Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a lease?
A: A lease is a legally binding agreement that outlines the rights and responsibilities of a landlord and tenants. A lease details rules by which a landlord and tenants agree to handle matters arising under the rental agreement. The majority of leases in the University area are for a full calendar year. In addition, most leases require that each tenant is responsible for the entire amount of the rent. Therefore, if one of your roommates fails to pay the month’s rent, you may be held responsible for paying the entire amount of the rent for that month.
Other standard clauses in a lease include:
- Names and addresses of all parties involved
- The amount of rent, when it is due, and whether there are fees for late payment
- The beginning and ending dates of the lease, and the amount of the security deposit
- Who is responsible for paying utilities such as heat, hot water, electric, gas, phone, and cable
- Whether or not pets are allowed
- Who is responsible for repairs and maintenance; for example, sometimes luxury items. like dishwashers are not the responsibility of the landlord to fix
- Who is responsible for disposing of trash, cutting the grass, and shoveling the sidewalks
You should be sure that you keep a copy of your lease for your records. You may need to refer back to the terms of the lease if you have a dispute with your landlord. If your landlord does not provide you with a copy of your lease, request one before moving in.