MADISON, WI (WHBL) - As new college renters start to get settled into their apartments, state consumer protection officials are reminding them to take a close look at their agreement and to know the rules about renting.
Spokesman Jerad Albract says one of the first things you want to do is give your apartment or rental a once-over. "If your lease required a security deposit, and this is kind of a big deal here, you've got seven days from first rental date to complete your check in report, and that report is going to note any pre-existing defects." He says getting photographic evidence of any defects in the apartment is key, as well as documenting its original state before you move in.
Albracht also says that a rental or lease agreement might be the first major legal document that a new student may be signing, and that they need to treat it as such. "You need to familiarize yourself with it and with any responsibilities you have and any additional terms that were required by the landlord when you signed." He also says keeping a copy of it around is ideal so you can reference it in case of a dispute. "Make sure in particular that you know what kind of routine repairs you're going to be responsible for, and your requirements for complying with any maintenance or sanitation requirements."
The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has a quick and easy publication that lays out the basic rules that both tenants and landlords need to know on their website at https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/Publications/LandlordTenantGuide.aspx