First time renters

When I first moved into an apartment there were a lot of things I didn't know about, so I didn't take steps to protect myself. I was luck, my landlord was a good guy and I had no issues. My friend however who was in the same boat was not so lucky, her landlord cheated her out of her deposit.

• Before you agree to move in, make sure that you look around the apartment, make sure there are no issues and matches what you expected. Its not uncommon for crooked landlords to use a bait and switch, where they advertise the best apartment and you sign the lease you find yourself in one that is far less nice.
• Make sure to look over you lease. Leases can vary, and its important that you know what is in yours, otherwise it could cost you money or get you evicted. 
• Take pictures before you move in. If there are any areas with wear and tear, its important you get them. Otherwise you could run the risk of having your deposit deducted for something that is already there.
• Make sure that any problems are taken care of before you move it. If that is not possible, get your landlord's promise to fix it in writing.
• Read up on your tenant landlord laws. You don't need to be an expert, but its a good idea to know your basics in order to protect yourself.
• Make sure you know who to contact in case of a problem and how. The last thing you want is to find you apartment flooded and you unable to find anyone to help.
• Make sure that your windows and doors can be locked securely, especially in not so nice areas.

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