<p>What should I look for in a rental agreement for my daughter? She is faxing the agreement to us. Please, any input would be great. (not that it matters, but we are from the midwest)</p>
<p>I hope she found a nice place. When my son was looking for housing in Providence before accepting for grad school we looked at a number of places and so many were real dumps. He decided not to go so it was then a moot point.</p>
<p>You should carefully read what are the tenants responsibilities and which are the landlords. In Rhode Island as in most places, the landlord is responsible for paying for water. Carefully read the details.</p>
<p>You don’t mention roommates, but if that’s part of the equation, make sure EACH roommate has her own signed legal agreement. A key challenge is when 2 or 3 people sign a general lease. If one bails, the other two are left holding the bag for the rent.
My son has a “separate” lease (he has 3 roommates) where D had a general lease.
She’s been burned twice and it’s very stressful dealing with a renegade roommate…financially and emotionally.</p>
<p>Also, make sure you understand deposits, and how any “last month’s rent” will actually be applied. I’d probably also do some internet searches on the landlord just to see what pops up.</p>
<p>Note, too how the lease ends. In Ohio, when a lease(longer than month-to month) expires, it automatically renews on a month-to-month basis unless the initial lease specifies otherwise. That means tenants will have to pay particular attention on how and when to give notice when they want to terminate lease.
Like with any tenancy take careful documentation in writing and with pictures of any existing damage when tenant moves in.</p>
<p>I sent her all your comments. Thank you everybody. Anybody else?</p>