Renting In Berkeley
Landlords can charge prospective tenants a screening or application charge, however there are limitations to how much. Prospective occupants should receive a copy of their credit report if the landlord acquired one, a receipt showing the expense of the screening, and a refund of any unused portion of the charge. For more details, including the current screening fee limit, see our Tenant Screening Fees page.
Make sure you can manage the lease
Signing a fixed-term lease might obligate you to pay the lease for the whole term, unless there is a really excellent reason to leave, like major habitability issues. If you leave before the lease ends, you might be delegated paying lease if the owner can not re-rent the unit before the lease period expires. See our Lease Breaking page to find out more.
Check if the system has defenses under the Rent Ordinance
Most rentals in Berkeley are either completely or partially covered by the Rent Ordinance, but some systems are totally exempt from any defenses. It is necessary to understand what rights you'll have as a tenant. Check our Is Your Unit Covered by Rent Control? page for details about defenses and various exemptions for various types of systems. You can also call us to inquire about a particular unit.
Understand the terms of the lease before signing
It's crucial to clearly understand what you are consenting to before accepting the regards to a lease. While sometimes just the property manager can clarify what a proposed lease term indicates, we can assist identify concerns so that you are able to ask the best concerns. Common concerns are:
Last month's rent: Ask the property owner if the last month's rent will be applied. Be clear on what the proprietor's objectives are with all money collected (beyond the first month's lease) at the start of an occupancy. If you have a composed lease, this should be clearly defined.
Landlords can charge prospective tenants a screening or application charge, however there are limitations to how much. Prospective occupants should receive a copy of their credit report if the landlord acquired one, a receipt showing the expense of the screening, and a refund of any unused portion of the charge. For more details, including the current screening fee limit, see our Tenant Screening Fees page.
Make sure you can manage the lease
Signing a fixed-term lease might obligate you to pay the lease for the whole term, unless there is a really excellent reason to leave, like major habitability issues. If you leave before the lease ends, you might be delegated paying lease if the owner can not re-rent the unit before the lease period expires. See our Lease Breaking page to find out more.
Check if the system has defenses under the Rent Ordinance
Most rentals in Berkeley are either completely or partially covered by the Rent Ordinance, but some systems are totally exempt from any defenses. It is necessary to understand what rights you'll have as a tenant. Check our Is Your Unit Covered by Rent Control? page for details about defenses and various exemptions for various types of systems. You can also call us to inquire about a particular unit.
Understand the terms of the lease before signing
It's crucial to clearly understand what you are consenting to before accepting the regards to a lease. While sometimes just the property manager can clarify what a proposed lease term indicates, we can assist identify concerns so that you are able to ask the best concerns. Common concerns are:
Last month's rent: Ask the property owner if the last month's rent will be applied. Be clear on what the proprietor's objectives are with all money collected (beyond the first month's lease) at the start of an occupancy. If you have a composed lease, this should be clearly defined.