How to read and sign a lease with confidence
Signing a lease is a big step in your college journey! Before putting pen to paper, it’s important to take your time and fully understand what’s in your lease. Skimming might seem easy, but you could miss key details or a chance to negotiate better terms for your student housing. Reading everything carefully sets you up for a great renting experience.
Don’t feel rushed if your landlord gives you a tight deadline. It’s okay to ask for extra time to review the lease and even have an attorney or family member look it over. As you get ready to sign a lease for next year’s off-campus housing, follow these helpful tips for college renters.
Know the different types of leases
If you’re living with roommates, find out if your lease is an individual liability lease or a joint and several liability lease.
The most common lease for college students is a joint and several liability lease, where you and your roommates all sign the same lease. This means you’re responsible if a roommate misses rent or causes damage—even if you weren’t involved.
An individual liability lease is less common and usually happens when the landlord assigns roommates. In this case, you’re only responsible for your own rent and any damage to your space, but you might also be responsible for damages in shared areas. You may have less control over who your roommates are.
No matter which lease type you have, creating a roommate agreement is a smart way to manage shared responsibilities. It can help you set ground rules for privacy, splitting bills, cleaning schedules and more.
Check occupancy limits
Thinking about living with roommates next year? Make sure to review the city’s rules about how many people can live in your apartment or house. In Colorado, cities like Boulder can’t set general occupancy limits, but there may still be limits on the number of people living in a residence for health and safety reasons and affordable housing guidelines. Always check what your lease says about occupancy limits. Overcrowding can lead to eviction, extra rent or even court issues.
For more details on Boulder’s regulations, visit the city of Boulder website.
Review your responsibilities as a tenant
Before you sign, make sure you know what you’re responsible for as a tenant. Common responsibilities include:
- How and when to pay rent, plus late fees
- Who pays for utilities like electricity, gas, water, trash and internet
- Lawn care and snow removal
- How to request repairs, who pays and response times
- Move-out dates and any notice you need to give your landlord
- Move-out cleaning expectations
Check if your lease says you must always keep the heat on in winter. In Colorado, frozen pipes can cause major damage—and you could be on the hook for repairs!
Other things to look for in your lease agreement:
- Do you need to give written notice to end the lease, even if there’s a set end date?
- Is there an attorney’s fee clause if there’s a legal dispute?
- Are there extra administrative fees, fines or costs besides rent?
- Do you need to submit a damages check-in sheet, and when is it due?
- Are all landlord promises or repairs in writing?
- Is there an early termination, subletting or assignment option, and what are the rules?
- What notice must the landlord give before entering your place?
- Does the lease require renter’s insurance or a Property Damage Liability Waiver (PDLW) fee? Renter’s insurance is always a smart move for college students!
Share the lease with others
Share the lease with anyone else who will be responsible for it, including:
- A parental guarantor if the lease requires one
- A guardian, family member or anyone else who is co-signing the lease with you
- A family member or anyone else who is paying your rent
Give them time to review the lease and ask questions before anyone signs.
Have your lease reviewed by a lawyer
If you’re a CU Boulder student, you have access to free legal advice on campus. A lawyer can help you understand your lease and answer any rental questions you have.
Set up an appointment with the Off-Campus Life staff attorney for a free lease review. Your roommates or family members can also join, as long as a CU Boulder student attends the meeting.
By taking these steps, you’ll be ready to sign your college lease with confidence and enjoy a successful off-campus living experience!