Don’t understand the part about “additional rent.” Are charges, costs, and fees going to be added to my rent beyond the rent and, if I end up getting a pet, the pet rent? Is it just the NSF charges and late fees?
Can I go ahead and get agreement ahead of lease signing that I may install a bidet seat? Brondell Bidet Seat
Not really an alteration, but I just want to make sure we have that handled beforehand
How do I go about notifying the landlord in writing? There are a few clauses which require it but I can’t find information about how I would do it.
if repairs are required
notify of new address
changes to terms and conditions of the lease
Related: who is my landlord?
Concerns
Terms
f. I do not agree to any additional rent. If $1,950 doesn’t cover the rent, I will look elsewhere.
Security deposit section
Security deposit c says the tenant must give 90 days notice to end the lease. This is too long.
Philadelphia code 9-804 11b: Tenant Notice to Landlord of Non-Renewal of Lease. For any residential tenancy of one year or more, if the tenant has received timely notice of a rent increase under subsection (11)(a), and if the tenant will not renew the lease at the end of the lease term, the tenant shall notify the landlord of the non-renewal, within 30 days after receiving notice of a rent increase. The tenant shall provide such notice, in writing, by hand delivery or by first class United States mail with proof of mailing.
Security deposit f says the lease will renew automatically if neither party gives notice and a rent increase of 5% will be applied. Notice is required at least 60 days before a rent increase
Philadelphia code 9-804 11a: Landlord Notice to Tenant of Rent Increase. Unless the lease provides a longer period of time for the landlord to notify the tenant that the tenant’s rent will be increased at the end of a residential tenancy, the following notice requirements shall apply: At least 60 days prior to the effective date of a rent increase where a residential tenancy is one year or more, and at least 30 days prior to the effective date of a rent increase where a residential tenancy is less than one year, the landlord shall notify the tenant of the following: (i) the amount of the rent increase; (ii) the effective date of the rent increase; and (iii) the new payment amount. The landlord shall provide such notice, in writing, by hand delivery or by first class United States mail with proof of mailing.
Philadelphia code 9-804 11c says this applies to all leases executed or renewed after the effective date. The provisions of this subsection (11) shall apply to any residential lease that is executed or renewed after the effective date of this subsection.
Utilities
f. If any utilities are separately metered before or after lease is signed, you are responsible for all charges and will be considered additional rent (Section 2f) payable to us or the utility company.
Are any utilities separately metered, or will my rent of $1,950 also cover all utilities? If the latter, let’s update the lease to reflect that.
Possession
What happens if I have a furniture delivery scheduled and the good faith effort to make the unit available is unsuccessful? Can we change this to be more straightforward and just say that the landlord will make the unit available by the scheduled move-in date?
Condition
No way to inspect right now since it’s full of furniture, so I can’t sign that I have. Should I hold the lease until I’ve had an opportunity to inspect?
Damage
a) What criteria will the landlord use to decide whether the unit can be lived in? What is a “reasonable time?” I will need my apartment to be available all the time.
b) “landlord may offer the tenant a rental credit”- Under what conditions would the landlord offer this and under which would they not? The only condition should be whether or not I can live there. If I can, no credit. If I can’t, credit.
End of lease or renewal
c) If Landlord agrees in writing to end this Lease before the end of the term, Tenant is responsible for all costs of the Lease. These losses will include loss of rent for the balance of the Lease Term.
This sounds like if the landlord agrees to end the lease early, I would still pay the rest of the lease. Is that accurate? Isn’t that also what would happen if I just broke the lease? Trying to understand what the agreement gives me here.
e) Within 60 days of the end of the lease period, it is agreed and understood between all parties that owner and/or his agents shall have access to unit, to show the apartment with up to 12 hours notice.
What does “up to 12 hours notice” mean? Sounds like I could get 12 hours notice or I could get 10 minutes notice. Can we change it to something more reasonable?
Windows
The apartment had blinds. Do those stay? If so, let’s add that they will be provided so that I don’t get surprised with wide open windows that I’m not allowed to cover.
Pets
Does this mean it is not allowable to add a pet? I assumed since pets were allowed that adding one would not be a problem. Is it possible that, since I did not have a pet to start, that the landlord would deny my request to add one later? (Can this be rewritten to reflect that this requires only notification so that I can begin being charged the pet rent?)