Renting a home comes with certain responsibilities. If it’s your first time renting, there may be things you’re not aware of that you’re responsible for, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the lease, house rules, and guidelines for where you live. It will make everyday life more pleasant for you and your neighbors. Here’s a quick overview of what you’re responsible for when you rent a home. Remember to check the lease to see what applies to you and your apartment.
When you move in
When taking over the apartment, you must inspect the apartment after handover. With us, you have a period of 14 days to submit any errors or deficiencies that were not discovered when the apartment was taken over. If during this period you discover errors or deficiencies that were not discovered when the apartment was handed over – and these errors were not caused by you as the tenant, the landlord is responsible for correcting them.
Read also: Your first apartment? This is what you should consider when moving away from home
So, if you discover anything during the first two weeks you live in the apartment, you must let us know.
Responsible for maintenance
One of the most important things when renting an apartment is your responsibility to maintain the apartment you live in. This includes, among other things, maintenance and checking of fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and checking of smoke detectors. In addition, you are responsible for, for example, regular cleaning of the apartment and indoor climate – daily ventilation will help with the air quality in the apartment, and to avoid damage to the home.
When it comes to cleaning, this also includes cleaning drains, washing and cleaning kitchen hoods and appliances, keeping air vents clean, and general cleaning of the apartment’s surfaces. And the more often you do things, the faster it goes, as you may not want to scrub things clean of dirt next time.
A good rule of thumb is to clean drains, kitchen hoods and vents at least four times a year. Do it at the change of season so it’s easy to remember. If you live in a shared apartment or have a larger family, cleaning may need to be done more frequently as more people mean more hair and soap scum in the shower and often more cooking than if you live alone.
General maintenance and cleaning along the way will also save you time when you move.
Responsibilities while you live there
When renting an apartment, it is a good idea to think about how you will use the apartment. Avoid scratching the floor by lifting furniture instead of dragging it. Other simple everyday problems can include door handles hitting the wall and making marks – this can be easily avoided by using a door stopper. Notifying the landlord of any accidents along the way is also better than waiting until you are about to move out.
If you notice that something is starting to wear out or is a little loose during the rental period, it may need adjustment. If you can’t do this yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Feel free to check our customer forum for more tips and advice , or watch videos on our Youtube channel . You can easily report service requests in MyHome .
På jakt etter et sted hvor det er enkelt å ta ansvar som leietaker? Heimstaden tilbyr leiligheter i Oslo med tydelige rammer og god oppfølging, slik at du vet hva som forventes – og får hjelp når du trenger det. Et godt sted å bo starter med klare avtaler og god dialog.