Questions to ask when viewing a rental house for the first time?

Question

When viewing a house for the first time? I've rented a house before but it didn't go well so clearly I didn't ask the right questions. The house is being shown to at least one other person at the same time so it's not a one-on-one with the landlord and I don't want to turn it into an hour long Q&A session. If you had to pick important questions what would they be?

Info given in ad: Quaint home nestled on creek lot is updated and ready to rent Home incl: recent carpets, updated kit laminate flooring, light fixtures, and freshly painted. Baby nursery just repainted. Enjoy the gas FP in the family room for those cold winter months. Updates incl: full tear off roof 2009, furnace 2006, and C/A 2005. All drywall replaced 2006. some applinaces included.

first month and security to move in. addtional pet deposit will be required
utilties and water not included in rent. $800/month

Answer 1

I'm a landlord and your biggest questions that escape most prospective tenants is utility costs, ask for past prices (with proof) for electricity, gas, water, sewer, etc., if Landlord cannot provide it would raise a red flag for me. I have all reciepts for all utilities from past year and give them a realistic future projection as costs change from year to year. Another thing is to ask to read the Lease before signature, so many tenants kind look at it and sign it, not a good thing. Also you need to know what you can and cannot do as tenant, and just because it's in the lease doesn't make it a law, see your prospective State laws. Ask about neighbors, what they do, etc., The Neighborhood. Take your time looking at everything.

Answer 2

You could just ask to see a copy of the lease and most of the other questions would be answered but that sound like a nice place and the other person viewing might not feel the need for questions and take the place before you can even get the first question out. You are just leasing the place so what you see is pretty much what you get.

Answer 3

Updates incl: full tear off roof 2009

tear off? get explanation for this



make sure that the LL knows he will do all maintenance and repairs

and will have his repair person there in 1 day to do same.

NO tenant is held accountable for repairs by law.

MOST problems begin with things that don't work

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get tenant insurance to cover fire damage and theft



luck



[all deposits are refundable by law]