When you rent an apartment, condo, or a rental home, you will be required to sign a lease. That lease will have a provision that creates renter liability for damages caused during the tenancy, which can sometimes be used to create liability even when the renter didn’t do anything wrong.
Before you move in, you should take steps to ensure that you won’t be held responsible for problems you didn’t cause. Here’s how:
Put on your inspector’s hat – Check the precise rental you will be getting before signing the lease. Look for problems or structural damage. If something doesn’t feel right, it might even be best to hire an expert.
Negotiate – try to negotiate a term into the lease saying that you can’t be held liable for damages not caused by you, even if they occurred during your tenancy.
Keep evidence – take extensive pictures and notes regarding the state the unit when you move in.
