Three Clauses in Your Lease that Should Cause Concern

When you decide to lease a new apartment or home, you do not always have to agree to all the terms in the lease. In fact, before you rent an apartment, you can negotiate with property owner by striking some of the terms and discussing them with the landlord. Here are some of the clauses that you should strike before signing the contract if you see them in your lease.

1. Tenant will be held responsible for repairs. This is a good clause in some respects. For instance, if your dog or cat tears up the carpet in your apartment, you should be held financially responsible for those damages. However, the things that go wrong that are not your fault should not be paid for out of your own pocket. Did the heater break down in the middle of winter? Did the rain cause some water damage to the unit you are renting? These are examples of repairs and damages that the property owner should pay for. If you see this clause in your lease, dispute it or look for another apartment.

2. Tenant waives rights to (something). Anytime you see the words "waive," "rights" and "tenant" in the same clause, it should raise a red flag. There are some instances in which waiving your rights is acceptable for a tenant, such is if you choose to forego receiving a notice of eviction proceedings in case you fail to pay your rent. But depending on the state you are in, you have certain rights as a tenant. Don't waive any of these rights because they are there for your protection. If you don't understand the clause, there are local tenants rights organizations that will help you understand what you are signing.

3. Terms are subject to change at any time. Do you want to sign something that states the landlord or management can change the terms at their own discretion? What if the property owner suddenly decides that no pets are allowed after they allowed you to bring your dog? If you see this clause, consider going somewhere else if they insist on leaving that clause in the contract.