HOUSING
How do you find as apartment to rent?
Your main sources of information are the classified
advertisements in local newspapers and what you hear
from other people. Some agencies which advertise apartments
may charge a fee. This does not mean they will find
a home for you, but they may show you more of what is
available. Be careful before you sign any type of contract.
Once you decide on a price range, size, and preferred
location, you should be able to identify several possible
apartments. Normally, you telephone for an appointment
to see the apartments.
Look for convenient parking, nearby bus routes, shopping,
schools, and laundry facilities (washing machines) in
or near the building.
Ask the landlord or the person renting the apartment
what facilities are included in the rent, such as parking,
whether or not you can keep a pet and how many people
can live in the apartment.
The landlord will hold the apartment for you after
you pay a deposit (which will be applied to the rent)
and you both sign an offer to rent the apartment.
What can you expect in a rented apartment?
Every apartment should have:
- Its own door, which can be locked, to a common hallway
or to the street;
- A kitchen with a sink and hot and cold water, countertop,
shelves or cupboards and appliances such as a stove
and a refrigerator;
- Closets and storage space;
- A private bathroom with a sink, toilet and bath
or shower.
Your apartment will be equipped with several essential
utilities, including:
- A heating system;
- Light and electricity;
- Hot and cold water;
- Telephone lines; and
- Sewage pipes.
You should find out if the costs of electricity, gas,
heat and water are included in the rent, or whether
you will be charged directly by the utility companies.
Property taxes are paid by the landlord. You must pay
the costs of telephone and cable television connection
and the monthly bills for those services.
Furnished apartments should include beds, chairs, tables,
floor covering, light fixtures, curtains, basic kitchen
equipment in addition to utilities, a stove and a refrigerator.
What legal arrangements are involved in renting?
In many cities there is a standard rental agreement,
or lease, that both you and your landlord sign. This
is a printed document of one or two pages which specifies
the number of rooms, utilities and options such as parking
or storage space.
Read it carefully before signing. Be sure you understand
which utilities you will pay, which will be paid by
the landlord and what penalty you may have to pay if
you leave before the lease is over. An immigrant-serving
agency will be able to help you understand exactly what
is expected of you.
The lease will most likely be for at least one year,
and you will have to make an initial payment, possibly
the first and last month's rent. You may also be asked
for a damage deposit, which will be returned to you
when you leave if you have not caused any damage to
the property beyond normal use. For this reason it is
important to note any damage and tell your landlord
before you move in.
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