Read Your Lease
Before It Costs You

The lease tacks on mandatory 'valet trash' ($25/mo), 'amenity fee' ($45/mo), 'utility billing admin fee' ($15/mo), and 'liability waiver admin fee' ($10/mo). None are optional. The advertised $1,200/month is actually $1,395 — a 16% markup disguised across five line items. Over 12 months, that's $2,340 more than you budgeted.

If you don't give written notice exactly 60 days before expiration (not 59, not 61), the lease auto-renews to a month-to-month tenancy at 150% of the current rent — effectively raising your rent to $1,800/month. Plus, the month-to-month can be terminated by the landlord with just 30 days notice, leaving you scrambling to find a new place.

The lease says the deposit will be returned 'within a reasonable time' with no specific deadline and no statutory reference. Most states require return within 14-30 days with an itemized list of deductions. Without a deadline, you have no leverage if they sit on your $2,400 deposit for months after move-out.

Tenant is responsible for 'all repairs and maintenance costing less than $150 per incident.' A leaking faucet, broken window lock, stuck garbage disposal, clogged drain — each under $150, each your problem. If five things break in a month (common in older buildings), that's potentially $750 out of your pocket for their property.

Subletting and assignment are 'strictly prohibited' with no exceptions for job relocation, family emergency, or military deployment. The lease-break fee is 2 months rent ($2,400). If you get transferred 6 months into a 12-month lease, you're paying $2,400 to leave — plus the remaining rent until they re-rent the unit.

The landlord reserves the right to enter your unit for 'any reasonable purpose' with just 4 hours written notice — including weekends and evenings. Most state laws require 24-48 hours notice. This means Saturday morning inspections, Tuesday evening showings to prospective tenants, and little privacy during your final months.