20 Smart Questions to Ask Before Renting an Apartment

Are you thinking of signing a lease, but wondering what questions to ask before renting?

Searching for a new apartment is exciting, but can also be stressful at the same time. Renting an apartment is a huge commitment, so you need to ask lots of questions to make sure the apartment is the right fit for you. It’s hard to know the right questions to ask. As someone who’s lived in 6 different homes in the past 6 years, let me help guide you with the most important questions you need to ask!

This post is all about questions to ask before renting an apartment!

Questions to Ask Before Renting an Apartment

I recently moved to Vancouver, Canada and went through a week-long flurry of touring apartments. Over that time, I really nailed down the most important questions to ask that ultimately helped me get an apartment I love! Below I break down the most important questions to ask, separated by category:

Financial Questions

Your rent will likely be one of your largest expenses that you pay every month. So, it’s really important to ask lots of questions and be super clear on all things cost-related. Costs can include rent itself, but also add-ons like move in fees, security deposits, utilities, tenant’s insurance, etc. I would say this section has some of the most important questions to ask before renting!

• What exactly does the rent include? You should clarify whether the rent price includes utilities, a storage locker, parking spot, internet, etc.

• How do you calculate utilities for each tenant? If your rent does not include utilities, make sure to specify whether you will be charged a flat fee, or if there’s a separate meter for your unit that you will pay the exact amount for.

• What deposit are tenants required to pay? It’s pretty standard to have to pay a security deposit for an apartment. But in every apartment I’ve lived in, the deposit has varied slightly. Sometimes landlords will ask for last month’s rent, sometimes it’s a refundable flat fee of a few hundred dollars.

• Are there any other fees I should know about? You don’t want any hidden fees to surprise you, so ask whether any extra fees such as move-in or application fees apply to you.

• Does the unit require tenant’s insurance? I highly recommend that you get tenant’s insurance whether your landlord requires it or not – but again, it’s important to know what the terms/requirements of your lease are. These small costs also add up, so keep these extra costs in mind when you’re determining your budget.

• What forms of payment are accepted for rent? Rent payment can vary from cash, to post-dated cheque, to e-transfers. Find out what options are available to you, so you can prepare accordingly. For example, I didn’t have any cheques but my landlord required post-dated cheques so I had to order some from my bank before my lease started.

• Are there currently any promotions for signing a lease? Sometimes, especially if your landlord is in a rush to rent the unit, they may offer promotions as “signing bonuses”. For example, you may be able to get a gift card or half’s month rent free for signing your lease.

Questions about Amenities and On-Site Assistance

• What amenities are available in the apartment building/unit? Are there any restrictions in terms of hours, or access with visitors? Sometimes apartment buildings come with amenities like guest suites, storage lockers, rooftop patios, fitness centres, etc. Clarify what amenities there are (if any), and any rules around accessing them.

• What are the options for car parking? If you have a car, it’s helpful to know whether your unit includes parking. Parking can be expensive, so it’s important to ask about cost too. Make sure to clarify the type of parking available (ex. underground designated parking spots, street parking), and whether visitors can use it as well if you plan to have guests.

• How do tenants get maintenance support? If something goes wrong in your apartment (ex. your toilet clogs), you should know whether there’s someone on-site you can call. Ask about their hours and/or what the process is for submitting a maintenance request.

Questions About Neighbours

• Who are the typical tenants renting in this building/area? As much as having a good living space is important, neighbours can really make or break your experience! If you have a noisy neighbour with 3 barking dogs, that may drive you nuts. Or, if you’re like me and a working professional, you may want to make sure that your building isn’t full of students who will be making noise late at night. On the flip side, maybe you’d prefer an apartment where you can have friends over late at night without getting in trouble with neighbours. Whatever your preferences are, it’s a good idea to align your apartment with your lifestyle.

• Do any neighbours smoke/ or are they permitted to smoke? Even in a smoke-free building, sometimes neighbours that have been there for a while are “grandfathered in”, meaning that new tenants can’t smoke, but if they were there before the policy came into effect then it’s allowed. One apartment I toured in Vancouver had a neighbour who smoked right across the hall, and the smell seeped through the hallways so that was a major deal breaker for me. Even though the building was advertised as smoke-free, that neighbour had been there for over 30 years so the rule did not apply to them.

Questions About Apartment Policies

• What is the building access policy? For your safety, you’ll want to know what the building security is like. Some apartment buildings require a key fob, whereas others allow anyone to walk in.

• Can I make any changes to the apartment? You may want to paint walls or add shelves to your unit. Make sure your building allows renters to make these kinds of changes, especially if you notice during your tour that there’s something you’d like to change.

• What is the apartment’s guest/visitor policy? It’s not very common for landlords to have restrictions on visitors, but this is important to confirm. I had one friend who had restrictions on visitors if they were at the unit for a certain number of days – so you’ll want to check on this if you plan to have visitors staying with you.

• Is sub-leasing allowed? If you ever plan to temporarily leave your apartment, you should confirm that you are allowed to sub-lease. For example, when I was in university I did a 4-month internship out-of-province so I rented out my room to help cover costs.

• Is the building pet-friendly? If so, any restrictions on size of animal? You’ll want to ask about the pet policy, whether you’re an animal lover or not. If you’re an animal lover or owner, of course you need to know whether you can bring your animal! On the flip side, if you’re not a fan of animals than it could be a deal breaker if there’s a bunch of pets in the building.

Other Important Questions

• What appliances does the apartment come with? Not every apartment will come fully stocked with appliances, so it’s good to know what is available in your unit. I would check for things like dishwasher, microwave, whether the stove is electric or gas, washer/dryer in unit, etc. If the unit has shared laundry instead of in-suite laundry, ask what the cost per load is so it doesn’t surprise you.

• What is the length of the lease? It’s pretty standard for leases to be 1-year, but some are shorter. Ask how long your lease agreement is, and what happens after that term. For example, does the lease go month-to-month after 1 year? Is there a penalty if you need to get out of the lease early?

• What does the unit come with, if anything? If there’s anything in the unit when you tour it, make sure to clarify what stays in the apartment when you move in. For example, are window treatments, shower curtains, or any furniture included? This will be helpful to know in advance if you need to buy any basics. Once I assumed the curtains I saw during the tour came with the unit but they didn’t – so I had to sleep without curtains for a few days until the new ones I ordered arrive.

This post was all about questions to ask before renting!

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