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!

Get Around Easy: How to Navigate Everyday Traffic If You Don’t Own a Car?

These days, when everyone’s in a constant rush to this or that place, it feels impossible to get around without your own car. Usually, paying for taxis on a daily basis is too expensive and somewhat unreliable, public transport can get frustrating, bikes aren’t that great a solution for longer rides, and rail line services don’t always fit our usual to-and-from places. So, what are we to do? Sit and cry or look at things a bit differently? Let’s go with the latter.

We list five awesome ways to navigate everyday traffic and get places even if you don’t have a vehicle:

Use Public Transit

If you are thinking that using public transport is beneath you, we’ll stop you right there. Unless you were born in Kensington Palace, it’s not. Public transportation is just fine, and everyone’s using it. Naturally, like everywhere in the world, using public transit will treat you to occasional frustration but, those are the “perks” of living in a big city. Anyway, when you plan your routes right, you’ll get from Point A to Point B hassle-free.

Bike Share

A bicycle-sharing system, also known as “bike share,” “bike-share scheme,” or a “public bicycle system” is a service allowing individuals to rent bicycles on a short-term basis for a price or free. Usually, bikes are cute, comfy, and functional, so you can put your bag, your laptop, and other stuff in the baskets that often come with the bikes. These days, there are options to get an electric bike, which is even more convenient!

Use Uber/Lyft/Taxi

For all of you who want to have a car experience without owning a car, Uber, regular Taxi, or a Lyft are the best options! Not only are these three options cozy and convenient but also they appear to be cheaper than paying for gas and car maintenance. Plus, there’s always the benefit of not having to worry about parking or crazy people in traffic. Instead, you sit back and relax, and let your driver handle everything.

Light Rail & Commuter Rail

If there’s a light rail where you live, you are in for the win! Light rails are usually incredibly convenient for transport all over the area, they are sturdy, eco-friendly, and a cheap way to get around. Commuter rail is also a great way to get from point A to point B, i.e., from your city center and middle to outer suburbs, and back. Commuter rails are used by people who travel on a daily basis from commuter towns or other locations.

Carpool

Not your typical car replacement because, well, we ARE talking about a car, after all. However, this one’s a sort of unusual method, but very effective – especially if you live far from public transport or aren’t financially “there yet” to go by taxi every day. Take turns carpooling with your friends and colleagues who live nearby, split the gas cost, and make it an awesome road trip every day. Not too shabby, right?

We do hope that the tips above prove that you can easily navigate everyday traffic without owning a car. If you’ve got any other suggestions, we’re all ears!

Renting is the New Normal

For many of us, the idea of owning our own home is hardwired.   Despite this, changes in the economy and the seemingly unstoppable rise of housing prices have many people rethinking this deep-seeded assumption.   I always marveled at how people in New York or London seemed free from the pull of home ownership—it was just plain too expensive, and so rent became a fact and a cost of life, like food or transportation.   As this reality sets in, and increasingly becomes the new normal, there are some real advantages to renting for life that are starting to come into focus.  

Flexibility and Mobility:Renting affords the flexibility that owning simply cannot.  As a renter you are free to pick up and go as you see fit, whether that means changing apartments, neighborhoods, or cities.  You can of course move once you buy home, but renting keeps your mind open to other possibilities—like travel, change of occupation, or a work exchange—without having to worry about property taxes, renovations, or repairs.  It is an increasingly mobile world, and renting really helps to facilitate that mobility.

Accessibility and Community:People have been realizing for a while now that community and accessibility are important to them.  Sacrificing things like a manageable commute, or a great local coffee shop, market, or library just to be able to own your own home is looking less and less appealing.  People have been steadily moving back downtown for exactly this reason, but they’ve also been moving to regional hubs so they can walk or bike to work, remain close to restaurants and bars, and have a sense of neighborhood.   

Finances:While interest rates are at historic lows, housing prices are at historic highs—and interest rates will eventually go up.  Buying a house is no longer a sure thing.  The gains in property value might not match the risk, especially when that investment is offset by the numerous expenses that come along with owning your own home.   Renting allows you to stay flexible with your money, and with the property market—moving your investments or yourself as you see fit.

The notion of renting for life does require a shift in perspective for some of us, but once you start thinking a little differently about how you want to live your life renting makes more and more sense.   These are strange economic times, but the biggest and most immediate benefit is a newfound sense of freedom in how we work and how we live.  The financial gains might not be the same as they once were, but we have gained a lot in self-determination, and renting is the living solution best suited to maintaining that independence.