Signing a Lease as a First-Time Renter: What to Check

Before you sign: know the full cost

Add these together to see the true monthly and upfront cost. Our guide to late fees explains what landlords can charge.

• Monthly rent and the due date.
• Additional monthly charges: parking, storage, amenities, pet rent, utilities, trash, internet.
• Late fees and grace periods.
• Upfront costs: deposit, first month's rent, any last month's rent, application fees and move-in fees.

The security deposit

Check the amount, whether it is refundable, what it can be used for and how it will be returned. Many states cap deposits and set return deadlines. Non-refundable fees may not be allowed in some states. See our guide to deposit limits by state.

Lease length, renewal and ending

• How long is the lease?
• Does it renew automatically, and what notice is needed to end it?
• What happens if you need to leave early? Is there an early termination fee?
• Can you sublet or assign?

Repairs and maintenance

The lease should say how to request repairs and how quickly the landlord responds. Be cautious of clauses making you responsible for all repairs or major systems; landlords usually cannot shift their habitability duties. See our guide to repair obligations.

Landlord entry

Check how much notice the landlord must give before entering, except in emergencies. Many states require reasonable notice, often 24 hours.

Rules that affect daily life

• Guests and overnight visitors.
• Pets and pet fees.
• Noise, smoking and parking.
• Alterations like painting or mounting TVs.
• Renter's insurance requirements.

Clauses that may not be enforceable

Some lease terms may be void under state law, such as waivers of the landlord's duty to keep the home habitable, waivers of your right to sue for landlord negligence, or unreasonable penalties. Their presence in a lease does not make them valid. Our guide to illegal lease clauses lists common examples.

Inspect and document

Before or on move-in, walk through the unit with a checklist. Note and photograph every existing issue: scratches, stains, broken fixtures and appliance problems. Get the landlord to sign the checklist or send it by email so there is a dated record. This protects your deposit.

Get promises in writing

If the landlord promises to repaint, fix the dishwasher or allow a pet, get it added to the lease or confirmed in writing. Verbal promises are hard to enforce.

Co-signers and guarantors

First-time renters are often asked for a guarantor, such as a parent. The guarantor becomes responsible if you do not pay. Make sure they understand what they are signing; see our guide to guarantor agreements.

A worked example

Aaron, 22, is about to sign a lease at $1,500 a month. He adds up parking ($75), trash ($25), amenity fee ($40) and pet rent ($35): the real monthly cost is $1,675. He notices a clause making him responsible for all appliance repairs and asks for it to be limited to damage he causes. The landlord agrees, and he documents three existing issues at move-in.

Sample questions for the landlord

"Before I sign, could you confirm the total monthly charges beyond rent, how repair requests are handled and how quickly, how much notice is needed to end the lease, and whether you would limit clause [number] to damage I cause?"

Common mistakes

• Looking only at base rent.
• Not reading renewal and notice terms.
• Skipping the move-in inspection.
• Relying on verbal promises.
• Assuming every clause is enforceable.

Quick checklist

• Total monthly and upfront cost calculated?
• Deposit amount and return rules clear?
• Renewal, notice and early termination terms understood?
• Repair process and responsibilities reasonable?
• Guest, pet and alteration rules acceptable?
• Move-in condition documented?
• All promises in writing?

Key terms explained

These are terms first-time renters meet most often.

• Lease term: how long the lease lasts.
• Security deposit: money held against unpaid rent and damage.
• Grace period: days after the due date before a late fee applies.
• Guarantor: someone who promises to pay if you do not.
• Habitability: the landlord's duty to keep the home fit to live in.
• Renter's insurance: insurance covering your belongings and liability.

Viewing the unit

Visit in person, or have someone you trust visit, before signing. Check water pressure, hot water, heating and cooling, windows and locks, signs of leaks or pests, mobile signal and noise. Ask current tenants or neighbors about the landlord's responsiveness if you can. Photos in a listing do not show mold, pests or a heating system that barely works.

Avoiding rental scams

First-time renters are common targets of scams. Warning signs include a landlord who cannot show the unit in person, requests for payment by wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency, pressure to pay before signing a lease, and rent far below similar units. Verify the landlord owns or manages the property, for example through county property records, and never pay before seeing the unit and a written lease.

Application fees and screening

Many states limit application fees or require landlords to provide a receipt and explain screening criteria. Some cities require landlords to consider applicants in order or limit the use of criminal history or credit history. If you are rejected based on a credit report, you are entitled to an adverse action notice explaining your rights.

Your rights once you move in

Tenants generally have rights to a habitable home, to privacy subject to lawful entry, to request repairs, and to be protected from retaliation for making complaints. Evictions require a court process in every state; landlords generally cannot change locks, remove belongings or cut off utilities to force you out. Knowing these basics helps you respond calmly if a problem arises.

Building rental history

Paying rent on time and leaving on good terms builds a rental history that helps with future applications. Keep your lease, payment records and deposit return documents. Some rent reporting services add on-time rent to your credit file, which can help first-time renters build credit.

Questions to ask current tenants

If you can, ask a current tenant how quickly repairs are handled, whether the heating and hot water are reliable, how noisy the building is and whether deposits are returned fairly. Their answers reveal what the lease cannot.

A second example: the verbal promise

Lina is told the landlord will repaint and replace the stained carpet before move-in. The lease says nothing. On move-in day, neither has happened. Because the promise was verbal, she has little leverage. Had it been added to the lease or confirmed by email, she could have insisted on the work or a rent reduction. Put every promise in writing.

Read the whole lease

Read every page, including addendums, before signing.

Get a second look before you sign

A first lease is a big commitment. Upload it to see the clauses that matter explained in plain English, with any that may be unenforceable in your state flagged.