Tenant Advice: Read Your Lease

Read Your Lease Looking for an affordable rental in New Orleans can be quite challenging. And if you're not careful, dealing with your landlord can be even tougher! Make sure to take the time to read your lease and know exactly what you're committing to. Trust us, discovering some quirky terms after moving in can make the next 12 months a lot less fun! Quirky terms? Have you ever come across some quirky lease terms that made you do a double-take? Well, get ready for this! We've compiled a few "different" lease terms that landlords have recently requested. And guess what? These are some of the exact reasons why you need to scrutinize your lease agreement very, very carefully! How about charging a service call fee to tenants if the landlord has to fix something? Or requiring tenants to fend for themselves when an appliance breaks down? Or excluding garage space from your lease, so your landlord can use it as a personal storage unit? And that's not all. Some landlords even make tenants install wall-to-wall rugs to protect those beautiful wood floors that probably drew you to the property in the first place. And no, you can't put potted plants inside the house either. I mean, seriously? It's evident that some landlords have had terrible experiences with tenants in the past. But that shouldn't deter you from finding your dream rental property. Just make sure to read your lease thoroughly, so you don't get caught up in any silly clauses! Other terms to review What are the late fees and when are they incurred? Most leases have a 5-day grace period, but it’s important to know before you sign. Subleasing rules. If your plan is to AirBnB that place during Jazz Fest, you need to know what the rules are. Hint: most standard leases prohibit subleases.  Pet deposits – refundable or not? This is a huge deal for pet owners because pet deposits vary wildly from property to property. Some are refundable, some are not. You need to be clear on what to expect at the end of your lease term. Are there move-out and cleaning fees? Watch the fine print for any automatic charges assessed at the end of the lease. Return of deposit. Standard leases require the landlord to return your security deposit within 30 days of the end of the lease. But if your lease has different terms, the time to learn about them is not on day 31 after you vacate. Looking for a rental in New Orleans but have some burning questions? We're here to help! Give us a call at 504-327-5303 and let's find your next place together.

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New Orleans Rental Move In Checklist

Before you move into that New Orleans rental, it’s important to do a walk-through of the property and document the condition. That’s why we’ve put together this rental move-in checklist for you. What goes on your rental move-in checklist? HVAC system Test the air conditioner and/or heater before moving in. There’s no worse time than a July move to find out that the HVAC system isn’t working properly.  Smoke detectors Check for smoke detectors. Since 2011 Louisiana has required that all single-family homes or doubles must have a minimum of an operable 10-year, sealed lithium battery smoke detector. Appliances Test all of the appliances included as part of your rental agreement. Does the refrigerator get cool enough? If there are a washer and dryer, are they functioning properly? Do all of the stove burners light? Plumbing Turn on all the faucets to check for leaks under sinks and flush all the toilets to check for any stoppages. Running toilets can make for some very high water bills, so it’s better to find out ahead of time and have the landlord hire a plumbing company to repair it than to deal with the Sewerage & Water Board. Air filters You’ll need to know the location of all of the air filters and their size since you’ll likely be responsible for changing them monthly. Make sure you’re starting out with a fresh, clean filter. Document existing damage on your rental move-in checklist Make a list and take photos of everything that is not perfect in your new place. It’s a really good idea to print out your rental move-in checklist and have the landlord sign acknowledging the condition of the property. You don’t want them to return later and attempt to hold any portion of your deposit for damages. Normal wear and tear are to be expected from an occupied property. Damage such as stains on carpets or counters, holes in doors or walls, damaged window coverings, broken windows, or chips in the enamel of sinks, toilets, and bathtubs should all be noted by you prior to moving in. Need some help? We’re happy to work with tenants all over the city. Give us a call at 504-327-5303. Start your New Orleans rental search here

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