Leasing an Apartment in Bucks County

Q.      My boyfriend and I decided to move out of our parents’ house and into an apartment together.  This is both of our first time venturing into apartment living and are not sure what this entails.  Some of our friends have already done this and had some problems with different issues concerning their apartments.  Can you give us some ideas to make our apartment living a little less problematic?  N.C., Feasterville

A.      Consumers who are deciding to rent an apartment should first start by making sure you stay in your price range.  Consider not just your rent, but utilities that you may be responsible for. 

Inspect only the apartment you plan to rent, not some model they have set up.  Make sure you and your landlord make notes of any problems with the apartment.  Don’t take an apartment with promises of repairs.  Let them know that you’ll sign the lease once all repairs are done. 

Before signing any lease, read it carefully and make sure you agree with the terms.  Make sure you walk away with a copy of your signed lease.  It is also important to make sure your lease outlines whether the landlord or tenant is responsible for specific utilities; such as water & sewer, electric, gas and air conditioning. 

Highlight any pertinent information that you may need throughout your lease.  Know the timeframes of when you would need to notify your landlord for any circumstances.  

Pay your rent on or before your due date; grace periods are not the true date of when your rent is due.  Pay by check or money order so you have a record of your payments.  If you pay with cash, get a receipt.  Always keep a copy of your lease in a safe place for however long you live in the apartment. 

If for some reason you are having a problem with your apartment make sure you put it in writing immediately to your landlord giving the problem, what you would like to see as a resolution and a timeframe to resolve.  Keep a copy for your own records. 

If the problem is not resolved contact Bucks County Consumer Protection at 1-800-942-2669 to see what your next step should be. 

Consumers may also contact our office to get a free copy of the landlord/tenant booklet. The booklet is also available on the Bucks County website, on the Consumer Protection Department’s page.