What should I request from my new tenant upon signing a lease

Question

This is my first rental property and first tenant and first least. What should I request from my tenant upon signing a lease? I assume it should be:

1. First month of rent

2. Security deposit

3. Pet deposit (if any)

4. Move in-out (including cleaning fee)

Did I forget anything?

Jonathan Bombaci · Answer

Congratulations @Alex S.for taking steps to becoming a landlord. Here are some things to ask for when a new tenant is moving in.

- First/last/security

- signed lease

- Copy of renter insurance

- Copy of drivers license

- Copy of car registration

- Statement of condition for the apartment. Take photos or video and bonus points if your new tenant appears in the photos or video

- Tenants Personal contact info (cell and email)

- Tenants Emergency contact info

- Proof that utilities were moved into tenant name. Normally accomplish by asking them to give you the new account numbers for electro and gas.

I’m just pulling this off the top of my head but I have a internal full time property manager so she deals with all this for me and I haven’t done this myself in a while so I’m sure I’m missing things. Hopefully other BP members will step up and help us complete this list.

Best of luck and congratulations again on becoming a new landlord.

Jon

Alex S. · Answer

Thanks for the congratulations, although I'm slightly overwhelmed :) This is a great checklist, thanks! Most of the non-money related items were on my too, could you please tell more on the two followings, which I didn't have:

1. Last month's payment - what is there reason to ask for that?

2. Copy of renter insurance - is it a best practice or a mostly required item? I couldn't recall it was discussed on a rental book...