Course Catalog / BMU 070 / Lesson 4 of 5

BMU 070

Quick review

1. What should you send when a letter asks for a paper?

See the answer

A copy. Keep the original.

Why this matters

A lease is a contract. When you sign it, you agree to all of it. A lease can be long and full of hard words. But five things matter most.

In this lesson you learn the five things to check before you sign a lease. You practice with a made up lease.

Start with what you already do

You already check a price before you buy. You look at the tag.

Common belief: What the landlord tells you out loud is part of the lease.

What is actually true: The Georgia Attorney General's office says to get key terms like rent and the length of the lease in writing. That protects you from changes later.

Key words

lease

A contract to rent a home for a set time.

security deposit

Money you pay at the start. You may get it back when you move out.

utilities

Power, water, gas, and trash service.

renew

To keep the lease going for a new term.

Short explanation

Before you sign, check five things. These come from the Georgia Attorney General's office and a lease checklist from Fairfax County, Virginia. Then check for blanks, and get your own copy.

The five things to check

1. Rent and dates. How much is the rent? When is it due? When does the lease start and end?
2. Deposit. How much is the deposit? What can be taken out of it when you move out?
3. Fees. Is there a late fee? A pet fee? Any other charges?
4. Utilities and repairs. Who pays for power, water, and gas? Who fixes things that break?
5. Ending and renewing. How much notice must you give to move out? What happens at the end of the lease?

Step 1: Read the whole lease

The Georgia office says to read the whole lease before you sign. Be careful if a landlord rushes you. Ask for time to read it.

Step 2: Get promises in writing

If the landlord says something out loud, like the first month is half off, ask them to write it in the lease. Fairfax County says any changes should be in writing and initialed by both of you.

Step 3: Fill or cross out every blank

The Georgia office says not to leave any blanks to fill in later. Fill them in, or cross them out. You and the landlord both initial each cross out.

Step 4: Ask about what you do not understand

If a word is hard, ask what it means. The Georgia office says you can have someone who knows leases, or a lawyer, read it with you. Lesson 5 shows where to find free help.

Step 5: Get your own copy

After you sign, get your own copy of the lease. Put it in your paperwork kit from Lesson 2.

Text version of this figure

• 1. Rent and dates. How much, when due, start and end.
• 2. Deposit. How much, what comes out.
• 3. Fees. Late fee, pet fee, others.
• 4. Utilities and repairs. Who pays, who fixes.
• 5. Ending. Notice to move out; renewal.
• No blanks. Promises in writing. Get your copy.

Worked example: Check a made up lease

Kim from Lesson 2 checks a made up lease before she signs.

Part	Model	Why it works
Rent and dates	$950 a month, due on the 1st. Starts Dec 1, ends Nov 30 next year.	Clear.
Deposit	$950. The lease says what can be taken out.	Clear.
Fees	Late fee of $50 after the 5th.	She writes it down so she pays on time.
Utilities and repairs	The utility line is blank.	She asks. The landlord writes Tenant pays power. Owner pays water. They both initial it.
Ending	Give 60 days' notice in writing to move out.	She puts a note in her kit.

Practice: Spot the problem

A made up landlord tells Lou: Do not worry, I will paint before you move in. The lease does not say this. What should Lou do before he signs?

Check your practice: feedback

Ask the landlord to write it in the lease. Both of them should initial it.

A promise said out loud is hard to prove later.

Common mistakes

• Signing because you feel rushed. Ask for time to read it.
• Trusting a promise said out loud. Get it in writing in the lease.
• Leaving blanks. Fill them in or cross them out, and both of you initial it.

Check your understanding

Take it as many times as you like. Pick an answer, then open the feedback.

1. Which of these is one of the five things to check in a lease?

1. The number of windows.
2. The deposit.
3. The landlord's other buildings.

See the answer and feedback

B is correct. Right. Check how much and what can be taken out.

A: Windows are not on the list. The deposit is. Review The five things to check.

C: Other buildings are not on the list. The deposit is. Review The five things to check.

2. The landlord promises out loud to fix the stove. What should you do?

1. Ask to put it in the lease.
2. Sign and trust it.
3. Take a photo of the stove and sign.

See the answer and feedback

A is correct. Right. Get promises in writing.

B: A spoken promise is hard to prove. Review Step 2.

C: A photo is good, but the promise still needs to be in the lease. Review Step 2.

3. A line in the lease is blank. What should happen?

1. Leave it for later.
2. Ask the landlord to fill it in after you move in.
3. Fill it or cross it out, and both of you initial.

See the answer and feedback

C is correct. Right. No blanks.

A: Blanks can be filled in later without you. Review Step 3.

B: Do it before you sign. Review Step 3.

Next up

Next you will find free help with paperwork and finish your capstone. Go to Lesson 5: Free help with paperwork. BMU 070 is free. There is no paywall and no fee.

Stuck or have a question? Ask BMU Learner Support.

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