6. BEFORE YOU SIGN, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A TENANT
Once you've found an apartment, make sure you know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. Your rights are best protected if you have a written lease. If you have an oral lease, you may be subject to restrictions that you weren't aware of. Just do what we say and get yourself a written lease. We don't like being argued with, especially when we're right. Be sure to check that the following are correctly recorded:
- All names and addresses
- Dates of occupancy
- Rent amount
- Details about the security deposit
- Parking spot specifications (if you get one).
If the landlord has made you any promises, make sure you get it in writing or at least have a third party listen in. Landlords are notorious about "getting around to something." If it's in black and white, you have more justification when you refuse to pay the rent.
Don't be fooled by landlords who say they don't have the time to draw up a lease; there are many standard formats readily available in Philadelphia. Luckily, Pennsylvania has laws to protect tenants from shady landlords who may try to get away with disreputable practices. For info, check out this Pennsylvania Tenant-Landlord handbook. And just for good measure, here are two lists: one of basic tenants' rights and one of basic tenants' responsibilities.
And you're all set! Just don't eat too many cheesesteaks. OK, OK, now you can say it: Yoooooooo Adriannnnnnnnnn!
