Who Do You Rent From?

It is getting to be the end of another school year and for many towns and cities that means college students will need housing. Some college students live in dorms their first couple of years while older students prefer housing off campus. Most college students do not stay in one apartment or rental house very long.

The landlord pays an important part of apartment or housing rentals for students. Sometimes a landlord is an individual that has rental property that they rent out. Some landlords are companies that belong to property management services. Depending on the size of the apartment, house or community the landlord will have many duties to keep him busy. Besides collecting rent, finding and approving renters, and paperwork, a landlord has many physical duties as well. If the rental property is smaller than the landlord can maintain the interior and exterior of the rental. If the rental property is on the larger side, the landlord can hire out the work to sub-contractors.

In the interior of the rental, the landlord will have to maintain any appliances that came with the lease. The lease will list all major appliances that will be repaired or replaced by the landlord. Before a new tenant can move in, the landlord will make sure that the walls are painted and the carpets cleaned. The landlord should also present the new tenant with a checklist of any dings, dents or other damage to the property. This checklist will be used on checkout to see if the tenant gets their security deposit back.

On the exterior of the building, the landlord will usually be responsible for mowing, landscaping, and the general upkeep of the outside of the structure. Because the landlord is responsible for outside maintenance, he assures that the property looks great year round. In the winter months the landlord will usually plow snow from the parking areas for the safety of the tenants.

Landlords can be very helpful to tenants, they also can be very controlling and picky. Make sure to meet with several landlords before you sign a lease. Ask to see one of their rentals and if possible ask the current tenants how they like their landlord. An additional source of information is from friends and family. They might know of a great landlord and would be glad to pass along that information to you.

There are many laws about landlords and tenants, with each having rights. If you are thinking about becoming a landlord, then do your homework. Some people find renting out apartments or houses is more trouble than it is worth. These people will usually find some other way to invest their money, other than rental property. Most college students cannot afford to buy a home or condo to live in while at college, so renting is the way to go. That is why in college towns, the landlord is very important. However, there is a trend that is going on now in college towns. Some parents will group together and buy a small home or condo and let their college-aged children live there for their years in college. This becomes an investment and a money saver for the parents of the college kids. Plus, you do not have to move you kid every year from apartment to apartment.

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