The Renting Process

What to Look for on the Outside

• Consider your proposed apartment in relation to Yale services that may be important to you (i.e. Does the Yale shuttle or minibus travel there?).
• Know which streets are well-lit on the route to the apartment.
• Notice adjacent properties and whether they are maintained.
• Does the outside door to the building close and lock behind you?
• Examine the perimeter lighting of the building at night.
• Is there an entrance in back (i.e. where you park your car) and is the way to the building door lit well?
• Is there an intercom entry system? If not, is there a viewer on the door?
   

What to Look for on the Inside

• Are there bug screens on the windows?
• Check the locking hardware on the main door, any hallway doors and the front door to the building. Are they all in working order and do they close behind you?
• Check lighting in alcoves, front door, and hallways at night to be certain it is sufficient.
• Look at the overall maintenance of the building. If upkeep is poor, this may be a clue that security is lax.
• Are the first floor hallway and apartment windows protected?
• Is there a gap in the door latch that could compromise its effectiveness?
• Is there a dead bolt for the door to your apartment and for any other perimeter doors?
• Is there a viewer on your front door to determine who is knocking?
• Is there a fire escape near your window, is the window protected?

In order to afford living close to campus, many individuals share housing and related expenses with others. You can use our Roommate Search service to help look for a roommate.

When planning to share housing, try to get to know your future roommates, and ask how long they intend to stay in the unit. You will most likely sign a lease in which each tenant is individually responsible for the entire rent; if a roommate backs out, the remaining tenants are liable for the full rent.

• The roommates who sign a lease together are jointly and severally responsible, which means that one roommate is not only responsible for his/her your own share of the rent but for the total rent, in case another roommate cannot pay or moves out. It also means that you are held responsible for complying with all the terms of the lease individually and collectively.
• When large groups of students look for a house to rent, very often only one, two or three of them sign the lease. The rest make just verbal commitments. Remember that only the people who have signed the lease are responsible for it. The roommates who changed their minds may be morally responsible, but legally, they are not. Try to get everybody to sign the lease from the very beginning, so the responsibility will be shared.
• The landlord may accept rental payment with separate checks, but may also ask you to pay with one check. Although this is not a frequent occurrence, it may happen and it is not illegal. Make sure you know from the very beginning of your lease how the rent is to be paid.
• When trying to recover your security deposit after leaving the premises, you should know that your deposit can be used to cover damage done by another roommate. The landlord does not have to establish who is responsible for the damage and will expect you to settle the matter.
• When the security deposit is returned, the landlord may choose to return the money with a check written out to all the roommates. That can be quite a hassle for you as all the signatures may be needed for the check to be cashed. You may want to designate one person for the return of the deposit and let the landlord know in writing who that person is. That roommate will receive the returned security deposit, break down the amount and distribute it among the former roommates. The landlord does not have to write out a check for each of the roommates.
• Handling payment of bills. Rent . How will rent be paid - one check or separate? What if someone is late? Can the roommate afford the rent? If your roommate doesn’t pay the rent, you are legally responsible for their portion of the rent. Utilities and telephone bill. How are utility accounts set up? Who is responsible for the payment to the utility company? How do you divide expenses? Will you have separate telephone lines or one line to be used by all? If so, telephone companies can assign special codes to roommates to keep track of phone calls and bill separately.
• Privacy. What are your needs for privacy and what are the other roommates’ needs?
• Security. Locking doors, windows when you are at home and when you are away. Will you keep an extra key? Should anyone beside the roommates have a key? Your lease says “no”.
• Pets. Are pets allowed by your lease? Are you allergic to cats, for example? How many pets are you willing to have in the apartment?
• Moving Out. Who will clean the apartment at move out time? Will all roommates be there at the end of the lease? The responsibility for cleaning belongs to all roommates.