Skyline of New Haven, Connecticut
Image via Wikipedia

I ended up signing a lease for a house remotely that I regret and cost me a month’s security deposit and partial first month’s rent. I am hoping this checklist helps students avoid the mistake I made.

It’s risky to finalize an apartment remotely, from just pictures and over a video call. It’s better to go see the place physically before signing the lease. If you are traveling from another country or state, plan ahead and stay for a week in an Airbnb and you will be able to find a place within a week. There’s enough supply of good apartments in New Haven.

Things to look out for:

  • Ventilation and Daylight
    • Does each of the rooms have enough windows?
    • Do the windows open sufficiently to air the room?
    • Do the windows close to provide air-tight sealing?
    • Do the windows have a mesh net layer, to prevent insects from overtaking your house?
    • Is there an opportunity to cross-ventilate the house, in case of smoke, or a bad odor, or if it’s just hot that day and you want to open the windows?
  • Workmanship
    • Do you see a shoddy handyman job? Details have a lot to reveal.
    • Do you see broken switches, unsealed edges, gaps between door jambs, doors that don’t shut, and locks that are broken?
  • Appliances – Are they in good condition, do they have broken parts? GE, Bosch, Whirlpool, and Maytag are reliable brands
    • Dishwasher
    • Refrigerator (does it have enough space for your requirement – for freezer storage, for weekly meal prep)
    • Washer (Is it coin/card operated, is it in-unit?)
    • Dryer (Is it coin/card operated, is it in-unit?)
    • Stove / Oven (Gas or induction)
    • Air conditioning units
  • Utilities (may or may not be included with the rent)
    • Ensure there’s clarity on who (tenant/landlord) is paying for which of the utilities
      • Gas
      • Electricity
      • Heating
      • Water
      • Sewage (Can be one of the most expensive utilities for apartments)
      • Wifi (Verizon and Xfinity might already have a line for that apartment reducing the time to start service. However, you will individually have to check for each apartment on their respective websites)
  • Mold / Mildew
    • Mold is a big problem in the US as spaces have poor ventilation due to the cold climate, and bathrooms rely on mechanical exhausts to keep them dry and don’t have windows
    • Check for mold, visible signs of black blue-green patches on walls are a big 🚩
    • Check for unevenness on the walls, as it could mean mold has been painted over without eliminating the cause which could be water seepage from the roof, broken plumbing, or day-to-day activities like showers wetting the walls
  • Landlord Credibility
    • Use LinkedIn, and Facebook to do a quick check. If their account has recently been created, then that’s a 🚩
    • Use https://www.spokeo.com/ for cross-verifying their details
    • Read up on Google Reviews for leasing companies
    • Read up on Yelp Reviews for individual house owners
  • Landlord Behavior
    • Are they professional in their communication?
      • A landlord I was communicating with used the word “jerking” when I said I was no longer interested 🚩
    • Are they responsive on text/call?
    • Are they too responsive to the point of desperation? That’s a 🚩
    • 🚩 Are they pressurizing to get you to close quickly? They are probably, trying to scam/earn quick bucks.
    • Be aware of the usual tactic
      • “I have x other students/clients waiting to close the deal”
      • “As we were talking on the phone, I received an email canceling the apartment, so it just opened up”
  • Contract / Leasing Agreement
    • Is it a properly drawn-out legal contract? A Word document with just a name change is not acceptable, and might not be admissible in court.
    • Be vocal about shady, unfair, unethical, and illegal clauses within the contract
      • It’s illegal to charge more than 2 month’s rent security deposit as per the Connecticut law
      • Some landlords sneak in the clause to have the right to access the property without explicitly taking your permission, and giving you at least 24 hours notice. This is not legal
      • Recording / Cameras in private areas is NOT okay
  • Miscellaneous Personal Preferences to be mindful of
    • Do the owners live within the premises? Are they going to give you space/privacy?
    • Pets might have additional charges, good to check with the landlord before signing
    • Parking – street parking, paid parking availability