Off-Campus Student Support

Lease Terms and Recommendations

The following information is intended to assist you in determining what lease is right for you and also to make sure all important topics are covered within the lease. These recommendations should be used only as an aid and do not cover all topics that may arise when reviewing lease options.

Remember, a lease is a legally binding contract between the tenant and the landlord. Please review the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 (PDF) for a full list of your legal rights as a tenant.

Important items that should be reviewed prior to signing a leasing contract include:

Rent: The lease should clearly state how much the rent will be per month, as well as the due date. It should also clearly state what utilities, if any, are being covered by the landlord and also what utility expenses the tenant is obligated to fulfill.

Late Fees/Penalties: Be sure that the lease clearly states when the rent is actually considered past due and how late fees will be handled. Landlords may hold you accountable for a daily late fee that can add up over time. Also, be cautious when entering into a lease with another student/tenant. Be sure to ask the landlord what, if any, penalizations or late fees will be incurred should the other tenant not pay the amount they are responsible for.

Security Deposit: The lease should specifically state how much of a security deposit is required. This deposit is usually required by all landlords and held in escrow for the duration of your lease. At the end of your lease these funds are used for any necessary repairs or if there are no necessary repairs, the deposit may be refunded back to you. Be sure to take pictures of any already existing damage at the property prior to move-in. Please view this helpful Damage/Repair Checklist (PDF) in order to perform a thorough walk-through and review of the property. The landlord cannot hold you responsible for damages prior to your lease term.

Length of Lease: Leases vary in their lengths. Be sure to check if the lease is on a month-to-month basis or a ten or twelve month lease. The lease should also state the stipulations for early termination of the lease and also any repercussions associated with early termination.

Tenant/Landlord Responsibilities: The lease should clearly state the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant including: lawn upkeep, trash pickup, snow removal, etc.

Pets/Smoking: Specifications for both of these topics should be explained in the lease. Some landlords allow pets with a non-refundable security deposit and/or a monthly fee in addition to the monthly rent.

No matter where you choose to live, safety is key. Keep the following in mind!

• Check to see that windows and doors are in good condition and have secure locks.

• Visit the unit both during the day and at night.

• Make sure that there are working smoke detectors in the unit.

• Check for adequate emergency exists.

• Call the Campus Escort Service if you will be going home late at night: (717) 948-6232.

• Talk to the current tenants of the unit and ask them how their experience has been living there.

• Has their place ever been broken into?

• Has their car ever been broken into (both in the parking lot and/or on the street)?

Several clues helpful in preventing roommate problems from developing revolve around effective communication and are listed below:

1. Communicate about yourself from the start (background, personal preferences, habits, characteristics)

2. Communicate about the sharing of food items/snacks, personal property, and ousehold costs

3. Communicate about household responsibilities

4. Communicate about guests

5. Communicate about study time/quiet hours

6. Communicate about the sharing of information within the house

7. Communicate about personal and guests' use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in the house

8. Communicate about an acceptable comfort level in the house

9. When tensions develop, try to understand where they came from and what you can do to alleviate them.

10. Do your share to keep the household in order

11. Be sensitive to feelings and willing to provide constructive suggestions

Sharing Food Costs

1. All roommates should meet to decide if they will prepare meals and shop individually or as a group. (Persons who decide to buy singly rather than in a group should be aware that this is a source of future tension. Conflict regarding use of another's milk, cereal, bread, etc. could arise.)

2. Roommates should discuss food preferences — who like what foods. (toiletries should be purchased individually)

3. Roommates should discuss class/personal schedule — how often does each person plan to be in the residence? Who has night classes? Who has class during lunch? Who doesn't eat breakfast? Who will be eating in the Food Court? Who will be going home most weekends?

4. Roommates should decide how they will share the cost of food and who will do the shopping.

Housekeeping Hints

Since different individuals have different standards of cleanliness, discussing housekeeping early in the semester will reduce the chance of conflict in this area later on.

1. Develop a revolving schedule on a weekly basis for cleaning the public areas of the apartment — bedrooms are the responsibility of each individual.

2. Certain things must be done daily to show consideration for others in the apartment. Among these are:

   • Clean up after yourself in the bathroom. Rinse the sink and tub free of debris and hair

   • If you have a snack — do your own dishes — unless of course it's your turn to do them after dinner.

   • Drop your clothes, shoes and books in your room — your roommates and their friends don't want to plow through your junk to find a place to sit or to work.

3. A good rule of thumb, whoever cooks should not have to do the dishes — unless cooking for friends. Roommates should split the labor on this chore.