Before signing an apartment lease, read six clauses closely: term and renewal, rent, security deposit, repairs, early termination, and handover. Most rental disputes come from these six points, and most can be avoided when both sides write them down clearly from the start.
1. Term, renewal and rent
The lease should state an exact start date and end date, not just "12 months". For renewal, ask directly: who must give notice, how many days ahead, and how the rent is set for the renewal period. A clause that only says "automatic renewal" with no price invites disagreement later.
For rent, write down the amount, the currency, the payment schedule and the due date. List what is included in the rent (management fee, internet, cleaning) and what is billed separately (electricity, water) line by line.
2. Security deposit: how much, when returned, what can be deducted
This is the clause most often disputed at move-out. Three questions need written answers:
| 1 | Deposit amount how many months of rent, and when it is paid. |
| 2 | Refund deadline within how many days after the apartment is handed back. |
| 3 | Permitted deductions only unpaid rent, unpaid utilities and documented damage, never a vague general deduction. |
| Practical tip Take photos or a short video on move-in day. At move-out, this record is what separates normal wear from damage. |
3. Repairs: who pays, and how fast
The lease should separate two groups. Normal wear and equipment that fails from age (a weak air conditioner, a leaking tap) is usually the landlord's job. Damage caused by use (broken glass, a burnt stove top) usually falls on the tenant. Beyond who pays, add a response time for the landlord once the tenant reports a fault, so problems are not left open.
4. Early termination
Few people think about this clause when signing, yet it matters most when work plans change or the apartment has a problem. It should state the notice period, the compensation if one side leaves early (loss of deposit, a number of extra months, or none), and the cases where either side may end the lease immediately, such as prolonged late payment or an apartment that cannot be lived in.
5. Handover and condition report
The handover report should come with an inventory of furniture and equipment, utility meter readings and dated photos. Record the number of keys, access cards and air conditioner remotes too, since these often go missing. Both parties sign and each keeps a copy.
| Remember The more specific the lease, the less you will need it. Read each clause together, and write numbers and deadlines instead of words like "reasonable" or "promptly". |
| Seek legal advice when The lease is long-term or high-value, one party is a company or a foreigner, or a clause is unclear to you. This article is general information only and is not legal advice. |
