How to Renovate Your Rental without Violating the Lease

One of the main differences between owning and renting a place is that there are limitations to how much you can change in your rental, while you can do anything you want if you own your home.

However, there are still some ways for you to renovate your rental without breaking your lease. That's precisely what we're here today to talk about, so let's take a look at what you can do to stay on the right side of the law and your landlord’s good side.

Which Renovations Can I Do in a Rental Apartment?

When it comes to renovations in rentals, the unfortunate case with most parts of Canada is that they are very hard to pull off. Some would even go as far as to say that they are notoriously difficult. That's because too many local laws exist that are usually in favor of the landlord, at least when it comes to damage and changes within the rental unit.

In many cases, tenants have to do all sorts of things to:

●        Stay within the complex boundaries of the lease

●        Avoid being charged with penalties

●        Avoid losing the security deposit

What's more, you have to be careful with how much money you spend because you are unlikely to stay in the rental long enough to warrant all the money invested. 

With so much trouble involved, most tenants give up and decide to do some simple make-overs or some greening up of the place.

Now, if you truly want to make renovations, you have to stick to changing things that won’t damage the property. What’s more, you need to be careful not to damage the landlord’s items within the property. If the rental comes furnished, you can’t simply throw out stuff or make irreversible changes. You have to be careful that your renovations are minimal and don’t cause damage.

Admittedly, this is hard to achieve and doesn’t offer much wiggle room for sizable changes, but it’s not impossible.

However, if you want to make sure that everything goes well and that you don’t break the lease, all you need to do is talk with the landlord. If you’re already on good terms with the landlord, then this shouldn’t be a problem. All you need to do is be good at convincing them.

You'd be surprised how good landlords can be if you're kind to them. However, renovations are scary for them as they usually fear that the tenant will do damages that will take a lot of work to fix. However, you can still convince them by explaining how your renovations will increase the value of the rental. If you manage to do that and let them know that the renovations will be entirely hassle-free for them, then you'll likely succeed at convincing them to give you permission.

The Bottom Line

As you can see, even though making sizable renovations is next to impossible in rentals, you can still do something. All you need to do is be careful and talk things through with your landlord.

How to Write a Great Rental Application

The rental market is a competitive one in Canada, so it's essential for you to do your best to stand out. If you've set your eyes on a specific apartment that seems like a place from your dreams, you will need to write a stellar rental application.

We wanted to help you out with that by giving you some advice on how to write a tremendous rental application. Let's take a look at all the things you can do:

Tips on How to Write a Successful Rental Application

If you're first meeting the landlord online, make sure your email is brief and professional. Double-check for spelling and grammar errors and focus on providing vital details about yourself. Transfer this mode of writing to the actual application later on.

While writing the application, it's important to give the landlord some essential information about your personality and what kind of person you are. Yes, personal information is important (and so is the proper documentation, don't forget that!), but that's just data about you. The landlord will want to know you as a person so they can judge you from the start and separate you from the rest of the pack.

What Makes a Stellar Rental Application?

A stellar application is one that's genuinely different from the rest. That’s precisely why it’s not all about the application itself – it’s also about what you add to it.

That means that a cover letter should be included. Yes, a landlord will rarely ask for a cover letter that goes with the application, but that doesn't mean that you can't dazzle them with one. As long as you can keep it relatively short, to-the-point, and accurate, they are unlikely to mind it. What’s more, they’ll love it if it’s well written. Make sure you also include the following information to prove you’re willing to go above and beyond:

●        Why you love the apartment

●        Why you’re renting

●        How you got the idea of renting this exact place

You only need to provide information that you believe the landlord will want to know about you and explain why you will be a perfect tenant for them. Focus on telling them what they want to hear, not what you think is good, and as long as that’s accurate, you’ll do great.

Besides the cover letter, it would be good to include some great references from your previous landlords. If you don't have any, you should include recommendations from some reliable people like your employer or some other professional with an important job title who can vouch for you. And don't use references from friends and family.

In the end, don’t forget to make a great first impression once you meet the landlord. No documentation or cover letter in the world can beat a face-to-face meeting. This is what you need to do:

●        Be punctual

●        Be presentable and well-dressed for the occasion

●        Be polite

●        Dazzle them with your personality

The Bottom Line

The rental application process is not complicated, so as long as you make sure you adhere to the advice we’ve given you here, you’re bound to do great. More importantly, you’re bound to get that apartment of your dreams!

What Is the Best Floor to Live On in an Apartment Building?

We all love living in an apartment building. This is especially true while we're younger. It makes life much easier, and it usually means that you're living in the city and close to everything important to you.

However, apartment buildings can often go very high, so it's hard to choose which floor is optimal. A lot of factors influence which floor is considered the best floor to live on. The rent can be higher or lower; the heating might be better on a specific floor, and much more.

