On the Move: Renting Basics

Graduation—from high school, vocational or technical school, or college—is an important milestone. Just as Ezra Koenig once expressed, it marks a life transition. You have to take care of things you likely never thought about before. Obviously, having an income is a priority for most people, followed closely by a home of their own. Some people consider getting their “own place” a rite of passage into adulthood. Moving into adulthood and living on your own can be both a little scary and exciting. Freedom comes with personal and financial responsibility, and finding a new place to live is a huge step for most young people.

Financial Planning

Before you even begin looking for a place to rent, it is important to have your monthly budget in order. You’ll need to know how much you can realistically spend on housing. In order to know for sure, you’ll have to remember you will have other expenses besides your rent. Some of these expenses include food and household items, transportation, and perhaps utilities (electricity, water, etc.). You will also need to be able to pay the “start-up costs of renting: It is common for renters to have to pay the first and last month’s rent up front and also provide a security deposit (discussed below). And don’t forget, you will also likely want to purchase some furniture and others items for your new home.

Landlords often use a formula to determine whether a potential renter has sufficient income to pay the rent. One particular formula evaluates whether the potential renter’s annual income is 40 times the monthly rent. For example, to afford a $500 monthly rent payment, a landlord might expect the renter to have at least a $20,000 annual income. An option to consider to help make rent more affordable is to find a roommate to share the costs. But remember—a roommate will also share your space.

Finding a Place

Once you have figured out what you can afford, it’s time to start looking at rental options. Things you’ll want to consider are the location, amenities or services offered, and other aspects you find important. For example, apartment complexes often have pools, workout facilities, family gathering spaces, and other features. Some places include cable television and internet access or paid utilities. You’ll want to carefully weigh all of your options before making a choice. A helpful tool for that is the PACED decisionmaking model (see the boxed insert below), which helps you think through and rate your options.

An online search of “apartments for rent” for a specific area will likely direct you to websites with listings of available apartments. Other good places to look are newspapers, either in print or online, and local real estate guides. Free copies of real estate guides are often found in grocery store lobbies and outside other various retail locations. “For rent” signs are often posted on or in front of available apartments, so driving around the areas you might like to live in might help you find some good options. And it will give you a feel for what you like or don’t like about a neighborhood.

Renting Basics

When you rent an apartment, you will be required to sign a document called a lease, which is a legal contract. A lease states the terms and conditions the landlord and the tenant agree to regarding the rental property. When you sign a lease, you are making a legally binding agreement. Your responsibilities, and those of your landlord, are among the terms and conditions outlined in the lease. For example, almost all landlords will require you to pay a security deposit and the first- and last-month’s rent. The amounts are specified in the lease, as well as how a security deposit might be used. For example, if you cause any damage to the property—say you paint the walls without permission—you could be held responsible for repair costs and a portion (or all) of your security deposit could be withheld to pay for it. The lease will also likely state how you are required to take care of the property and when to notify the manager or landlord of any maintenance issues.

How long you agree to rent the apartment and the landlord agrees to rent it to you—if you follow the terms of the lease—will be stated in the lease. Most rentals are for at least a year. If you decide not to stay for the agreed-upon rental period, and “break the lease” as it is often called, your landlord could legally make you pay the remaining rent. Exactly what you would have to pay would be spelled out in the lease.

Other rules and responsibilities will also likely be specified in the lease, such as whether personal property insurance must be carried, how many and what kinds of pets may be kept on the property, and procedures for moving in and out of the property. A lease may also specify that if ordinances and laws are broken on the premises, you could face eviction.

Some leases may include disclosures or addendums. A disclosure is information about the property that might affect the tenant. For example, lead-based paint is illegal and no longer used. It can be harmful, especially to young children, so the landlord would have to tell you—disclose—if there had been lead paint on the walls or woodwork. An addendum is an addition to the lease that specifies additional rules or agreements. For example, if the landlord lets you have a dog or cat, there may be rules listed in a pet addendum. Some places allow pets for an additional fee or a higher monthly rent payment.

Will the Landlord Choose You?

There are two primary ways landlords evaluate applicants: credit and criminal background checks. To apply for a lease, you will have to give the landlord your permission to check your background and provide your Social Security number, perhaps your driver’s license number, and other information such as your previous addresses and names you might be known as. The landlord will also review your credit report to see if you pay your bills on time, how much debt you currently have, if you defaulted on (didn’t pay back) debt, or if you have any foreclosures or bankruptcies in your past. These negative events don’t necessarily or automatically mean a landlord won’t rent to you, but you will have to explain why they occurred. A criminal record can prevent you from being eligible to rent. In fact, committing some crimes can have a lasting negative effect on your ability to rent or even live in certain properties.

The Rental Market

More and more people are renting for a variety of reasons. In fact, the percentage of households renting a home increased from 31.2 percent of households in 2006 to 36.6 percent in 2016, nearing the 1965 record of 37 percent.¹ When increasing numbers of people are looking for rental property, the price of rent may increase. Figure 1 shows the change in spending on rental housing from 1999 to 2016, which has increased fairly steadily since 2004. While there are likely a number of reasons for the increase, more people choosing to rent is a possibility. In addition, as more people seek rentals, it increases the demand for more rental units; this could play a role in higher rent prices and more household income spent on rental housing.

Figure 1: Change in Spending on Rental Housing, 1999 to 2016

SOURCES: FRED®, “Real Personal Consumption Expenditures: Services: Housing: Rental of tenant-occupied nonfarm housing: 1999-2016.” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Accessed December 15, 2017.

When there is a shortage of rental housing, the market is likely to respond by building additional units. Figure 2 shows new construction of housing built with at least two rental units. Although the number of new housing units built dipped strongly before the 2007-09 recession, it has continued to increase since. Peoples’ choices and incomes affect market outcomes.

Figure 2: Construction of Housing with at Least Two Rental Units

SOURCES: FRED®, “New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units: 1999-2016.” Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Accessed December 15, 2017.

Help for Those Who Need It

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides financial assistance and sometimes rental properties for people who meet certain income-eligibility requirements. These programs are administered by local Public Housing Agency (PHA) offices. Housing administered by the PHA is commonly called “Section 8 Housing,” named after the federal statute language. Just as private landlords may run background checks on their potential tenants, the PHA runs similar checks and requires those who receive public assistant to meet certain requirements. In fact, the PHA has the legal right to deny assistance to those convicted of certain types of criminal offenses.² Remember, wise financial and personal decisions help prevent negative consequences.

Legal Protection

Although people can be denied the right to rent for legitimate reasons, such as poor credit, inadequate income, or certain criminal offenses, there are federal laws to protect from discrimination. It is illegal for landlords to discriminate on the basis of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.³ According to the law, for example, it is illegal for a landlord to tell someone that a property is not for rent when it actually is or refuse to rent to someone based on any of those characteristics. If you are turned down for rental housing, be sure to ask why. If there is a valid explanation, you may be able take action to repair the situation. For example, you could improve a low credit score by making payments on time or making arrangements to pay past-due accounts. If you feel you have been discriminated against, you can file a complaint through HUD.

Conclusion

Getting your own place is a major step toward independence and adulthood. It is often considered a rite of passage, and living successfully on your own helps build confidence. You can get started on a successful path through careful preparation and effective planning. Creating a realistic budget is important. Once you’ve started your search for a new place to live, weighing your options with important criteria will help you find the best choice. And when you sign a lease, make sure you clearly understand the terms so there aren’t any financial surprises. Finally, if you maintain a good credit record and make good personal choices, the transition into adulthood will go far more smoothly.