Date Posted: 2012-07-24 11:15:10
Site Posted: Myproperty.ph
Looking for a place to rent can be an exhausting experience, especially if options are scarce. This may be why, once you find the apartment, you may be tempted to just grab a pen and sign the lease even before it hits the table. After all, you’ve already verbally discussed the terms, and the landlord seems trustworthy, right?
Until you’ve read the lease for house, apartment or condo for rent carefully, it would be better to holster the pen for now. There are some landlords who might try to take advantage of you by inserting questionable clauses in the lease. Here are some clauses that you should keep a lookout for before you pick up that pen again.
"The renter will shoulder any repairs necessary."
When renting a house, apartment or condo, one of the benefits is that the landlord is in charge of repairing normal wear and tear damage to the unit. It’s only in the event that the damage occurs due to the renter’s negligence that the renter will be required to take responsibility for fixing whatever he broke.
"The renter agrees to pay cleaning/maintenance/administrative fees."
For extra services that are not included in the lease, make sure that you ask exactly what these additional maintenance services are and how much they will cost you. Also, watch out if the landlord asks for various charges like guest accommodation or exceedingly high late-rent fees.
"The landlord can enter the unit whenever he wants."
It’s understandable that the landlord would want to check on the rental regularly so he can protect his asset from damages. On the other hand, entering the premises whenever he wants is a violation of your right to privacy. The only time when a landlord should be allowed entry unannounced is during emergencies like fires and floods. Otherwise, he should inform you ahead of time when he plans to stop by and for what reason.
"The landlord is not accountable for whatever happens in the unit."
If the landlord waives all responsibility for damages or accidents in the unit, he’ll end up escaping responsibility for ones that are actually his fault. Let’s say that part of your ceiling is collapsing and you’ve reported it to the landlord, who says he’ll get to it when he can. If the ceiling indeed falls and causes damage or injury and you signed the contract with this clause, it would be hard to pin things on him if you try to get him to pay.
Because contracts are legal documents, it would be near-impossible to contest them should you encounter a clause your overlooked and don’t agree with. If you’re still unsure as to your rights as a renter, consult a professional who can advise you so you don’t get trapped in a contract you can’t escape. Remember: when in doubt, either negotiate or remove the clause from the contract.
Jillian Cariola, Writer
(cover image by jppi)
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