Before signing a lease, it is worth taking a few minutes to understand exactly what you are agreeing to. Rent is only one part of the cost of a rental home. Fees, utilities, maintenance procedures, guest rules, pet policies, lease renewal terms, insurance requirements, and move-out procedures can all affect your experience.
The best questions to ask a landlord before renting are the ones that help you understand the full cost of the property, how the lease works, and what will be expected from you after you move in.
Use these 33 questions before signing a lease so you can compare rental properties more confidently and avoid unnecessary surprises later.
If this is your first rental, you may also want to read our guide to getting approved as a first-time renter.
Before you sign: Ask for the lease and fee information in writing whenever possible. Pay particular attention to the total move-in cost, monthly charges, maintenance procedures, guest and pet rules, renewal requirements, and the amount of notice required before moving out.
1. Are utilities included in the rent?
Ask exactly which utilities are included and which you must place in your own name. Water, electricity, gas, sewer, trash, internet, and other services may be handled differently from one rental to another, so knowing this before you sign makes it easier to estimate your true monthly housing cost.
2. Are there extra monthly fees for parking, storage, trash, or amenities?
Monthly rent may not be the only recurring charge. Ask about parking, storage, trash service, pest control, lawn care, technology fees, amenity fees, or any other recurring cost that will appear in addition to the advertised rent.
3. How do I pay rent, and when is it due?
Confirm the rent due date, accepted payment methods, and where payments are submitted. If the landlord or property manager uses an online tenant portal, ask how the account is set up and whether any payment methods involve additional processing fees.
4. What happens if I pay rent late?
Ask when a payment is considered late, whether the lease provides a grace period, what late charges may apply, and how missed or late payments are handled. The written lease should explain the actual terms that apply to your tenancy.
5. How long is the lease?
Confirm the exact start date and end date rather than assuming the lease is automatically for 12 months. Some rentals use shorter or longer fixed terms, while others may eventually convert to a month-to-month arrangement.
6. What happens when the lease ends?
Ask whether the lease expires automatically, requires a new agreement, renews under certain conditions, or converts to month-to-month. Knowing the process before move-in can prevent confusion near the end of the term. For more detail, read our guide to lease renewal agreements.
7. Can the rent change when I renew?
Ask how renewal rent is determined and when you would normally receive a renewal offer. A future rent amount may not be known when you first move in, but understanding the property’s renewal process helps you plan ahead.
8. How much notice do I need to give before moving out?
Do not assume that reaching the last day of a fixed-term lease automatically completes every move-out requirement. Ask how much written notice the lease requires, where the notice must be sent, and whether the requirement changes if the tenancy becomes month-to-month.
9. What happens if I need to break the lease early?
Ask what the lease says about early termination, replacement tenants, fees, remaining rent obligations, and any circumstances in which an early termination may be handled differently. If this becomes an actual issue during the tenancy, review the lease carefully before taking action. You can also read our guide on early lease termination.
10. How much is the security deposit?
Confirm the exact deposit amount, when it must be paid, and whether any other deposits are required. Keeping the deposit separate from other move-in charges in your budget makes it easier to understand how much money you will need before receiving the keys.
11. What can be deducted from the security deposit?
Ask how the property documents move-in condition, what types of charges may be deducted after move-out, and what process is used for the final inspection and deposit accounting. Taking dated photos when you move in and keeping your move-in condition report can be useful if questions arise later.
12. Is there an application or tenant-screening fee?
Ask whether there is an application fee, what it covers, when it is charged, and whether it is refundable. If a credit or background report is part of the application process, ask what screening company or process is used. For landlords who want more detail on the process, see our tenant background check guide.
13. What are the total move-in costs?
Ask for the complete amount needed before move-in, not just the monthly rent. Depending on the rental, the total may include the first month’s rent, security deposit, approved pet charges, parking charges, utility setup costs, or other disclosed fees.
14. Who will be listed on the lease?
Confirm which adults will be lease-signing tenants and which household members will be identified as authorized occupants. This is especially important for couples, roommates, adult family members, and households with children. Our guide on who should be listed on a lease agreement explains the distinction in more detail.
15. What is the guest policy?
Ask whether the lease limits overnight guests, consecutive nights, or the total amount of time a guest may stay. The actual lease language matters more than assuming there is a universal number of days that applies to every rental.
16. What if another adult needs to move in later?
Ask what approval process applies if a spouse, partner, family member, or roommate wants to move in after the lease has already started. The landlord may require an application, screening, written approval, or a lease amendment before the person becomes an authorized resident.
17. Are pets allowed?
If you already have a pet or may get one later, confirm the policy before signing. Ask which types of pets are permitted and whether the property requires advance approval before bringing an animal into the rental.
18. Are there pet deposits, fees, or monthly pet charges?
Ask for the complete pet-related cost in writing. A property may use a deposit, one-time fee, recurring monthly charge, or a combination of charges, so include these amounts when calculating your real monthly and move-in costs.
