Tenant Tips – Part I

While, it is important for tenants and landlords to be on their best behaviour, both are entitled to certain rights, and tenants should be aware of them, when renting a house or apartment. The following tips are designed to help tenants make a good impression and get the best landlord deal, of all.

1. In order, to give yourself a competitive edge over other rental applicants, it is important to win over a prospective landlord by carrying all necessary information with you, such as, a neatly and fully completed rental application; written references from landlords, employers, colleagues and friends; including a current copy of your credit report.
2. Before signing on the dotted line, do give yourself time to carefully and thoroughly review all tenancy conditions, as it may contain clauses you may not find acceptable e.g. a no pet policy, guest restrictions, veto for running a home business, or any alterations to the place.
3. Always, get everything in writing, since it will help avoid future disputes and misunderstandings between tenant and landlord. All correspondence copies should be kept, and any oral agreement should be followed up with a letter that plainly sets out your understanding of the agreement. For example, any requests to your landlord regarding repairs should be made in writing, and if he / she verbally acquiesces that repairs will be made, send a letter confirming his / her agreement to your request.
4. Next to rent and security deposit disputes, misunderstandings often arise from a landlord’s right to enter a rental unit and a tenant’s right to privacy. Tenants must understand their privacy rights i.e. the amount of notice a landlord must provide before entering rental accommodation.
5. Tenants should also be aware that they have a right to live in a habitable rental unit that includes adequate weather-proofing; heat, water, and electricity; and clean, sanitary, and structurally safe premises. In case, a rental unit is not kept in good repair, a tenant has a number of options, from with-holding part of the rent, to paying for repairs and deducting the cost from the rent, to informing the building inspector, who can order the landlord to carry out the repairs. In such an eventuality, a tenant with a signed lease can move out without any liability for breach of contract, or paying rent for the duration of the lease.