Contract issues

It’s a big move so you have to make sure you’re covered on every aspect so never sign a lease without seeing the apartment even if it’s a bargain. Second of all, our advice is not to sign a contract that has an automatic renewal clause, because you may not know what’s going to happen next year. Maybe you change work or move to a new city and a renewed contract would only force you to pay even if you’re not living there.
Last thing and a very important if you enjoy privacy, keep away from a lease that gives the landlord unlimited access without notification. Tenants have their rights and a landlord should be permitted without notice only in case of emergencies.
Inspect the apartmentMost important thing when you inspect an apartment you plan to lease (or buy) is not to let the looks deceive you. Look for the “hidden” attributes and if there’s any damage ask for it to be repaired otherwise you may be blamed for it later.

8. What to look for
You like the price, the area is great, but you need to see where you’re going to live. Here are a few things to take a closer look at:
Pipes – be it gas, water or anything else, check for leaks. Sink faucets, shower heads and water – make sure water (both cold and hot) really comes out of the faucets and the shower head and it’s with a decent pressure. Also the toilet has to flush properly and thoroughly. Electricity and appliances should all be working. Check if all the lights or other electric devices are operational. Also check the air conditioner and the heater to see if they’re good for anything. Walls and windows. Check the windows to see if they open, close and lock properly. Also inspect the walls. The more walls in common (shared with adjoining apartments), the greater the chance of noise from next door. Noise. For a student, outside noise may be extremely disturbing and may interfere with learning. If it’s a highly trafficked area you may have problems concentrating and even sleeping. For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments

Subletting your Apartment

You’ve finally landed the job of your dreams. It allows you to do the work you’ve always dreamed of doing for a great salary and amazing benefits. The perfect opportunity, right? It would be, if it weren’t 200 miles away. You don’t mind moving but have a lease for the next six months. Don’t give up that ideal opportunity until you read over our advice on how to sublet. Subletting means essentially sharing a lease with someone else until it expires. It has its risks but if done properly, it will be possible to move early without breaking a lease. Here are the steps you need to follow to make your sublet experience a success.Get Your Landlord’s PermissionRead your lease to determine your subletting rights. If your landlord profusely forbids it, try to explain your situation in writing and negotiate a solution. You can offer to help your landlord find a new tenant, although you are still responsible for the rent until a new lease is signed. If subletting is permitted, get your landlord’s permission in writing before moving on to the next step. Find a Trust-worthy LeaserAsk around your circle of friends and co-workers first. If you don’t get a response, post a flyer in a coffee shop you frequent, community center or place an ad in the classifieds. Describe your apartment and the dates that it will be available along with your contact information. You can try to advertise for the same rent you are paying but may have to reduce the rate since you are limited in time. Interview interested people just as if you were hiring them to work for you. You will still be responsible for the lease so you need to make sure the person who moves in will pay rent on time and keep the apartment well-maintained. Here are some questions to ask a potential sublessor: Where are you employed and what is your monthly after-tax income? Why are you seeking short-term housing? How many people will be living the apartment? Any children? Any pets? Do you plan on having any social events or guests staying at the apartment? Do you consider yourself a clean person? (The person’s appearance is one clue to the answer although it is not a guarantee that their appearance reflects their housekeeping habits). Give the best potential sublet candidates a tour of the apartment. Answer their questions as honestly as possible and be candid about any problems. You don’t want the sublessor to back out in a month or two since you will be left to fill in the rent. Sign a Written AgreementEven if you were lucky enough to have a friend to take over your lease, you still need to have a written agreement. You can make one yourself but unless you’re a lawyer, this is not advisable. The Internet Legal Research Group has a sublet form for every state. Go to http://www.ilrg.com/forms/sublease/us/ and print out the form for your state. A professionally formatted version of the form is available for a fee. If not mentioned in the agreement, you need to add in a statement regarding the security deposit. Since your landlord is most likely not required to return it to you until the lease is over, you will need to come to an agreement over it. For example, if the sublessor puts a hole in the wall is he/she responsible for the security deposit? If you don’t address it the money will surely come out of your pocket. Depending on the terms in your lease and state laws, you may have tenant’s rights over the sublessor. This means you can evict the person if they do not pay rent or in any other way violate the terms of the written agreement. Explain this to the sublessor so that there is no confusion later. Make sure the sublessor is clear on when he/she can move in and leave them a way to contact you as well as the owner of the apartment. Leave an emergency maintenance number as well as the place where the rent should be delivered.

Habitability

Tenants have a right to habitable housing, which includes safe and decent housing.
The law provides that safe and decent housing includes the following:
Effective waterproofing and weather protection of roof, exterior walls, windows, doors.
Plumbing and gas facilities that conform to state and local law at the time of installation, maintained in good working order.
A water supply that produces hot and cold running water.
Heat that conforms to applicable law at the time of installation maintained in good working order.
Clean common areas, free from accumulations of debris, filth, garbage, rodents and vermin.
An adequate number of garbage and rubbish receptacles.
Floors, stairways and railings maintained in good repair. If a tenant's apartment fails to provide these guarantees, the law provides protections for tenants to take action against the landlord. A tenant may repair the damage and deduct the cost of the repairs from the rent. A tenant may also withhold rent under certain circumstances.
Repair and deduct and rent withholding can be risky, however. A tenant who asserts such rights risks an eviction. A tenant should only attempt these remedies upon the advice and assistance of an attorney. A safer option is to report any problems with your unit to the local Health Department. To avoid an eviction, a tenant should always pay his or her rent on time.
Making habitability issues more difficult is the fact that landlords have become less tolerant of tenants. In years past, landlords would accommodate tenants in order to avoid a vacancy. In Los Angeles County, there are more tenants than available apartments. More than ever before, landlords are willing to evict "trouble" tenants.
Some landlords consider a tenant "trouble" if the tenant simply asks for necessary repairs to her apartment. Even a complaint regarding legitimate repairs may give a landlord an incentive to evict the tenant so another tenant who will accept the problems or pay the higher market rents can move in.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments