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Off鈥慍ampus Living

Before You Sign

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Don't be afraid to ask questions

We strongly encourage聽you to view apartments in person if at all possible or via a real time tour. Make note of any new questions you think of during the tour.

A聽lease is a legal contract聽and it is important that you understand and know what you are signing. By understanding the terms of your lease, you will be better prepared to handle difficult situations if they arise. Remember, if you don鈥檛 have a lease then you don鈥檛 have any protection from the Nova Scotia Tenancy Act.聽

Once you sign your lease you, or your co-signer, are responsible for paying rent for the time being in your contract.聽After you sign your lease your landlord/property manager is required to give you a copy of the residential tenant鈥檚 act within 10 days.

Find out everything you can about the specific accommodation before you sign anything.

Some questions to ask and things to look for in your lease:聽

  1. What is the聽security deposit聽amount?聽 Your security deposit cannot be more than half your months鈥� rent, your landlord cannot ask you for additional fees such as cancellation fees, application fees.
  2. What is the rent and聽what's included聽(heat, lights, hot water)?
  3. Make sure the lease contains the following information:聽contact information聽for your landlord, your complete聽mailing address, when your tenancy聽begins and ends聽and who to give important information.
  4. The number of people on the lease
  5. Review any聽rules聽included in the lease.聽
  6. Is tenant insurance a mandatory requirement for the unit?
  7. If I leave, when do I get my聽security deposit back?
  8. If I leave, are there any聽automatic charges聽that I will be billed for like carpet cleaning, garbage removal, general repairs, etc.?
  9. Request a signed copy of the聽pre and post inspection聽report. If this information is not in writing, it is your word against the landlord's.
  10. Am I responsible for any聽damages/repairs聽caused by other people on the lease?
  11. Can I聽sublet聽my apartment if I need to move?
  12. Make sure you are aware of the consequences if one of your聽roommates聽moves out (will your rent change or go up?).

Some questions to ask about your new apartment:

  1. Is any聽furniture听颈苍肠濒耻诲别诲?
  2. Is there聽parking? Is there a cost or is it included?
  3. 础谤别听appliances听颈苍肠濒耻诲别诲?
  4. Do聽all the doors/windows聽lock?
  5. Who is responsible for聽shovelling聽the snow or mowing the grass?
  6. Are there聽screens聽and storm windows?聽
  7. Where are the聽smoke detectors聽and do they work?
  8. Where is the聽fuse box?
  9. Is there good聽water pressure聽in the bathroom and kitchen?
  10. Are the聽faucets听补苍诲听toilets聽in good condition?
  11. Can I have聽pets?
  12. Who do I call for聽repairs?

Be sure to get聽contact information for superintendent and lease company, including a proper mailing address and a cellphone number. Make sure you have a phone number to call in the case of聽emergency.

If your landlord cannot meet the majority of these basic requirements, you might want to continue your search and look for alternate accommodations. If you are unsure about your landlord, you might want to ask for聽tenant references. These current or past tenants may be the deciding factor to signing a lease or deciding upon another property.