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| If
you are planning to rent an apartment in a house, there are some
special problems you should think about before handing over any money
or signing an agreement. |
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SAFETY
Make sure you look at the apartment before you agree to rent it. If the
landlord says you can’t see it because people are living there,
| ...Keep
your money in your pocket and WALK AWAY. |
|
the safest thing for you to do is keep your money in your pocket and
WALK AWAY.
COSTS
Even if the rent is affordable to you, beware! The utility bills can be
a very serious problem. If utility costs are included in the rent, make
sure that this is written in your lease or on a piece of paper both you
and the landlord sign
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When
you look at the apartment, make sure it has at least the following
features: |
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| 1 |
A
smoke detector. |
| 2 |
A
fire extinguisher. |
| 3 |
An
exit that leads directly to the outside at ground level. |
| 4 |
A
second exit, or a window must not be blocked on the outside and must
be within the reach of children. |
| 5 |
Ceilings
and walls made of drywall. |
| 6 |
Enough
heating vents or basement heaters to give adequate heat without
you having to use space heaters. |
| 7 |
A
ventilated stove fan and hood. |
| 8 |
A
proper floor (look under the carpet if you can). |
| As
well, keep in mind, dampness, evidence of flooding, light, mice or
rats, and separation from the mechanical systems (such as furnace, hot
water, etc.) |
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before
you move in. If you have to pay the utilities, it may cost several
hundred dollars per month. Even if the landlord says it will likely be
a lot less, you will still be responsible for the actual costs. If you
are expected to put the utility accounts directly in your name, you may
have to pay a deposit. If you re supposed to collect some of the
utility costs from another tenant in the house, be prepared that the
other tenant may not pay. If this happens, you could go to court to get
the money. However, it will cause you a lot of problems, and in the
meantime, you have to pay the full costs, especially if the bills come
in your name.
SHARING
If you are sharing the kitchen or a bathroom with the owner of the
house, you will not have the same rights as other tenants. If you will
be sharing the
If
you will be sharing the house with other tenants, you may want to put
the arrangements
in writing. |
|
house
with other tenants, you may want to put the arrangements in writing.
Some of the things to keep in mind are: Who gets the use of which rooms?
What happens if someone moves or doesn't get along with another tenant?
What is the agreement around guests, noise, storage space, and so on.
If you are in a basement apartment, check if the upstairs tenants
Even
if the rent
is affordable to you, beware!
The utility bills can be a
very serious problem.” |
|
have
to go through your unit to change a fuse, use laundry facilities, or
control the heat. If so, you will want some agreements around privacy.
NV
Prepared
by Scarborough Community Legal Services, May 1994
Telephone #: 416-438-7182
Updated by West Scarborough Community
Legal Services, June 2001
Telephone #: 416-285-4460
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Inside
this issue:
|
Survival
Guide to Renting
an Apartment |
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