Leaving Your First Apartment
Well, all good things must come to an end! This is especially true if you signed a short term lease. (And students invariably have short term leases.) So assuming that your stay has been a pleasant one, and you're on somewhat good terms with your landlord, here's what you can expect: |
- Be sure to give plenty of notice—30 days is customary.
- Clean the place up. Remove nails and spackle over holes. You don't have to shampoo the carpet or repaint unless the place looks like an absolute war zone.
- Check to see if your landlord or the Housing Department at your school has something like an inventory sheet to use as evidence that you've left the place in good shape. (If not, borrow someone's Polaroid to create your own evidence.)
- If you're thinking of subletting, check with the landlord first to see if a sublease is necessary or even legal. Remember, you're liable for your sublettor's behavior.
- Thinking of just up and leaving? DON'T! It's against the law.
- Security deposits. A landlord can subtract "wear and tear" from your deposit. The landlord has 30 days to deal with security deposit matters, so be sure to leave a forwarding address.
- If you are leaving on good terms, try to get a written recommendation from your landlord to present to another prospective landlord as proof of your "good character."
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