Duplex Rental: What to Know before Moving In

A duplex rental is different from renting an apartment in other buildings, and it’s important to know the differences before moving in. You may decide that the only type of rental unit you want is a duplex, after you understand some of implications of living in one.

Sharing a Yard

You’re going to be share a yard with your neighbor in a duplex rental situation. This may or may not be good news. For example, if you don’t know your neighbor, you’re not going to feel comfortable letting your children play in the yard unattended. You don’t have that problem when you rent a single family home. You also can’t let your dog run loose in the yard, because you risk a liability lawsuit if your dog bites your neighbor. The other risk is conflict over dog poop that you might have missed when cleaning up after your dog. If you know and trust your neighbor, then all of these issues can be worked out amicably. If you don’t plan on using the back yard much, then sharing a yard is not a problem.

Sharing a Wall

You and your neighbor will also have to share a wall. That means, you’ll both be able to hear the other at different times. It can become a problem if you have a noisy neighbor, and you’ll want to make sure that noise control is in both your lease and in your neighbor’s. You can ask the landlord to verify that. You can also sound proof a room if you conduct a lot of noisy activities in it and don’t want to disturb your neighbor. That’s an additional expense you’ll need to budget for, and you want to know what those costs are before moving in.

Only One Neighbor to Manage

When you live in a large apartment complex, fourplex or triplex, you have more tenant relationships to manage. There’s more potential for conflicts, but there’s also more people to cultivate a good relationship with. You want to maintain a good relationship with your neighbors for many reasons, such as they can be your best ally if you’re away from your apartment for an extended period. It’s much easier to plan for and invite one neighbor over or dinner, than it is to invite several neighbors in the same building. If you value maintaining healthy relationships with your neighbors, then a duplex rental is a good fit.

More Privacy

A duplex rental is a more cozy environment than other renal units, except for a single family home dwelling. There’s more privacy because there are less tenants traveling back and forth from the premises. If you enjoy your privacy, then it’s a good fit for you. There are some tenants who want more activity on the premises, and would rather live in the middle of many other tenants. A duplex rental is not for you if that’s your preference, and you need to know that before moving in.

You can find a duplex rental in just about any community. Search local newspaper ads for available apartments to rent.