Renters Guide: 5 Tips for Renters in 2022

As the country is beginning to emerge from the pandemic, some people have begun moving again.  Whether you’re looking for a new apartment or looking to renew your lease, we’ve got some helpful tips for renters in 2022 to bear in mind. In no particular order, here are five helpful tips for renters to consider in 2022.

Know Your Rights

There are many websites that outline renters’ rights, it is important to know that they vary from state to state and can change from year to year.  If you do a search for tenants’ rights in Ohio you find specific meaning for terms like “right to habitability,” “right to return of the security deposit,” “landlord retaliation,” and your right to notice before landlord entry.  Hopefully, you’ll find an apartment where none of this will become an issue, but it is good to familiarize yourself with your rights at least once per year to account for changes and review your lease for any discrepancies between the lease and the law.

Keep it Official

Sometimes private landlords will prefer to have some things written into the lease while other things are agreed upon verbally.  Even if the landlord is a personal friend or someone who was referred by a trusted third party, it is always best to protect yourself by getting everything in writing.  Ensure that every fee, responsibility for both parties, and policies are written on a document signed by both parties. Get a detailed list of everything from which bills you’re responsible for, to move-in/move-out procedures, repair requests and expectations, security deposit, pet deposit, and more.

Check for Basic Safety

This may seem like an obvious suggestion, but it is all too easy to let the batteries go bad on these detectors especially if the apartment has been sitting unoccupied for a while. Check your carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarms to make sure they work. Inspect your windows to see if they are lockable, check the deadbolt on your door, and see if there is a secondary lock such as a door chain.

Test Appliances and Utilities Before Signing

If possible, visit the house or apartment before moving in. If you do, check the sinks, toilet, shower, stove, oven, microwave, and fridge for any signs of defect or malfunction. You can ask the landlord to fix these before your agreed move-in date.  There is nothing worse than a long day of moving only to find that your new apartment has an issue and you have to fill out a service request or contact your landlord before you’ve settled into your new place.

Purchase Renter’s Insurance

In most instances, this can be bundled with auto or other forms of insurance and is usually very affordable.  In Ohio, it is an average of $20 per month in 2022.  If your rent is $1,000 per month then that is 2% of your monthly rent in exchange for added peace of mind.  Renters insurance typically covers theft, water damage, natural disasters, property damage, and sometimes bodily injury.  That is a lot of protection for very little money.

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In conclusion, many of these tips will be redundant if you rent from a professional service like Cincy Rents but we want you to have a good rental experience wherever you choose to do business.  We hope this has been helpful and feel free to look at our current listings for professionally managed rental properties in the Cincinnati area.