It's hard finding a house or apartment you love in any city, but Austin's rapidly growing population, coupled with a housing industry that is trying to keep up, can make finding a home that much harder. Once you do have the keys in your hand, there's a whole slew of problems that can come with renting a place. We asked Colton Turnquist, a residential manager at Engel & Völkers for Domain Northside, to give us the 411 on renter's insurance, changing locks, subletting and more.
I just signed a lease but don't have the required renter's insurance. Is there a grace period?
There is typically a grace period to get your insurance, and it completely depends on the lease agreement signed by the tenant. One week is pretty common, but lease agreements can enforce a penalty for not having an active insurance policy on the move in date and is almost always required on the state promulgated rental application before a tenant is approved. Better to be safe than sorry and just make sure your insurance policy is active before moving in.
My apartment was broken into, and I want to get my locks changed. Who's responsible for the cost?
The landlord is responsible for fixing any locks that have been damaged or compromised. The tenant is responsible for the cost if it is deemed to have been caused by the tenant, otherwise the landlord pays out of pocket for changing the locks.
The washer and dryer in my complex are super old. Is my landlord required to change communal appliances?
All appliances need to be serviced on a regular basis and need to be up to code in order to be accessible to tenants. If the appliances are not up to code, then the landlord would have to reimburse the tenant for any damage caused by the appliances. Always question the difference between what is safe and what is up to code. Often the two are not the same.
I'm listing my apartment on Airbnb for ACL. Do I have to notify my landlord?
Yes, you need to notify your landlord that you will have guests staying in your apartment, but keep in mind that guest and tenant are two separate things. If the person is paying via Airbnb, they are a tenant and no longer a guest, so make sure the lease agreement specifies if a sub lease is allowed or not.
Am I allowed to plant whatever I want in my rental's garden?
This is something that you must look at in your lease, and there will be specific language to what you can and cannot do in this situation. Most of the time, if you return the area to its original state, the landlord will have no issue. An easy way around this is to find some planters to grow your garden in; that way you don't have to use the land and you can easily transport it to your next apartment/home.
My complex's repairman isn't very good. Can I find my own handyman?
You will have to pay for that yourself, and you will need to make sure the repairman has his insurance sent to the landlord to make sure he is qualified and covered to do work on your unit.
Have any questions you'd love to ask a landlord? Send us an email at property.austin@timeout.com.
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