Renting a furnished apartment is a great way to try out a new city without making any firm commitment. They are also idea for short-term rentals and for companies whose staff travel to over places to work. They are flexible, cost-effective and ideal for anyone who isn’t planning on staying long.
One of the major expenses in renting a furnished apartment is the security deposit. You can’t blame a landlord for wanting to protect their property, but not all landlords are created equal. The majority will treat you fairly and return the deposit if the property is left undamaged. Others may not.
There are several ways to protect the integrity of your security deposit and we are going to discuss them here.
Furnished apartments offer more convenience, but at a higher risk. The more items included, the higher the chances of damaging some of them. Check out these tips on what to do to ensure your security deposit is dealt with fairly.
Walkthrough
When you collect the keys, meet the landlord at the property and perform a walkthrough with them. Make a note of any and all elements that may be of note. They could include dings on doors, small chips in furniture or crockery, dents in walls, fraying of carpet and anything that is likely to affect your deposit. Before letting the landlord leave, get them to sign the page of notes. Better still, get them to initial each item.
Images
Once you have completed the walkthrough of your new furnished apartment, get the camera out. Perform a video walkthrough if you can, or take stills if you can’t. Record everything noted on the walkthrough, plus any areas likely to suffer wear and tear.
Video is the best tool here because it offers a seamless, real-time account of the state of the apartment. Just make sure to make a copy and keep it somewhere safe!
Contract
The lease contract is likely to be extensive, but try to have a basic understanding of what you can and cannot do. Try to live within these terms as much as possible or make sure you cover up when you don’t.
Report Damages
If you do break or damage something in your furnished apartment, report it right away. The landlord can arrange for repairs and that should be the end of it. Failure to report damages may be a breach of contract and any further damages caused may be charged to you.
Know Your Rights
Knowing what a landlord can and cannot charge you for is also useful. The landlord cannot use your security deposit to cover wear and tear. Neither can they hold you responsible for breakages that result from age or wear. They must also return the deposit within a set period, usually 30 days.
The easiest way to protect the security deposit on a furnished apartment is to treat it well and look after it. Leave it as you found it and everything should be fine.
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