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Question Checklist for Off-Campus Rentals in Athens and Columbus

Question ChecklistWhen searching for housing in Athens or Columbus, including rentals close to OU or OSU, the wisest course is to use a checklist and series of questions to work from. Knowing what you’re getting into and avoiding pitfalls will not only save your sanity and personal finances but your credit rating as well.

If you’re planning to share your rental housing with others, naturally they should be in on the process, too, and have their own questions and concerns. Get together and brainstorm a consolidated checklist so everyone’s on the same page. The same rules apply to Columbus apartments close to OSU, a variety of which are offered on Krause Rental Properties’ website.

Rent Questions

  • What does the rent cover? (e.g., what utilities are covered by rent, and which are included in the rent?)
  • Is there a deposit? If so, how much? Is it refundable when you move out?
  • Are first and last months’ rent required?
  • Is the rent paid monthly or by the semester?
  • Is the lease for nine months or 12 months, and what period does it cover?
  • Can rent be paid online?
  • Is there a commitment for the landlord to not raise the rent during the period covered by the lease?

Pet Questions

  • Are pets allowed and what restrictions are there?
  • Is a pet deposit required?
  • Do fees and deposit differ if cat or dog, or by the number of pets?
  • Does the size of the pet matter? (Some rentals allow small dogs but not large ones, and whether a medium pooch is considered small or large may be up to the landlord.)
  • Are pets aside from dogs and cats allowed? And under what circumstances?

Lease Requirements

  • Are you required to mow the yard and otherwise make the outside area presentable?
  • Who’s responsible for paying which utilities?
  • Who’s responsible for shoveling walks and driveways and raking leaves?
  • Is porch furniture allowed?
  • Are certain storage areas in the rental house or apartment reserved for the landlord?

Walk Through Checklist

There are some things you’ll want to inspect when you first visit a student apartment or house, before you even consider signing a lease. Is there a decent amount of natural light (this can affect your electric bill)? Do all wall outlets work? (Bring a phone charger and try out a few random outlets on the tour.) Are there enough wall sockets for your purposes, without having to resort to extension cords? What kind of water pressure do you have in the shower? Give it a quick try when you visit the bathroom. How solid is the rental’s construction? Does every step on the stairs or upstairs make a creaking noise? Do doors shut properly? Do you feel any uncomfortable drafts? How does the rentals heating and cooling system work, and are you responsible for basic maintenance (such as air filter replacement)? You’ll definitely want to check if off-campus parking in Columbus or Athens comes with the rental house or apartment.

Things to be Aware of in a Lease

Before you sign your name on the lease of your apartment or house for rent in Athens or Columbus, make sure you know what you’re signing. Some landlords will sneak clauses into the language that don’t sound like much at first but can carry some pretty big consequences.

Is there a restriction on portable or window air conditioners? Some older rentals in Athens suffer from outdated wiring. Landlords have been known to restrict the number of window air conditioners, sometimes banning them altogether. The good news is that many rental houses and most apartments enjoy central A/C.

If you’re planning to rent the apartment for more than one year, can you expect a substantial hike in rent? You might want to consider getting language added to the lease that accounts for that possibility.

If you are allowed pets and paid a pet deposit, make sure that language is added to the lease as well.

Finally, be aware of any late fees for your off campus housing and what they are. Some fees may be reasonable but watch out that they are not too exorbitant. You don’t want to be subjected to highway robbery if the lease is only a day late. When renting from Krause Rental Properties in Athens, you can be assured that you’ll receive satisfactory answers – and performance – on all of these questions. The same goes for Krause’s Ohio State University student rentals in Columbus.

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