you. Everything that you are responsible to pay for will be listed in the lease. Sometimes, some energies are included in the lease, but the majority of the time they are not, and you are required to pay them. Make sure you understand everything that you are needed to spend for before you sign the lease.

Is the lease negotiable?

Many products in the lease are negotiable and can be changed if you and the landlord both agree. The two most common things that people attempt to work out are the term and the rent. Let's state the proprietor wants an occupant for one year, however you just wish to stay for six months. The term will be chosen by what you both agree to. Same with the lease. Remember, both you and the property manager must concur.

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

Try to communicate with your proprietor in composing when possible (email, etc) Naturally, you can call, however attempt to follow that with an email to confirm what was stated. If it is an essential matter, you ought to send a letter by licensed mail. In an emergency situation, call the emergency number that need to remain in your lease. If that number is not in your lease, ask for it before you move in.

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

You can submit a problem versus a residential or commercial property manager with the Division of Real Estate.

Filing a Grievance

Can the proprietor or residential or commercial property manager check out the residential or commercial property while you are living there?

Your property manager or residential or commercial property supervisor may want to check out the residential or commercial property from time to time to examine its condition, however the landlord or residential or commercial property supervisor can not simply come over whenever they want (an exception is if there is an emergency). They need to offer you affordable notification or get your approval, and it needs to be at a sensible time. Check your lease contract worrying this notice and the property owner's right to get in the residential or commercial property. Once you lease the residential or commercial property from the landlord, it is your home for the regard to the lease, and you have a right to personal privacy.

Can I be charged a late charge if my lease payment is late?

Yes, only if your lease payment is late by 7 or more days and the late fee is specified 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 proprietors and residential or commercial property managers are restricted to the higher of $50 or 5% of the past due rent payment.

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Can I be kicked out from the residential or commercial property?

An eviction is a legal process that a property manager need to go through to eliminate you from the residential or commercial property. This process is usually used when an occupant breaks several lease terms, for instance, stopping working to pay rent, not leaving the residential or commercial property after the lease term ends, enabling people who aren't on the lease to stay in the residential or commercial property, or conducting prohibited activity on the residential or commercial property. For details on your rights if you are being forced out, see the resources listed below.