Before You Rent
by: Developed from materials provided by the UW Students' Attorney Office
Things To Think About
Sometimes affordable rental housing can be hard to find in Wyoming.
Sometimes there's not much choice. Some landlords can be hard to work with.
Don't despair! You can find housing that fits your needs.
Before you enter into a lease (written or spoken) with your landlord, there are some smart things you can do.
Inspect the home or apartment
If you find a home you like, inspect it before you move in.
This can save you a lot of trouble. If you don't inspect it, you may have to pay for damages when you move out because the landlord will assume to you caused the damage.
This may be true even if you didn't do it.
Be sure to take a good look at (or ask about) everything. Print this out and use it as a checklist.
- doors and window, including locks , screens and whether they open and close properly
- overall cleanliness
- paint, carpets, and flooring
- water damage, ceilings and walls
- bathroom and kitchen fixtures,
- sewer systems
- driveways, garages, storage sheds, and parking places
- room and closet space
- plumbing, electrical and heating systems,
- appliances and furniture
Walk through with your landlord
It is a good idea to do a walk-through with your landlord prior to moving in. Make a list of any problems.
Ask your landlord to give you two weeks after you move in to tell her about any new problems you find.
If you don't do a walk through, tell your landlord about any problems as soon as you find them. Keep a copy of your list and give a copy to the landlord.
Ask for a written contract regarding any repairs you want made. Do this before you sign a lease or agree to move in. It is much harder to force a landlord to make repairs after you move in.
Ask questions
Some things can be serious problems after you rent. It's best to ask questions now so you can make a good decision. Ask your landlord about:
- parking spaces,
- trash removal costs of utilities you will pay (ask to see copies of bills)
- who will pay for repairs
- availability of a washer, dryer, vacuum, and lawn mower
- the day of the month on which rent is due
- damage deposits and refunds
- any rules concerning the unit
Talk with Other Tenants
If you can, also talk to other tenants about the landlord. Often the your landlord's personality will tell you how your time living there will be.
- Ask if he makes repairs right away.
- Ask if he returns deposits right away.
- Ask if he is fair or enters rental units without asking first.
Make sure you can live in (and with) the place.
If you think there will be problems in the future, it may be best to find another place to live. If you don't think you can find another place, do these things:
- Get everything in writing that you can. Bring a witness with you to inspect the place. Be sure to make a checklist of damages.
- Both you and the landlord should sign the checklist.
- Be sure that you can afford the rent. Rent must be paid on time and in full each month. If not, you can easily be thrown out.
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