Before Signing Your Lease
Before you commit to renting a housing unit, you will want to clearly understand the responsibilities involved with each of the terms below. They should be explicitly identified in your lease. Compare any lease you consider signing with applicable tenant-landlord laws. Some helpful links:
- Fair Housing Rights
- Tenant Rights, Laws, + Protections in California
- Residential Lease/Rental Agreement (Specific for State of CA)
- Fair Housing Hotline -1-800-446-3247
As you are reading through your lease, make sure the following items are addressed within the document. If some things are not addressed, be sure to ask the landlord about his or her policy regarding those items. You may also request to have items added to the lease. For questions about leases and legal issues involved in tenant-landlord relationships, you can follow the links above.
Checklist:
Rent
- Amount
- Due date
- Penalty for late payment
- Reduction for advance payment
- Price changes
- Conditions for price change
Security/Damage Deposit
- Amount
- Conditions for return
- Date for return
Termination
- Ability to sublet
- Conditions for sublet
- Conditions for terminating lease
Parking
- Location
- Limitations
- Street Sweeping
Time of Occupancy
- Dates (be exact)
- Requirements for moving
- Number of occupants (min/max)
Damages
- Responsibility for changes of agreement
- Assessment of damages
- Responsibility for repairs
Changes in Agreement
- Conditions for changes of agreement
- Process for changing agreement
Laundry Facilities
- Provision of facilities
- Ability for tenant to install machines
- Other limitations
Inspection
- When
- By Whom (landlord, others?)
- Letter of compliance
- Notification of inspection
Additional Costs
- Utilities
- Overnight/weekend guests
- Parking
- Furnishings
- Cleaning
- Other
Restrictions
- Noise
- Storage
- Pets
- Alterations (painting, pic hanging)
- Conduct
- Social gatherings
- Waterbeds
- Other
Cleaning
- Responsibility
- Frequency
- Equipment provided
Special Considerations
- Planned improvements/special work
Owner
- Name + address of property owner
- Name + address of property manager