When you are going about searching through available rental properties, you will need to ask yourself some crucial questions. The sections below will help you in finding the answer to some of the questions you should be asking before making a final decision of any kind.
When you are meeting with prospective landlords, it is very important to ask these questions:
It is definitely important for you to know which, if any, utilities are covered with the cost of rent. There will be certain landlords who include all utilities with rent, including gas, electric heating, or oil, and there are those who include none. You will also need to make a point of asking what the average cost of utilities are for that particular property.
Another very important question to ask prospective landlords is what the length of the lease you will have to sign is. Make sure to carefully look over any and all tenant terms and conditions before signing any legally binding documents.
You will also need to know which changes you can make to the property you are renting, including doing things like painting and making certain other aesthetic changes that may involve drilling holes or causing some other minor damage.
Many landlords forbid smoking in their rental properties, and in many places only certain types of pets are allowed. Make sure to find out these things if any of them apply to you.
It is important that you know what the neighborhood you are moving into is like, so take the time to find this out when looking at rental properties.
Whether it is beautiful landscaping or perhaps amenities like a gym and pool, look for things that set each property apart from the others.
You will need to know what you are responsible for in terms of maintenance, including the landscaping, so make certain you ask each landlord you meet with.
Find out where you can park with each rental property and whether or not there is any additional cost involved.
The level of security in the apartment complex you might be living in will be very important, so take the time to find out what kind of measures they take to ensure the safety of their residents.
The following will provide you with a place to start when it comes to what you should consider about each rental property. Make sure to add any other questions you may have that are not listed here.
It is against the law to deny a person the right to rent a home, apartment, or any other type of property because they have children. There is a case of a single mother living in British Columbia who was turned down by five different landlords because she had children, and she ended up getting compensation from the courts after taking her cases to the BC Human Rights Commission.
Despite what you may think, you do have legal rights when it comes to which questions you are required to answer and which you do not have to when speaking with a prospective landlord. The Canadian Human Rights Code has outlined your rights as a tenant or prospective tenant in full, so it is important to know what exactly they are before meeting with landlords of rental properties you are interested in.
If you feel as though any of your rights as a prospective tenant or tenant have been violated, it is important that you get into contact with an advocacy agency or at the very least someone at a provincial/territorial office so you can get the assistance you need. You can also contact your local humans rights office for more information.
