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Leasing an apartment in the USA
by Toulas Scorpento
http://www.firmaleasing.com
Ask any who~s emigrated from another country, and they~ll
tell you that the most exciting ~ and confusing ~ time in
their life was when they moved to America. In addition to
the promise of freedom and all that comes with it, there~s
also the fear and insecurity of attempting to blend into a
society where everything is foreign ~ even the process of
securing a place in which to live. For newcomers to the
country, there~s often a struggle with the specifics that
may seem simple or common-sense to those of us who are
natural citizens.
Whether you plan to move here shortly,or have just moved to
the United States, there are procedures you should be
familiar with when you attempt to lease an apartment. The
owner of a property is known as the landlord. You will be
paying him or her "rent", a monthly fee to live there. You
should immediately report them to your landlord, if you
have any problems or concerns. You will have to sign a
lease , the document that spells out the terms of your
rental. Any questions you have regarding your lease, or
anything related to your living conditions or the property
itself should be reported to the landlord.
Most leasing applications will ask for a social security
number and proof of employment. If you don~t already
possess these items, your visa can be used in lieu of the
social security number, and you can supply a pay stub to
prove that you~re currently working. If you~re currently
unemployed, you~ll need to provide a co-signer (someone who
is working and is willing to accept responsibility for
payment of the rent each month if you~re unable to do so).
In many cases, an application fee will need to be paid, but
the prices will vary from property to property.
Depending upon the property and the rules that are imposed
by the landlord, you~ll be offered a lease for a specific
amount of time. For instance, many leases cover the period
of one year, while others may cut off after six months.
Make sure that you understand all of the fees that may
relate to the lease and its renewal ~ and remember that the
landlord isn~t obligated to renew your lease. It~s also
in your best interests to inquire as to any penalty that
may be involved in the event that you need to break the
lease. For instance, you may be transferred to a job that~s
out of the area, plan to move as a result of a change in
marital status or simply wish to relocate to a different
part of the world. In most cases, the leasing of an
apartment allows for such situations, but you will need to
give adequate notice (typically 30 to 60 days before you
evacuate the apartment).
Utilities are sometimes included within the cost of the
monthly leasing fee (rent), but not always. Make sure that
you can afford to pay for your own utilities in addition
to the rent, if these are not included as part of the
package. Utilities include items such as gas, electricity,
phone service, cable TV service, hot water, heat, air
conditioning and any other service that goes beyond the
leasing of the actual apartment. In most cases, deposits
will have to be put down for each of these, which can be
fairly costly, and then monthly payments will need to be
made in order to continue the services. If you feel that
you can afford to pay for each of these items on your own,
then you~ll be able to maintain an independent style of
living. Otherwise, you might consider getting a roommate
(someone who lives with you and shares the expenses).
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