So, with that in mind, we want to give you an answer to this question. By the end of this article, you'll know exactly which floor is the best to live on in an apartment building.  

 

Where to Live in an Apartment Building

 

As each building has a different number of floors, we'll tell you about the advantages and downsides of living in three specific areas in an apartment building: the top, middle, and bottom levels.

 

The top floors

The general rule is that the higher you go in an apartment building, the higher the rent becomes. That's why the top floors are usually the most expensive ones and the ones where the cooling is also the most costly, as heat rises. But that also means that you won't have to worry too much about the heating during the winter. Unfortunately, in most areas of Canada as it’s very cold during the winter, the top floors are often colder than in other places. That’s why it’s important to look for top floor apartments that are well insulated.

 

The top floors might be more expensive, but they also offer more security, a lot less noise, more sunlight, and fewer pests and other critters. Some have balconies, which is definitely something worth considering.

The middle floors

 

The middle floors are usually the best option when all things are considered. If you worry about your bills, the rent, and reaching your level daily, then the middle is always the best option. It's right in between two extremes, which is what makes it the most appealing choice. What’s more, they can be as exclusive as top floor apartments in some cases, especially when they have balconies.

 

The only real downside is that the middle floors tend to have more noise than all the others as you have more neighbors and more foot traffic.

The bottom floors

 

As you can already guess, the access to apartments on the bottom floors is the best. Furthermore, these apartments tend to have the lowest rent as well. However, the noise tends to be very high on these floors, as well as the number of pests and critters.

 

In the end, if you worry about security, the unfortunate truth is that the lower you are in an apartment building, the less safe you are. However, it all depends on how safe your area is, so if it's already very secure, you won't have to worry about security as much. Also, if the building has a great yard, the lack of a balcony doesn’t have to be a problem.

The Bottom Line

When we consider all the factors, we quickly realize that the apartments on the middle floors are usually the best option. However, it all depends on your personal preferences and which factors you care about the most.

 

With everything that we've explained here, you can now easily choose the best floor to live on in an apartment building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Causes You to Get Evicted from a Rental Apartment?

Living in an apartment that you don't own comes with many benefits, but it also comes with a few downsides. The main disadvantage is undoubtedly the fact that your landlord can evict you at any time. But can they really?

 

Many are not aware, but your landlord can only evict you if they have an adequate reason for it. With that in mind, we wanted to take a look at everything that can get you evicted from your rental apartment, so you know to avoid doing those things. Let's see what they are:

The Most Common Reasons for Getting Evicted from Your Rental Apartment

In general, there are only six main reasons for which landlords evict their tenants:

1. Not paying rent
2. Always being late with your rent
3. Damaging the rental
4. Causing problems to the other tenants in the building
5. Breaking a rule or rules from the lease
6. Refusing to move out once the lease ends (in certain jurisdictions like Ontario, a lease is perpetual, meaning that once it ends, it automatically converts to month-month without you being evicted)

Naturally, these causes are not always as black and white as one might expect. Even the nonpayment of rent is not always as straightforward as it sounds. For example, if your landlord doesn't respect the lease you both signed, you can apply to the board for rent abatement. Unfortunately, you cannot stop paying rent altogether as the landlord will still have the right to evict you. So remember, the first step is rent abatement, and if you’re having too big of an issue with your landlord, you should consider hiring a lawyer.

 

In essence, as long as you respect the lease, there will rarely be any reasons for your landlord to evict you. That makes reading your lease a thing you absolutely have to do – especially before you sign it. It's entirely understandable to ask your landlord for some time to review your contract carefully, even if they state that it's just like all other leases.

 

There are a few things that you should really pay attention to in the lease, and they usually state whether or not you are allowed to:

●     Have pets

●     Sublet the place to someone else

●     Have guests for an extended period

●     Use the rental for business and what kind of business

 

Naturally, there are more things on the lease, but most tenants who end up breaking it, usually break one of these rules. However, you should know that this also depends on the local laws. If the rules in the lease contradict the laws, you cannot be evicted for breaking those rules as they are not legal.

 

Now, when it comes to property damage, it's almost always black and white. If the damage is intentional – it's your fault. However, you should know that most of the damage a tenant does is considered deliberate. That's why you need to be careful not to cause any significant damage to the rental. If something small happens by accident, you should tell your landlord and let them know that you're willing to repair it. If it's minimal, most landlords won't be mad and won't ask you to fix it.

Key Takeaways

 

All in all, as you can see, as long as you respect the lease, pay your rent on time, and don't bother other tenants, your landlord won't have any reason to evict you. However, it's still useful to know the most common reasons for eviction we've compiled here, just to stay safe.

