The Rental Agreement

Often called “lease”, the rental agreement is a written document that should include all the details about your “rights and obligations as a tenant.” “This also contains the rights and obligations of your landlord.”
Enclosed in the rental agreement are security deposit, monthly payment terms, terms and conditions of your lease, utilities as well as services and “other special clauses and conditions for increase of rent.”
The contract you will be signing needs to “clearly state” how much security deposit you need to pay before you actually move in. Details like when and how you will get back the deposit you gave once you move out.
Additionally it needs to be clearly stated in the contract which utilities are covered and which utilities are not because some contracts include water, heating and electricity in the rent.
Some gross rent only include garbage disposal so it is wise to talk negotiate with the landlord and have it put in writing which you have read thoroughly first before signing.

Terms and Conditions
How long you are going to live in that unit should be clearly written in your rental contract to avoid any confusion. You may also want to have it written whether not you have the opportunity to extend your lease. And if you are moving out you need to make a 30-day notice to get out of your contract.
Don’t forget to ask who will cover for the repairs and to inspect thoroughly before signing the contract to make sure you won’t be held liable in case there are wear and tears in the unit.

Building Rules and Special Clauses

When living in an apartment there are rules to abide by to maintain a harmonious relationship with your landlord and neighbors. Breaking these rules mean not following what has been written in the contract and may result in your neighbors and landlord filing a complaint so make sure to avoid that.
There are also some cases in which these rules are written in a separate agreement while some it is already included. One of the things that may be written in the agreement are mandatory quiet time, pet ownership and who will sanitize the hallway which you will need to review before signing the contract.
Whatever the rules are as well as your requests bottom line is you need it all to be written in a legal contract to avoid future arguments and you as a tenant should also abide by that the same way your landlord abides.
Please also be reminded that should you find yourself violating these rules many times and there are a “series of complaints against you”, you can be kicked out of your apartment and it is the landlord’s right.