1. Ask about utilities.
The monthly rent of your potential new home is easy to find out. But utilities could be a hidden cost that you may forget. Some landlords include utilities in the monthly rent, but others don’t. If a rental listing doesn’t say utilities are included, don’t be afraid to ask.
If they aren’t, you can also find out the average monthly utilities payments for a certain unit in many cases. Calling an electricity provider, natural gas supplier or other utility can give you a ballpark figure that you can use to determine your overall monthly payment along with rent.
“Many utilities will provide this – a tenant can actually reach out to the utility company and ask them for an average of the last 12 months,” says Shelley Wittal, Vice President of Management Services at Tribe Management.
2. Read reviews, but take them with a grain of salt (or two).
When looking for a new place to rent, it probably feels natural to you to turn to the internet and read reviews about your new building. And this can be a good place to start, but there are some tips to keep in mind about online reviews.
First, remember that you can’t determine if the reviews are accurate and trustworthy at face value. Rather than taking stock in any individual review, focus on what the overall trend is and what themes emerge repeatedly. Next, keep in mind that often people who have had positive experiences don’t post reviews, while those who have had negative experiences may feel more motivated to do so.
You can also see how a rental management company responds to reviews. Are they willing to engage with people who have had problems and solve issues? That’s usually a good sign. But if they tend to ignore issues or attack reviewers, that is a red flag.
Jennifer Laidlaw, Vice President of Brand and Growth at Tribe, says renters should look at online reviews less as a scorecard and more as a window into how a company treats its residents. She says, “The real value of online reviews isn’t in any single complaint or compliment, but in what they reveal about how a company communicates and shows up when things go wrong.”
3. Take stock of the state of public areas in a building.
Many potential tenants fixate on the state of a particular unit. But if the unit is occupied while you are viewing it, remember that the state of the interior is highly dependent on the individual tenant(s) themselves, and may not reflect the management company.
To get an idea of how well-run the building itself is, pay attention to the cleanliness and condition of common areas: the lobby, hallways, elevators and other shared areas. If these are dingy, poorly maintained or otherwise in disrepair, this is likely an indication of an absentee, slow or inattentive management company.
“You’re going to notice maintenance and cleanliness right away in those situations. That’s a really good telltale sign of how well the property is cared for,” Wittal says.
4. Get a feel for the building.
You’re going to be close to your neighbours as a tenant in a rental building. So, it’s good to know who is already living there and how they go about their day. For example, if you work an early shift and need quiet time at night to fall asleep, it’s probably best to avoid buildings filled with college students that stay up late and party. You can ask your potential future landlord what sorts of people you’ll be sharing the building with.
“I think we have all been there, where we are thinking ‘gosh, I wish I knew this before I moved in,’” Laidlaw says. “But I think knowing general information about a building’s atmosphere can help determine whether a housing situation is a good fit."
Keep in mind that while general demographics and ambiance can be shared, landlords cannot disclose specific information about neighbouring tenants.
5. Ask about any major upcoming projects.
The building you’re considering moving into will likely require you to sign a year-long lease. “So, it's okay for the tenant to say, are there any upcoming projects that are going to cause some sort of noise, disturbance, displacement?” says Wittal.
Will the plumbing be replaced in a few months? Is there roadwork planned in the neighbourhood? Will all the windows be replaced soon? While your potential future landlord may not know the answers, it’s worth it to ask and to take some time to search municipal websites to be sure.
6. If you are renting in a strata condo, understand how the rules apply to you.
While many rentals are in dedicated buildings, there are also lots of individual units for rent in strata condo buildings. These are owned by private individuals, so the rules may be slightly different. You will be subject to the standard landlord–tenant laws in your province, but also the rules of the strata corporation itself.
“They still fall under tenancy legislation in their respective provinces, but they’re also subject to the rules, regulations and bylaws of the strata or condo corporation,” says Wittal. Be sure to ask how the strata rules apply to rental tenants. Are there specific restrictions on move-in times or days? What are the building quiet hours? What amenities can you access? And be sure to check who you can contact in case of an emergency.
Finding the right rental for you requires some homework, searching and dedication, but it’s worth it to take some time to ask these top six questions before signing a lease. Some extra time now could save you big headaches later.
