more big SAN FRANCISCO, CA - APRIL 21: A sign is posted in front of an apartment building on April 21, 2015 in San Francisco, California. According to a report by Forbes magazine, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose top the list of worst places in the nation for renters. Bay Area renters are faced with extremely low vacancy rates that have prompted high rents that average over $3,100 for a one bedroom in San Francisco (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Renting a new place temporarily? Here are some ways to avoid losing security deposits by the end of the contract.
Forbes[3] suggested taking pictures or video of the place before moving in. This can be used as concrete evidence of what the place looked like before you move in so that the landlord will not claim any damages which are already part of the apartment.
Another important tip is to have a move-in checklist as another way to document the state of the unit. If the landlord or the landlady will not provide this, it is best to make one.
Just like before moving in, also take pictures or videos on the moving out day. It is important to show the landlord or the landlady how clean and organized the place is.
Trulia[4] also reminded new tenants to read the lease carefully to know if notice must be given before moving out. Lease usually has an end date, and it is already possible to move out on or the day before that is noted on the lease.Security deposits are at risk once the lease is broken, so one must be careful about this.
Another important thing is to understand the landlord-tenant laws and how they apply to the tenant. Landlords should abide by local laws and statutes wherever their location is. For tenants living in a new city, real estate lawyers suggest checking their city, county and state laws for security deposits. It would be helpful if the tenants would write to the landlord or landlady about these laws to remind them about it.
Lastly, before completely moving out, make some effort in putting the place back to its original state and make sure to patch up holes in the walls and fix some damages that were incurred during your stay. Use the pictures you took before moving in as reference.
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References
- ^ Staff Reporter (www.realtytoday.com)
- ^ media@realtytoday.com (www.realtytoday.com)
- ^ Forbes (www.forbes.com)
- ^ Trulia (www.trulia.com)
Source → Home Tips: Ways to Avoid Losing Security Deposit
