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     Choosing a place to live is an extremely important decision. Your home affects self esteem and peace of mind. It also tells others a great deal about you.

       A good rental home should provide more than shelter from the rain wind, cold, relatives and be a place to store your stuff.  It should also be a a safe refuge, where you can relax, live, love, laugh and be happy. You may also have special requirements, like playgrounds, dog walks, entertaining facilities and much more. Yet many people make really bad choices when selecting their home or apartment. You don't need to.

   Finding the right place to live is rarely a lucky accident. Whether rental housing is plentiful or scarce, there are some specific things you can do to find a home that meets your needs and your budget. The most important first step is to start looking before you need to move-and take your time looking. 

Begin with a clear idea of what will make you happy & solve your housing problem.   

 Money is always an issue and many tenants start out looking for a home with the rent amount as their only criteria. That's understandable. You should not be tempted to pay more than you can afford, because eviction for non-payment can hurt your chances of renting a decent place again for a very long time.
     However, the wrong location, landlord or neighbors, are not worth living with in order to save time or money. If you plan well, and work at finding the right place, you should not have to make-do with a place that's too small, dreary, noisy, unsafe or in bad shape. There is decent, safe and affordable housing available in almost every market, but it usually takes knowledge and some effort to find it.

  One of the worst - and most costly mistakes tenants can make is to sign a lease or put down a hefty deposit at the end of a long and frustrating period of apartment hunting, only to realize later that the place is completely unsuitable. Bear in mind, the wrong home can wreck a marriage or relationship just as quickly as do fights over navigating on a trip, money or relatives.  

      It is important to learn all you can and then take the necessary time to select a good home, even if it means staying with friends for a few weeks, or perhaps even worse, moving back in with your parents or another relative - temporary. We know its hard to believe, but it will probably be well worth it in the long run. 

      Securing the best place to live within your price range, may be as easy as . . .  

        Know your priorities - before you start looking for a place to rent. 

        Use all the knowledge and resources you can, including RHOL and Vacancylist.net, to locate the best of the available rentals you can afford. 

        Get the best deal by having the information landlords want to see ready & available. When you find the right place, you will be ready to negotiate. 

Know your rights & responsibilities

      You should also know your legal rights and responsibilities regarding the rental application process. Many landlords require a screening fee to cover the cost of checking references and a credit report. Is the fee reasonable? 
      There may also be a holding deposit in a tight rental market. Be careful here, agree on circumstances that will allow you to recover some or all of it. 
      You will likely be required to post a security deposit, perhaps a cleaning deposit, and when appropriate, a pet deposit. Landlords are notorious for holding on to security deposits after tenants vacate, so most states and some municipalities regulate how much a landlord can charge, where your money is kept and who earns interest on the money.
     State law may also require a move-in and move-out check list. If so, ask to see the previous tenant's list.

      If you're moving from one rental to another, it is important that you understand all the legal and practical rules for ending an existing tenancy, getting your deposit returned and moving out.

Fortunately, all that information is available to RHOL members in our Landlord Tenant Law Web

      Our RHOL Tenant Web has information on:

Finding the right home

Understanding leases and rental agreements

Deposits and applications fees

Discrimination and Fair Housing

Disabilities and Barrier Free living

Late rent and Evictions

Tenant's rights to privacy

Landlord's security obligations

Breaking a lease when necessary

Roommates and sub-letting

& much, much more

     Other RHOL Member Webs you can access include VacancyList, Moving Assistant, a Credit Web and a Forms Web with hundreds of forms, agreements and form letters for landlords and tenants.

      Become an RHOL supporting member today by clicking on Join at the top and bottom of most pages. Start your home hunting process by searching at VacancyNet. Get help and information on packing up, changing your address and phone number, schools, shopping and more at Moving Assistant. 

      Please help us continue to help you by joining RHOL today.  

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