Do You Need to Clean Your Apartment at the End of the Lease?

So the time is coming – your lease is ending, and you are in the process of moving out. You have too many things on your mind, like what and how to pack, how to move everything, and much more. 

Then you suddenly realize that the place is terribly dirty from all the moving around of furniture and other stuff. That's when you ask yourself – do I need to clean everything thoroughly, or is that something my landlord should do?

If you’re wondering about that, we can help you out. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about cleaning at the end of your lease and whether or not you need to do it.

What Are the Rules of Cleaning at the End of a Lease?

You are probably wondering what the rules state in this case. Do landlords have to clean between tenants? Or is it something that tenants do themselves?

As you can already guess, there are no rules about it unless it's in the lease. That's why you need to check your lease to see who needs to clean the apartment at the end of it. It would be best if you did so because a failure to comply can often result in forfeiting your initial deposit. 

Most landlords opt for having the standard clause when it comes to cleaning. The tenant receives a cleaned apartment, and they need to leave it in the same condition when they leave. That essentially means that you have to do a thorough cleaning of the place. 

If that clause doesn’t exist, you should discuss it with your landlord. It’s always best to part on good terms, so you can offer to clean it or split the costs for hiring someone to do it. The typical cost of a thorough cleaning should be between $100 and $200, so it's not really something that you can't arrange with your landlord.

The Moving Out of Apartment Cleaning Checklist

In most cases, the renters need to clean the apartment on their own, so if you don’t want to hire someone, or you can’t, we have a checklist for you. If you follow it, you’ll end up thoroughly cleaning the apartment and leaving it in the same state you found it. It will be easy; it's just like spring cleaning!

• Clean cobwebs and dust from the ceiling
• Dust the blinds and wash the windows (both on the outside and the inside)
• Clean the light fixtures and change the lightbulbs that have gone out
• Check if the smoke detector is functional and replace the battery if necessary
• Dust and clean all horizontal places in the apartment where dust can accumulate (do the same in hard-to-reach areas)
• Wipe the shelves, cabinets, and pantries in the kitchen
• Clean the fridge
• Clean the oven
• Clean and sanitize sinks and drains
• Clean the bathroom thoroughly and sanitize it
• Clean the carpets and rugs
• Vacuum the floors and mop them afterward (save this as the last step because a lot of dust and chemicals will fall on the floors while you're cleaning the apartment)

Once you're done, make sure you haven't forgotten any of your stuff. That's also an excellent opportunity to ensure you haven't forgotten to clean something. 

When that's done, you'll have nothing more to do, and you can move out and get to your new apartment, knowing that you did everything perfectly!

Can You Rent Out Your Apartment While Traveling?

It doesn't matter in what kind of situation you are – you might be under a lease, or you might own an apartment. Whatever the case may be, you've probably wondered whether or not you can rent out the place when you go for a vacation or when you travel for an extended period. 
You must have at least thought about it, as renting out while you're away is a great way to get some passive income when you're not actively earning. 
 
If you have, then you are now in the right place. In today's article, we'll answer this question and give you the information you need to know before you decide to rent out your apartment.
 
Why Renting While Traveling Is Useful
First of all, yes, you absolutely can rent out your place while traveling. If the apartment is yours, then it’s all up to you, and if you’re under a lease, you can always discuss this with your landlord. 
In the second case, it's vital to discuss this with the landlord and check the lease. In many cases, contracts might already have a clause that allows for subletting, while in others, you can always reach an agreement with the landlord. If you're a long-time renter, they are not likely to say no and put the apartment back on the market all over again. It's much easier for the landlord just to allow you to sublet while you're away. Plus, subletting is beneficial for both them and you.

When you reach an agreement with your landlord, you should make sure that you find a trustworthy person to whom you'll sublet and create a new contract between them and you. That will ensure that everything is in accordance with your wishes. Plus, you'll make sure that the landlord is happy as well. 

All of that is pretty much the same when you own the apartment yourself. The only difference is that you can rent out the place directly and set all the terms and conditions according to your wants and needs.

How to Rent Your Apartment

Now that you are convinced that renting your apartment is the right thing to do, let's talk about how to do it.  
If you're not a big traveler, and you're only doing this once or twice a year for a short time, it's much easier to rent to a friend or a friend of a friend. Since you'll be gone for only a short time, it's better to take the route with less hassle.
However, if you're traveling more often, and sometimes for a very long time, then it's good to consider sites where you can list your apartment.

Booking is one of the most popular sites for people to find a place to stay while on the road.

You can also go for sites like Airbnb – the number one site for listing apartments and houses. There are other sites to consider as well, like HomeAway, Flipkey, RentCompass, and others that can offer better lessees than the top ones. 
Once you list your place, you’re bound to find someone in no time so you can get ready for your trip!