When a student enrolls in a city abroad, his/her first requirement happens to be student housing, acquiring which is not a difficult task nowadays. Online platforms have made it very easy these days to get accommodation of your choice while living in your home country. But, for booking student housing, you need to sign a lease agreement.
Here, we are going to decode the student housing lease agreement and provide the information about what you should know.
Essential Elements of a Student Housing Lease Agreement
Lease Term
This is where you will find out how long your tenancy will last, usually a semester or a full academic year. Be aware of automatic lease renewals, because they may bind you to the same term unless you submit a written notice of evacuation beforehand.
Rent and Fees
The lease gives a clear idea about the monthly rent and due date. It must explain the rules which involve any extra charges, like application fees or parking fees. Grasp the available payment channels and understand any penalties associated with late payments.
Security Deposit
This security deposit is all about guaranteeing the landlord’s interests against such damages that are beyond usual wear and tear. The agreement must clearly state the conditions for receiving your deposit back at the end of the rental term, with possible deductions deemed necessary for repairing damage.
Occupancy Limits
According to the lease, only a specific number of people are permitted to live in the apartment. This is to guarantee the performance of safety norms and quality of living for all the tenants. Be sure to inquire about having guests or overnight visitors as certain restrictions might apply.
Utilities
The agreement stipulates which utilities (electrical, water, trash, etc.) are covered by the rent fee, and which ones are the tenants’ responsibilities to arrange for and pay for themselves directly.
Maintenance and Repairs
The lease will stipulate the maintenance protocol and the procedures for requesting repairs in the unit. It is necessary to identify who to contact when various repairs are needed.
Subletting and Roommate Agreements
If this is your intention, to let out your room or living with roommates the lease will enlighten you on the process and the restrictions. In some instances, you may require to have written consent from the landlord. The separate roommate agreement should also account for the common responsibilities and expectations of the roommates thus avoiding conflicts.
Pet Policy
This part expressly states whether pets are allowed, and if so, there may be limitations to the sizes and breeds of the pets, pet deposits, and pet rent fees.
House Rules and Regulations
The lease contains the expected behavior of the tenants on noise levels, houseguests, common area use, parking, and potentially any restrictions on activities in the unit (e.g. no painting without prior permission).
Early Termination Clause
Find out about the pros and cons of breaking the lease before the lease termination date. Certainly, it may involve some fees on your part, so you should get ready for that. Even in such cases, the financial consequences of early termination are significant, and hence it is imperative to comprehend the financial implications.
Decoding the Fine Print
There may be legal complications with leases. Do not forget to delineate anything that you are not sure about the landlord before signing.
Read Thoroughly
Beware of skimming through the material. Take a minute or two to grasp the meaning of each component.
Ask Questions
Feeling difficult to understand something? Ask your landlord to explain it in simple terms.
Don’t be Pressured
Signing right away is not obligatory, so be careful. Read through the lease at home and try to understand it before agreeing to the lease.
Keep a Copy
Make sure you obtain a copy of a signed lease agreement once you sign it. Keep it for your reference.
Beyond the Lease
Some additional resources may also be helpful for you in this regard.
Tenant Handbook
Most of the student accommodations have a handbook that lists all rules and procedures, as well as contact information for the maintenance department and other services.
Resident Advisor (RA)
If you live in the dorm or the on-campus housing you can turn to your RA to help you to be more comfortable with the life you are living and solve any problems you might have during this time. In off-campus student accommodation also, you can find a support team whom you can contact in the case of any requirement.
Final Thoughts
Today, with the help of some online platforms, you can book student accommodation Aachen (Germany) or student housing in any other city in the world. You can know about some of the lease terms on these online platforms. You will learn about the remaining part after you get in touch with accommodation owners.
