Questions to Ask Your Landlord

When renting, you'll likely have lots of questions throughout the process: like how do I find the right rental? When should I schedule a tour? And what do I need to know before moving in?

You don’t want to sign a lease only to learn you can’t have a dog, or that your rent comes with a bunch of fees you didn’t know about. This is why it’s important to ask your landlord or property manager questions whenever you feel uncertain or need clarity. We’ll cover all the questions to ask your landlord during common renting situations. 

In this article:

• Lease terms and conditions
• Rent
• Security deposit
• Utilities and related services
• Maintenance and repairs
• Pet policies
• Insurance
• Security
• Noise and guests
• Parking rules
• Renovations and decorating
• Moving in and out
• Contact information

Lease terms and conditions

A rental agreement (also known as a lease) is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord or property owner. 

Here are some questions to consider: 

1. What lease lengths do you offer? (i.e. 12 months, six months, month-by-month)
2. What are the rules around breaking the lease early? What kind of fees apply? 
3. What are the renewal terms?
4. How long in advance will I have to inform you if I plan to renew or move out?

Rent

You don’t want to wind up living somewhere that you can’t afford. We have a tool that tells you how much rent you can afford to pay, so you can avoid that issue altogether. Just like paying your rent on time can help build your credit, missing payments could hurt your credit, too. Worst-case scenario: you could wind up without a place to live. 

To make your life easier, Zillow lets you pay your rent online. But you should make sure you have a clear understanding of how much your rent will be and when it's due before you sign a lease. Here are some things to ask around rent:

1. How much will the rent be? 
2. When is rent due? 
3. Do you have a grace period for late rent payments? If so, how long? 
4. How much are late fees, and how often do they increase?
5. Can I pay rent online?
6. What payment methods do you accept?

Security deposit

You’ll likely have to put down a deposit when you sign your lease. The amount varies from property to property, and the conditions for getting that money back may vary as well. Can you get the money back if, say, you make a bunch of holes to hang your art? 

1. How much is the security deposit?
2. What are the conditions of getting my deposit back? 
3. Who gets to keep any interest earned on my deposit? (This may be governed by law in certain places. Or your landlord may have a policy that you could negotiate).
4. When and how will my deposit be returned when my lease is up?

Utilities and related services

Sometimes your rent will include the cost of your water, electricity, or other utilities. But you want to be sure there aren’t any surprises about what expenses you’re responsible for. 

1. Are there any utilities included in the rent?
2. What utilities will I have to pay separately?
3. Do I have to set up each utility, or are some already connected?
4. Are there any additional fees for things like trash or parking?
5. Are there any fees for services I can opt into or out of?

Maintenance and repairs

If your sink isn’t working, whose responsibility is it to repair? Who should you call if you get locked out of your apartment? You should have the answers to these questions before any emergencies arise.

1. Do you have a maintenance worker on staff? What are their hours? 
2. Is there an emergency maintenance number I can call after hours?
3. Are there fees that come with maintenance repairs?
4. What kinds of things does maintenance not repair? 
5. If there is no maintenance on staff, what are the alternatives? And do I have to pay for that?
6. How long does it usually take for repairs to be made?

Pet policies

You want your fur baby to be comfortable, too. That’s why we’ve created a filter that allows you to search for pet-friendly rentals. You should still ask questions to ensure there aren’t any surprises that may force you to rehome your pet, or move out altogether.

1. Do you accept pets? 
2. Are there limits to the number of pets I can have? 
3. Are there breed or weight restrictions?
4. How much is pet rent? And are there other pet fees? 
5. Are there any areas where pets are not allowed?
6. Do pets need to be leashed while in shared outdoor spaces? 

Insurance

Renters insurance can give you financial protection if your things are damaged or stolen. It can also give you liability protection if someone gets hurt in your rental.

Some places legally require you to have renters’ insurance. And others may require your landlord to have insurance as well. And if you’re not required to have any, should you get it anyway? Renters insurance is usually affordable. You can decide if renters insurance is worth it for yourself. 

1. Do you require renters to have renters’ insurance?
2. Do you have any minimum coverage requirements? 

Security

Peace of mind is huge at home. There may be safety measures in place that you see, and others that you can’t see. Either way, be sure to ask what security looks like at this property.

1. Are there security cameras around the property? If so, where?
2. Are there security guards patrolling the property?
3. Who should I contact if I have security concerns?
4. How well-lit are the exterior shared spaces? 
5. (If there’s a gate to drive or walk through to enter the property) Is the entry gate ever left open?
6. Does the rental come with an alarm system?
7. What measures are there to ensure packages don’t get stolen? 
8. What do I need to access the building (i.e. a key fob)?
9. Is there a neighborhood watch group in the neighborhood?

Noise, guests, and community rules

This could really affect how happy you are in your home. If you want to live somewhere quiet, you want to know your community rules emphasize as much. And if you like to have friends over during the week, you may want to live somewhere that isn’t too strict.

1. What are the quiet hours in this community/complex?
2. If things get too loud, who should I contact?
3. How loud are we allowed to be?
4. Are we allowed to have guests over? How many and how often?
5. Can guests stay overnight?
6. Are there rules around grilling, smoking, using shared outdoor spaces, etc.?
7. Are there any community rules I should know about?

Parking rules

This may not be necessary depending on where you live or whether you drive. If it is, check if there are documents you have to sign or steps to take so your car is allowed to park on site.

1. Is there parking? If so, is it a lot, garage, or street parking? 
2. Do I need a permit to park here?
3. How many parking spots does each apartment get?
4. Are there parking fees? If so, how much are they, and how often are they due?
5. Are there restrictions on what I can park here? Like a motorcycle or extended cab truck?
6. Where can guests park?

Renovations and decorating

Yes, you can still make a rental feel like it's yours through decor. It’s always worth a conversation with your landlord if you want to paint walls or upgrade kitchen hardware. 

1. Can I hang things up on the walls? 
2. What’s the policy on drilling into walls?
3. What are the rules on painting the walls?
4. Can I put up wallpaper? What if it's removable, like peel-and-stick?
5. Can I install new lighting fixtures?

Moving in and moving out

Knowing the answers about moving in and moving out ahead of time can save you some headaches. The last thing you want when you’re moving in (or out) is to be told that you actually have to park your moving truck down the block because there’s not enough space outside the building.

1. What is the move-in process?
2. Is there a move-in inspection list I can use to note the condition of the apartment? (This can help you get your deposit back down the line).
3. Are there areas where I can and can’t park a moving truck? 
4. How long in advance will I have to inform you when I plan to move out?

Contact information

If you need to get in touch with your landlord, it should be easy to do so. Ask them if that would be the case for you, and how you can reach them.

1. What’s the best way to reach you?
2. When are you generally available?
3. If I can’t reach you, who else should I reach out to?
4. If you need something from me, will you call me, or will it be someone else, like an assistant or third party?

After you ask any (or all) of these questions, and you like the answers you get, it’s time to apply. You know how rentals tend to have application fees? When you apply for a rental with Zillow, you pay a one-time $35 fee, and can apply to as many participating rentals as you want on and off Zillow for 30 days. 

And once you’re approved for your favorite rental, you can start thinking of rental-friendly ways to decorate and make your place feel like home.