Smart Renter's Guide

• When is rent due?
• Which, if any, utilities are included?
• Are pets allowed? If so, is there a fee or additional deposit required?
• IS there on-site parking? Where is it?
• Do residents have assigned spots?
• If there is no on-site parking, is there a place that you recommend I park?
• Who is responsible for lawn care and snow removal?
• What is the procedure for maintenance issues?
• What is the average response time for average maintenance requests?

Talk to the current tenants if they are present and ask if the house is comfortable and well maintained.

There are several types of lease agreements in general use. Each has various benefits for tenants and property managers. The most prevalent lease type in Athens is the "Joint and Severally Liable Lease". This type of lease states that the tenants are jointly liable for the property. This means that if one tenant were to not pay their rent then all the tenants could be held legally liable for that payment. The advantage to this is that if you lose a roommate, you get to choose who moves in with you. The other lease agreement that is in use in this area is an "Individual Lease." Individuals sign a specific lease and they are held individually liable for such an agreement. Depending on your specific situation you may want to ask your perspective landlord what types of leases they have available that might fit your preferences.

• Is the contact information correct on the lease?
• What are the move-in and move-out dates?
• Is there a lease renewal clause?
• How much is the rent and when is it due?
• Can the rent amount be increased?
• What is the penalty for late payments?
• Is a deposit required? If so, how much is the deposit?
• If pets are allowed, is there an additional deposit, rent amount or fee?
• If Can the tenants sublease the apartment or house?
• Are there restrictions against decorating/painting the apartment or house?
• Are there guest restrictions?
• Are there conduct rules for the property (i.e. no parties, no outside furniture, etc.)?
• When is trash pick up?

If your property manager is not making repairs in a timely manner or not responding to your requests at all, visit the Center for Student Legal Services for steps you can take to remedy the situation.

Give your landlord, IN WRITING, your forwarding address when you move out. Once you have left, the landlord has 30 days to return your security deposit. If you don't get all of it back, the landlord must send an itemized statement regarding the deductions. For information on what you can do during move in and out that may help you get a fair amount of your security deposit returned or if you believe your security deposit is being unfairly withheld visit the Center for Student Legal Services.

The law generally requires that the property manager give you at least 24 hours notice before entering your home. If you're having legal issues with your landlord and need support visit student legal services.

Inspect your rental and record anything that is in need of repair, damaged or hazardous. You can use the sample inspection form by clicking the link on the following page. If you find something wrong with the rental and it is not on the inspection form, make a note of it in the additional comments section. Ideally, your property manager should be present when you inspect the property. Call ahead to make an appointment and push if necessary to have someone meet you for move in.

Ask your property manager to sign the inspection form to ensure that you both agree to the outcome of the inspection. If they are not able to be present or refuse to sign the inspection form, send them a certified copy of your findings. Furthermore, be sure you and your property manager are in agreement as to how the problems will be fixed. How these problems should be fixed should be listed in your lease. The same form should be completed upon moving out.

It is best to videotape or photograph your inspection of your apartment or house. The key is to take pictures of everything. It is also important that you can prove that the pictures or video that you took are dated accurately. Holding up the daily newspaper in your picture is one way to do this. It is not absolute proof, but it is better than nothing. Also, do not pause the tape if you are videotaping because it may look like it has been edited. Be sure to take the same precautions when you move out of your apartment or house to help prove your case regarding the condition you left your place if your property manager challenges it.

The key is to take pictures of everything. It is also important that you can prove that the pictures or video that you took are dated accurately. Holding up the daily newspaper in your picture is one way to do this. It is not absolute proof, but it is better than nothing. Also, do not pause the tape if you are videotaping because it may look like it has been edited. Be sure to take the same precautions when you move out of your apartment or house to help prove your case regarding the condition you left your place if your property manager challenges it.

• Leave just one LED light on when gone for long periods of time. Purchase a timer that can turn the light on and off automatically.
• Keep emergency numbers in an accessible location for all tenants. 
• Test smoke detectors every month.
• Purchase Renter's insurance.
• Know your roommate's security habits. Your home will only be as safe as all the tenants allow it to be.

• Always keep doors and windows locked
• When utility or service people come to your door, ask to see ID.
• If you lose your keys, work with the property manager to replace the locks to your rental immediately.

• Get to know the area around your rental.
• Never leave a key outside under a mat or in a place accessible to a stranger.
• Never walk alone at night.

This is incredibly important. List monthly income sources, including savings, wages and parental allowances, and then write down estimated expenses for the month. It isn't easy to identify college living expenses in advance, but you should try. Take costs such as school supplies, food outside your meal plan, personal care items and laundry into account. Then, try managing your budget and tracking expenses using an online personal finance management tool like Mint.com, which helps you easily create and stick to a budget.

Is $30 per week for gas a "need" or a "want?" How much should you budget for non-meal plan food? How much will laundry cost? After a few months on campus and tracking expenses, it becomes easier to distinguish wants from needs and put a plan into action. Some students give themselves a weekly cash allowance rather than carry a debit card, and when that week's allowance is gone, they wait until next week for more "wants."

Banks usually cater to college students by offering free checking and savings accounts, which allows students to avoid fees on withdrawals or fund transfers. Shop around to find a bank with convenient ATMs near campus to eliminate out-of-network charges. And keep in mind that when an out-of-state check arrives (say, from grandma), it may take a few days to clear, so keep an eye on the account balance before spending against it.

In 2012, 70 percent of undergraduate students had at least one credit card, according to the International Journal of Business and Social Science. College is a great time to start building credit (which is crucial for leasing an apartment, purchasing a vehicle and even landing a job post-graduation), but it's easy for many to amass a large amount of debt while in school. It's important to understand the difference between credit building and overextending. If you don't know, visit a business professor during office hours and ask!

College graduates tend to have a difficult time balance ever-growing student loan payments against declining wages. Understand what the exact size of your student loan debt will be upon graduation, and come up with a plan for how you will pay it back. Even if it involves moving back home for a bit (to preserve your sanity, give yourself a specific timeline for when you plan on moving out), it will be worth it in the end.

Textbooks are one of the biggest college expenses. A brand new edition of a biology book can cost upward of $300. Bypassing the campus bookstore at the start of each semester is an easy way for college students to save an abundant amount of money. Invest in a Kindle or iPad and download your books. They are less expensive that way. Or look for books in used bookstores or online. Even with shipping costs, the price can turn out to be significantly cheaper.