Renter’s Advice and Resources

After you’ve found that perfect apartment to move into, the rental application you may have to submit is easy to forget about. You fill in your contact information, check a few boxes and hope for a positive phone call in the coming days. While most renters assume their landlords know something about their histories, most don’t know quite how much a landlord can learn about you from your rental application.

No matter how good a deal you have on your rent, eventually you’ll hear about someone who has it better. And then just when you start to feel bad for yourself, you’ll meet someone who’s paying an arm and a leg for a place much smaller than yours. When you think about the wide range of rents in your city, you’ll start to wonder –- how do landlords figure out how much to charge?

For most people, it would be unthinkable to buy a car without negotiating at the dealership. Why, then, do so few people bother to negotiate their rent? Perhaps it’s because we think of our apartment rent in the same way we think of dinner out at a restaurant — the price is simply non-negotiable. Except sometimes, rent is negotiable … the trick is negotiating in the right way. But what’s the best way to go about it?

Dirty dishes, late-night noise, unwanted guests: These roommate conflicts pale in comparison to disputes over paying rent. When you first move in to a new apartment, or if new roommates join you in your current place, you’ll have to work out the best way to split the rent among all the tenants. Resolving this issue amicably and openly sets the stage for good roommate relations in the future. Unfortunately, there is no blueprint for how rent should be split. The lease given to you by your landlord will usually indicate the total amount of rent due each month but will not provide guidance on how to split the rent. Here are some typical ways tenants divide rent and some other factors to consider.

You’re short on cash and need to pay rent within the next few days or incur late fees that you really can’t afford. If you’re strapped for cash, you might consider exploring some online loan options. Online lenders are somewhat sketchy and may charge rather exorbitant interest rates or fees, so be aware of this when using such services. Obtaining a loan through your bank or paying with a credit card may be better options. If you don’t qualify for a loan or a credit card, you may have to resort to these online services. Before borrowing money, however, make sure you completely understand the agreement you’re entering into. When you’re already short on cash, you don’t want to get stuck having to pay back more money than you borrowed. If you know you have money coming, though, an online loan may be an acceptable option.

So your landlord’s notified you that your rent will be increased beginning next month. Since your lease agreement specifies that a particular amount of rent will be paid each month for the term of the lease, you’re wondering what entitles your landlord to raise the rent in this manner. The good news is that your landlord is likely not legally able to raise the rent in violation of the lease agreement. Read on for more information about when—if ever—your landlord may be allowed to raise the rent.

Imagine not having to write a rent check every month, not dealing with the hassle of late fees if you forget to drop off your check (which has probably been sitting on your kitchen counter since the first of the month, just waiting for you to deliver it to your landlord) in time, and never having to worry about bouncing a rent check. How can all of this be possible? The magic of the credit card.

You pay rent on time, keep your apartment reasonably clean, and you think you’re a darn good tenant. You’ve never even considered the possibility of being evicted. Even if you’re sure it’ll never happen to you, it’s important to know the details of the eviction process and the many reasons why you might be evicted. Those who pay rent on time may still be susceptible to eviction due to other factors. Read on to learn more about the various categories of eviction and your rights in each situation.

You mean that lovely orange sticker on your door isn’t a friendly note from your landlord? Read closer… it’s an eviction notice. You may think that things like this only happen to rowdy college students, but think again, because it can happen to you. The best protection from this harsh punishment is reading your lease completely – especially that fine print. Leases are riddled with all kinds of rules and regulations as well as consequences, so knowing where you stand from the beginning will prevent you from being kicked out into the cold. It’s also helpful to understand the eviction process so if you are served with an eviction notice, you’ll know how to proceed, and what your rights are. Here are a few things to keep in mind about the eviction process.