Dotting Your I’s And Crossing Your T’s: Reviewing A Lease

Signing a lease is a big responsibility, something more than just signing your John Hancock on the dotted line. It’s a commitment, not to another being, but to your future, your state of being. For some, signing a lease can be an easy breeze into living in their dream apartment or home. But for others, it’s a one-way street down to their worst nightmare. 

The relationship between a landlord and a tenant is a fragile give and take between the two. If one refuses to give, then the other is going to take. This is why it is absolutely crucial that you ensure that your lease is entirely fair and tailored towards the verbal deal put into place. But how does one make sure that all of their ducks are in a row before signing on the dotted line? Luckily for you, this is where Dunham Legal comes into play. 

How Far Can You Go: How Long Does The Lease Last? 

Nobody plans on leasing an apartment or home for the rest of their lives. This is why most leases last up to twelve months or under. But with each month that passes, a monthly renter’s fee is required to be paid. And with any aspect relevant to the hard-earned cash that lives in your wallet, it’s important to have all the information before actually paying anything. This is why you must pick through your lease with a fine-toothed comb before signing anything. This also includes the infamous timeframe of said lease. 

While the timeframe of any lease is usually discussed and agreed upon before the signing process, it’s sometimes an aspect that slips beneath the cracks when signing a lease. This can result in the timeframe increasing or even decreasing. No matter what alteration has happened to the timeframe of the lease, it’s important to make sure that it is the agreed-upon time set. If not checked, you’re at risk of living in the same apartment or home for the rest of your life. 

I’ll Do It Myself: Can You Conduct Business In The Lease? 

Within this ever-evolving economy and business market, more and more workers are deciding to go into business for themselves. If it worked for Steve Jobs, why not you, right? And just as ole Stevie started out himself, most of these prospective business owners looking to begin their business in their garage or apartment space. Running your business without having to pay for an office space sounds pretty good, right? Well, we would check your leasing agreement before putting in your two weeks notice. 

Most leasing agreements have specific clauses written into them that forbid the leaser from conducting or running a business within their home or apartment. Now, this is not the case with every leasing agreement out there, but it is important to think about it before deciding to run your startup company in your basement or garage. The good news is that, even if your original leasing agreement forbids you from conducting business in your home, there’s always the possibility of renegotiating your leaser with your landlord. This could give you the option of altering the clause forbidding you from running your startup. While it’s not guaranteed, it’s always worth a shot.