Legally responsible

If you have roommates, you should know that most leases hold you all “jointly and severally liable.” This means that one roommate can be held responsible for anything that any other roommates do — such as skipping out on rent or damaging the property. The alternative is to ask each roommate to sign a separate lease, but many landlords won’t go to this extra trouble.

Your lease should also indicate that your landlord will enter your home without advance notice only if there’s an emergency. Otherwise, he or she must inform you before entering. The lease should state how much notice is required — usually a couple of days.

If you want to change something in your lease before signing it, ask your landlord if it’s negotiable. If it is, have him or her write in the change and initial it. Then you initial it as well before signing.

Before moving in, it’s smart to check your apartment or house for pre-existing damage, such as any holes in walls or stained carpets, so your landlord can’t accuse you later of causing these problems. Ask your landlord to come along, but if he or she won’t, take notes and pictures.