Renting a first apartment and signing a first lease can be a great experience or a major nightmare. According to the Tenant Resource Center, the best way to avoid a nightmare is to do a bit of research before signing a lease.

Check with former tenants to ask if the landlord treated them well, responded to requests for repairs, returned the security deposit or gave proper notice for entry into the apartment. Calling the local building inspector or Consumer Protection at 608-224-4853 can also provide insight into your landlord’s track record.

If the lease is already signed, tenants can take a number of steps to protect themselves and avoid problems. Some of the common issues faced by renters include:

Check In

The landlord should provide a check in sheet at move-in time. Tenants have seven days to complete this form. The more thorough the check in, the more likely the security deposit will be returned at the end of the lease. Condition issues to be noted include items such as stained carpets, cracked windows, damaged blinds, dirty appliances, stained walls or ceilings, missing light covers, non-working outlets, scratched countertops, etc.

To further document the apartment’s condition, a video or pictures dated around the time of move-in should be taken and with the landlord. E-mail provides a good paper trail to document actions. This documentation is essential in protecting security deposits.

Timely Repairs

Make sure to make a list of needed repairs. When you contact your landlord, document your call (i.e. note date, time and general description of the conversation.) If your landlord doesn’t respond, make your request in writing. If that still doesn’t work, contact the building inspector. Rent should not be withheld. In some cases a rent rebate may be able to be obtained, but proper channels must be followed.

According to the Tenant Resource Center, “If your lease has a provision waiving responsibility for the landlord to provide premises in habitable condition or maintain the property, you can automatically break your lease – these provisions make your lease void and unenforceable.”

Landlord Entry

In Madison and Fitchburg a landlord must give a 24-hour advanced notice to enter an occupied apartment. A minimum of a 12-hour notice is required in Wisconsin by state statute. This notice may be changed by agreement, so leases should be reviewed to determine if these changes have been agreed to.

Roommates

The lease is a legal and binding contract. Most leases contain the phrase “joint and several liability” and that means any or all roommates can be held responsible for the terms of the lease. For example, if one roommate doesn’t pay their portion of the rent, the other(s) can be made to cover the shortfall. The Tenant Resource Center advises “it is a good idea to spell out some basic rules in a roommate agreement. The roommate agreement should establish each roommate’s obligation to the others. All roommates should sign and date the agreement and get a copy.”

These are just a few of things to think about when renting. More information and help can be found through the Tenant Resource Center. Call (608) 257-0006, e-mail [email protected], or visit the center at 1202 Williamson St., Suite 10, Madison.