More people are renting these days than ever before, and because of that, there are more reasons than ever to pay attention to some important questions to ask before you rent. If you ask yourself, and your landlord, these questions then you can easily find the perfect place for you and your situation! It’s never too late to really find that perfect place you’ve been waiting for.

Your budget

There’s nothing worse than bringing home a paycheque and realizing that most of it goes toward rent. Budget constraints are a huge factor in the TO rental game nowadays and it takes a lot of honesty and planning to properly manage expectations with actual income. Too many people want to live in a nice one-bedroom in the heart of downtown on a minimum wage job. By looking critically at what you can afford and what you can’t, it’ll go a long way towards easing future concerns and stress.

Your neighbourhood

Not only are there practical concerns with finding more out about where you live, but also recreational ones. It’s important to not only know where the nearest grocery store, coffee shop, laundromat and transit stops are, but knowing whether or not you’re in a particularly crime-heavy area is also important. Finding more about your neighbourhood can also tell you things about the construction of your apartment, which could save you trouble later. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with our Neighbourhood Guide.

Ask about and inspect your new place thoroughly

Most buildings in the city aren’t exactly new, and it’s important to know as much as you possibly can about your apartment before you move in. How thin are the walls? Could you have a reasonably sized gathering in your house without annoying the neighbours? Are the windows thin (allowing the cold to bleed in?) How old are the appliances and the wiring throughout? Do you need to worry about the plumbing? Find out as much as you can about the structure of the place you’re looking at!

Is it loud?

One of the most common complaints for rental suites is just how loud it can get, both from outside and from your neighbours. There’s not much you can do about it if you find out the place you’re renting is way louder than you thought it would be, but you might be able to ask if you could spend some time in the apartment just to check. An hour or so would give you a great idea of what you’re in for!