Take the Right Steps to Protect Your Interests as a Tenant

You may count yourself among those who prefer the convenience of renting a piece of real estate over the process of buying one. Or, like many others, you might be just waiting to make your move until you are ready to commit to a home purchase. Being a renter, though, involves some problems that being an owner does not. To take an example, you must abide by all of the rules set forth in the lease. You can’t simply have someone move in with you, and if you have to move out you can’t go and rent out your place to a different person getting the permission of your landlord.

Here are some things that you should be aware of, in order to protect yourself as a tenant of real estate.

Insist on a Contract in Writing

Lawyers always say that an oral contract isn’t worth the paper it isn’t written on. A written lease lays out the rules and obligations without room for error, but an oral agreement is subject to misunderstandings, memory lapses, or plain wrongdoing. If you and your landlord end up in court, the whole case hinges on memory about what was agreed, which is very unpredictable, and whom the judge happens to believe.

Treat Your Rental Real Estate As Carefully As You Would Treat Your Own Home

Be respectful of your landlord’s property. Treat it as you would treat a piece of real estate that you would buy yourself. This is a more significant rule than it may seem, for several reasons. First, a clean and well-ordered environment is much better for your own health and well-being. Second, any damage you cause by misuse or neglect is your responsibility. And third, you don’t want a bad rental record which may prevent you from renting your next home.

Report Problems to Your Landlord Right Away

If the heater is not working, or water starts leaking in, or you’re having any other kind of trouble with the home, contact your landlord and report it. If you wait and the problem compounds itself, you could be held responsible for a part or all of the costs of getting it repaired.

Read the Lease Carefully

Be able to follow its rules. If you have a Great Dane and the lease doesn’t allow pets larger than a set maximum size, you will either have to make other arrangements for your pet or find a different place to live. You can’t ignore the house rules, when they are unambiguously set forth and agreed. If you do, according to the Rental Protection Agency, the landlord can not only have you evicted with only three days’ written notice, but can also charge you three times the rent amount for every day you stay past the eviction notice.

Get Renter’s Insurance

The landlord has to fix any appliances supplied by the management (provided those appliances were not damaged by misuse), but if your own property is damaged or lost, you are on your own to replace or fix it. Renter’s insurance can protect your belongings and take some of the loss out of things that could happen such as a burglary or building fire.

Being a renter has advantages as well as burdens. By following these simple steps you can help make your rental experience smoother and easier.

Information made available by Automated Homefinder, Colorado’s Louisville CO home specialists.

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