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Difference between revisions of "Entering a Tenancy"
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===Understand your agreement=== | ===Understand your agreement=== | ||
''Make sure you understand what you are agreeing to.'' Read every word carefully, or have someone help you read the agreement. Do not sign the agreement until you are sure about what it says. | '''Make sure you understand what you are agreeing to.'' Read every word carefully, or have someone help you read the agreement. Do not sign the agreement until you are sure about what it says. | ||
''Get everything in writing.'' If your landlord agrees to clean or do repairs before you move in, write this in the agreement. If you add or change anything in the agreement, both you and your landlord should write your initials beside every change. | '''Get everything in writing.''' If your landlord agrees to clean or do repairs before you move in, write this in the agreement. If you add or change anything in the agreement, both you and your landlord should write your initials beside every change. | ||
''Ask your landlord to cross off any parts of the agreement you want changed.'' For example, if the agreement says “no pets allowed” but your landlord says you can keep your dog, change that section or cross it off. Both you and the landlord should write your initials beside the change. | '''Ask your landlord to cross off any parts of the agreement you want changed.''' For example, if the agreement says “no pets allowed” but your landlord says you can keep your dog, change that section or cross it off. Both you and the landlord should write your initials beside the change. | ||
''Get a copy of the signed agreement and keep it in a safe place.'' If the landlord breaks a promise, it will be hard for you to prove anything without your own copy. | '''Get a copy of the signed agreement and keep it in a safe place.''' If the landlord breaks a promise, it will be hard for you to prove anything without your own copy. | ||
''Get your landlord’s name, address and phone number.'' You need to know with whom you are dealing. Get the name and phone number of the manager or agent you talk with, too. If a landlord or property manager does notwant to provide this information, you should reconsider renting from them. | '''Get your landlord’s name, address and phone number.''' You need to know with whom you are dealing. Get the name and phone number of the manager or agent you talk with, too. If a landlord or property manager does notwant to provide this information, you should reconsider renting from them. | ||
[[File:tenant laundry.png | left | frame | link= ]] | [[File:tenant laundry.png | left | frame | link= ]] | ||
===Utlilities=== | ===Utlilities=== | ||
''Make sure you know what your rent includes.'' Does it include parking, cablevision, heat, and light? Or do you have to pay for these things separately? Is this written down in the agreement? | '''Make sure you know what your rent includes.''' Does it include parking, cablevision, heat, and light? Or do you have to pay for these things separately? Is this written down in the agreement? | ||
Do not agree to put utilities for units other than yours in your own name. You should not be made responsible for collecting money from tenants in other units. Insist that the bills for shared utilities, like gas and hydro, are put in the landlord’s name. | Do not agree to put utilities for units other than yours in your own name. You should not be made responsible for collecting money from tenants in other units. Insist that the bills for shared utilities, like gas and hydro, are put in the landlord’s name. | ||
