Renting off campus for the first time

Signing your first lease is easier when you know what to look for before money changes hands. Here is how to read a lease, protect your deposit, share a place with roommates and spot a listing that is likely a scam.

Before you sign

Read the whole lease, not only the rent line. Note the start and end dates, who pays which utilities, the rules on guests and pets, and what happens if you need to leave early. Many student leases run a full twelve months even though classes end in spring, so ask whether subletting is allowed.

Landlords often ask for a credit check, proof of income or a co-signer. If you have little credit history, a parent or another adult may need to sign as guarantor, which makes them responsible for the rent if it goes unpaid.

Deposits and move-in

Before you move a single box, walk through the unit and record its condition in writing and in dated photos. Send a copy to the landlord and keep one for yourself. That record is your evidence when the deposit comes back.

Rules on deposits, repairs and notice periods come from state and local law, and they differ widely. Many campuses have an off-campus housing office or student legal services that can explain the rules where you live.

Renters insurance is worth pricing. It covers your belongings and some liability, which a landlord's policy does not.

Keep on file

• A signed copy of the lease
• Move-in photos and the condition record
• Receipts for the deposit and rent
• The landlord's contact details

Roommates and scams

On a shared lease, each tenant is often responsible for the full rent, so one roommate leaving can put the whole amount on the rest. A short written agreement about bills, cleaning and guests helps everyone keep track.

Be wary of a listing whose owner cannot show you the unit, asks for payment by wire or gift card, or pushes you to pay before you have seen a lease. Search the address and confirm who owns the property before sending anything.

A rent price far below similar places nearby is another warning sign. Your campus off-campus housing office may keep a list of known scams and landlords with complaints against them.