Never rent a unit that’s already vacant – here’s why
This is something I wish someone had told me before I signed my lease.
If you’re renting a place, try to avoid units that have already been sitting vacant. In my experience, it can be a huge red flag because many issues only become apparent after you move in.
I rented a unit that was already untenanted. After moving in, I discovered multiple structural issues that weren’t obvious during the viewing. Despite documenting these problems and raising them, I later found myself being held responsible for costs that I believe were unrelated to my use of the property. In the end, I was asked to pay almost 3x my security deposit.
To make matters worse, after I vacated the property, the landlord didn’t arrange viewings or make reasonable efforts to find a replacement tenant for a period of time. I’m now also being asked to pay for the alleged rental income that was forgone during that period.
The whole experience has been incredibly stressful and expensive.
My takeaway is simple: if a property is already vacant, ask yourself why. Get an independent inspection if possible, document everything before moving in, and make sure you understand exactly what you’re agreeing to in the tenancy agreement.
Hopefully this helps someone avoid going through what I did.