19. Are there pet breed, size, or insurance restrictions?
Even when pets are permitted, the property or its insurance policy may have additional requirements. Ask about size, number, documentation, insurance, and other applicable restrictions before submitting an application or signing the lease.
20. How do I submit a maintenance request?
Find out whether routine repairs are reported through an online portal, email, phone number, or another system. Knowing the correct process makes it easier to document the issue and helps the property manager route the request appropriately.
21. How are emergency maintenance issues handled?
Ask what qualifies as an emergency, who you should contact outside normal business hours, and what number or system should be used for urgent issues such as significant water leaks, electrical hazards, or other conditions requiring prompt attention.
22. Who is responsible for repairs and routine upkeep?
Ask how the lease divides responsibilities for repairs, filters, lawn care, pest control, cleanliness, damage, and other routine maintenance. Do not assume every small repair belongs to the tenant or every repair belongs to the landlord. The lease and applicable law both matter. See our guide to landlord and tenant repair responsibilities for more information.
23. Are any repairs or improvements scheduled before move-in?
If you notice damaged flooring, paint problems, appliance issues, leaks, broken fixtures, or unfinished work during a showing, ask whether the issue will be repaired before move-in and have any important commitments documented rather than relying only on a verbal promise.
24. Can I paint, mount TVs, change locks, or make other alterations?
Ask what changes require written approval. Rules may cover painting, wall mounting, satellite equipment, smart-home devices, lock changes, shelving, outdoor equipment, or other alterations. Getting permission first can help avoid charges or disputes later.
25. How are inspections and landlord entry handled?
Ask how routine inspections, maintenance visits, showings, and other entries are normally scheduled and communicated. The lease should explain applicable procedures, while emergency access and notice requirements may also be affected by applicable law.
26. What happens if the property is sold while I am renting?
A sale does not by itself tell you exactly what will happen to your tenancy. Ask whether there are any sale-related provisions in the lease and how tenants would be notified if ownership or management changes. The effect of a sale can depend on the lease and applicable law.
27. Am I allowed to sublet the rental?
Ask whether subletting is prohibited, permitted with approval, or handled under a specific lease procedure. Do not assume you can move another renter into the property simply because you remain responsible for the original lease.
28. Can I transfer or assign my lease?
A lease assignment is different from ordinary subletting. Ask whether the landlord permits another qualified person to take over the lease and what screening, approval, paperwork, or fees would apply if you ever need to move before the lease ends.
29. What happens if a roommate moves out or someone needs to replace them?
When several adults sign a lease, one roommate moving away does not necessarily remove that person’s obligations automatically. Ask how roommate changes are handled, whether a replacement must be screened, and whether the landlord requires a new lease or written amendment.
30. Is renters insurance required?
Ask whether renters insurance is mandatory under the lease and when proof of coverage must be provided. Even when it is optional, you may still want coverage for personal belongings and personal liability because the property’s insurance generally serves a different purpose.
31. What renters insurance coverage is required?
If insurance is required, ask whether the lease specifies minimum liability limits, additional-interest information, or other policy requirements. Confirm the details with both the property manager and your insurance provider before purchasing coverage.
32. What are the smoking and vaping rules?
Ask whether smoking or vaping is prohibited inside the rental, on balconies, in garages, or elsewhere on the property. The lease should clearly explain the applicable policy. Landlords can also review our guide on no-smoking policies in rental properties.
33. What condition must the rental be in when I move out?
Ask what cleaning, key return, final inspection, damage documentation, and other move-out procedures are expected. Compare the move-out requirements with the condition report and photos you created at move-in so you have a clear record of how the property changed during your tenancy.
Questions to Ask Before Renting: Key Takeaways
- Understand the full cost: Look beyond monthly rent and ask about utilities, deposits, parking, pets, insurance, and other recurring charges.
- Read the lease carefully: Confirm the term, renewal process, move-out notice requirement, early-termination provisions, and occupancy rules.
- Know the property policies: Ask about guests, pets, smoking, alterations, inspections, subletting, and roommate changes before signing.
- Understand maintenance procedures: Know how to report routine repairs, what qualifies as an emergency, and how responsibilities are divided.
- Document the rental condition: Keep the lease, payment records, move-in checklist, photographs, and important communication throughout the tenancy.
Find a Rental Home in Clarksville, TN
Once you know which questions to ask a landlord before renting, you can compare properties based on more than the advertised monthly rent.
Browse available rental properties in Clarksville from Connerth & Co. Property Management.
Current residents can also use the tenant services portal for tenant-related information and account access.
This article provides general rental information and is not legal advice. Lease terms, property policies, and legal requirements vary by property and circumstances. Review your actual rental agreement and obtain qualified legal advice if you have a specific landlord-tenant dispute.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
