Ready to Commit
Reading and Signing the Lease
Reading and understanding the lease is your responsibility as a student renter. If you don’ t understand it, you are not ready to sign it yet!
Tip: As a first-time renter, you may not be well-equipped to understand your lease. Ask your parents, guardian, or a trusted advisor who has rented before to review your lease.
Top 10 Questions You Should Ask About Your Lease
# 1 # 7
When is my rent due, and what is the penalty for paying late?
# 2 What utilities are included with my rent? # 8 # 3 # 4
How long is my rental term? Do I have the ability to sublet?
# 9
Am I required to have renter’ s insurance?
Are pets allowed and under what conditions?
If renting with roommates, do I have an individual lease or a joint lease?
# 5
What maintenance responsibilities do I have, and what are my landlord’ s responsibilities?
# 10
Does the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act apply to my lease?
# 6
Does my lease automatically renew at the end of the rental term unless I give notice, and what notice is required to be given if I am leaving at end of term?
Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act( VRLTA)
The VRLTA is a law that governs your relationship with your landlord. It helps interpret lease terms, as well as provides you and your landlord certain protections. VRLTA covers most landlord / tenant relationships, but does not apply if your landlord owns two or fewer single-family residences, unless the lease specifies that it applies.
12 | Off-Campus Living Guide