PATHWAYS- The Right Choice at the Right Time
Apartment for Rent
Choosing an apartment is a very important decision that needs to be taken seriously. With any lease you are responsible for the entire term of the lease. Because a lease is a legal document, you can be sued and/or made to pay the remaining month's rent, in addition to losing the security deposit if you try to break the lease early.
Beginning the search:
You and your CSW will discuss where you would like to live, how much you can afford, the type of housing (studio or 1 bedroom), and then how to find an apartment.
Classified ads in the Tribune, Sun-Times, the Chicago Reader newspapers and the Internet list available apartments usually by type and location. The local library or the Pathways Office can provide access to the newspapers through the Internet also.
Walk around the neighborhood and look at "for rent" signs. Often a phone number is listed on a particular building where you would like to live.
After you have identified some options/phone numbers, call and ask questions like these to narrow the search:
Are there any apartments available? Which apartments are available? Studio or 1 bedroom? On which floor is the apartment located? Is the building secure? Security doors? Working buzzer?
How long is the lease? 12 months, 6 months, month-to-month?
How much is the rent? Does this include any of the utilities such as heat, cooking gas or electricity?
How much is the security deposit? Is it equal to one month's rent? If it is more, you and your CSW should negotiate with the landlord for a security deposit equal to one month's rent. What other fees are you required to pay? Application fee, credit etc.?
When is teh landlord available to show the apartment?
When you look at a potential apartment, look fo rthe following:
Listen to se if the building is loud. Are people playing music loud? Can you hear the neighbors? Are there a lot of people coming in and out of the building?
Is the apartment clean? Look in the doorframe for roach droppings or between the moldings for roach antennas. Look for mice droppings. Is the paint peeling? Is there lead paint (ask landlord)? Do they exterminate? How frequently? Do they clean the apartment before you move-in? Are window treatments such as blinds included in the lease? Will they fix necessary repairs? Will you be completing a maintenance list prior to move-in? What constitutes a maintenance emergency? How quickly does the maintenance staff respond to repairs? What is the back-up process? Who do you call for emergency or repairs? Is there a stove and refrigerator? Gas or electric? Are they new? Do they work? Is the heat included in the rent? Is the heat gas , electric, or radiator? Is the heat adequate? What controls the heat? How much are the typical bills for those utilities not included in the rent? Ask if you need to have the utilities hooked up/turned on and/or established in your name? Do the windows have screens? Is there a lockout fee? Who do you call for keys? Does the apartment have a smoke detector? Fire extinguisher? Carbon monoxide detector? How is the water pressure? Do the lights work? Do all windows lock?
Is the mailbox secure? Who is responsible for putting the name on the mail box and buzzer? Where do you take out the garbage? Who is responsible for snow removal?
Talk with your CSW about options. After deciding on an apartment, ask these questions before finalizing the lease:
When is the rent due? What is the grace period before they start charging a late fee? How much is the late fee? Where do you pay the rent?
The Lease: Read through the lease with your CSW. Pathways will keep a copy of your lease in the Pathways Participant Record at the Pathways office.
Beginning the search:
You and your CSW will discuss where you would like to live, how much you can afford, the type of housing (studio or 1 bedroom), and then how to find an apartment.
Classified ads in the Tribune, Sun-Times, the Chicago Reader newspapers and the Internet list available apartments usually by type and location. The local library or the Pathways Office can provide access to the newspapers through the Internet also.
Walk around the neighborhood and look at "for rent" signs. Often a phone number is listed on a particular building where you would like to live.
After you have identified some options/phone numbers, call and ask questions like these to narrow the search:
Are there any apartments available? Which apartments are available? Studio or 1 bedroom? On which floor is the apartment located? Is the building secure? Security doors? Working buzzer?
How long is the lease? 12 months, 6 months, month-to-month?
How much is the rent? Does this include any of the utilities such as heat, cooking gas or electricity?
How much is the security deposit? Is it equal to one month's rent? If it is more, you and your CSW should negotiate with the landlord for a security deposit equal to one month's rent. What other fees are you required to pay? Application fee, credit etc.?
When is teh landlord available to show the apartment?
When you look at a potential apartment, look fo rthe following:
Listen to se if the building is loud. Are people playing music loud? Can you hear the neighbors? Are there a lot of people coming in and out of the building?
Is the apartment clean? Look in the doorframe for roach droppings or between the moldings for roach antennas. Look for mice droppings. Is the paint peeling? Is there lead paint (ask landlord)? Do they exterminate? How frequently? Do they clean the apartment before you move-in? Are window treatments such as blinds included in the lease? Will they fix necessary repairs? Will you be completing a maintenance list prior to move-in? What constitutes a maintenance emergency? How quickly does the maintenance staff respond to repairs? What is the back-up process? Who do you call for emergency or repairs? Is there a stove and refrigerator? Gas or electric? Are they new? Do they work? Is the heat included in the rent? Is the heat gas , electric, or radiator? Is the heat adequate? What controls the heat? How much are the typical bills for those utilities not included in the rent? Ask if you need to have the utilities hooked up/turned on and/or established in your name? Do the windows have screens? Is there a lockout fee? Who do you call for keys? Does the apartment have a smoke detector? Fire extinguisher? Carbon monoxide detector? How is the water pressure? Do the lights work? Do all windows lock?
Is the mailbox secure? Who is responsible for putting the name on the mail box and buzzer? Where do you take out the garbage? Who is responsible for snow removal?
Talk with your CSW about options. After deciding on an apartment, ask these questions before finalizing the lease:
When is the rent due? What is the grace period before they start charging a late fee? How much is the late fee? Where do you pay the rent?
The Lease: Read through the lease with your CSW. Pathways will keep a copy of your lease in the Pathways Participant Record at the Pathways office.
