Apartment hunting can be daunting - it's a big commitment of time and money, and it can be hard to get out of once you're in. Here are some red flags to look for to help you avoid being stuck in a bad living situation.
- Maintenance Issues
Maybe the landlord is saying that they're going to fix that leaky dishwasher, or that the place will totally be painted by the time you move in. But those little details can be important. This is the time, theoretically, that the landlord wants this place to be at its best. They're trying to draw people in. If it's not fixed now, it might never be. - No credit check (or Low Rent or Weekly Rent)
Finding a good deal is important, but it's possible to find too good a deal. Finding a place that's too lax means that the landlord is probably expecting high turnover. That landlord probably isn't primed to expect the best out of his clients, and they're almost certainly not invested in keeping the property well-maintained. - Question-Dodgers
When you ask about repairs, or the terms of the lease, do you get concrete answers from the landlord, or do you get general assurances that it's all okay? Your landlord should know the ins and outs of the paper they're asking you to sign, and they should have clear answers about the state of the place you're going to be living in. - No Lease
This is a huge one. The lease is there to protect you as much as it is the landlord. With no written agreement, everything from your rent to the length of your stay is determined by the landlord's whim. It's not fun to get hit with a fee for breaking the lease if you need to move away, but you also don't want to get evicted because the landlord's brother-in-law needed a place to stay. - Excessive Lease
Read your lease carefully. Lots of places have pet deposits, and you can expect a security deposit, but are there a fishy number of other charges? Are there a lot of other restrictions that suggest the landlord might be too much of a micromanager to allow you to live comfortably? Restrictions on cleanliness, visitors, yard maintenance, and other factors all make sense individually, but if they start adding up, it might be worth asking the landlord where they're all coming from. - It Gets Weird At Night
Always visit any potential places at night, when potential neighbors are home and it's dark out. Did the building suddenly become terrifying? This may sound paranoid, but remember, nights are most likely when you're actually going to be here. You deserve to know what that experience is like ahead of time. - Eager Landlord
This can take a lot of forms. If the landlord is too anxious to get you into the place, if they're pushy or bossy about it, that's a big no. If they're not giving you time to really think before they ask you to make a decision, or if they discourage you from reading the lease (usually by telling you it's all standard or boilerplate stuff) that's also a huge red flag. Remember, this is a huge decision. If they're trying to keep you from thinking about it for too long, it's worth asking what it is they're afraid you'll find out. - Distant Landlord
Is the landlord hard to reach? Constantly busy, or just not taking your calls? If they're like that now - when they're trying to encourage you to come give them money - think about what they'll be like to get hold of when they already have your money, and you need someone to come fix your toilet.
