Real Estate

Before You Sign: Questions to Ask a Landlord During a Showing

Updated Aug 1, 2025· 6 min read
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A renter with a notepad asking questions to a landlord inside an apartment during a showing

In This Article

Key Takeaways

Asking questions before signing protects you from unexpected fees, restrictive rules, and unresponsive landlords.
Lease terms, maintenance policies, and move-in costs should all be clarified verbally and confirmed in writing.
A landlord's willingness to answer questions openly is itself a signal of how they manage the property.
Understanding your rights before signing helps you negotiate from a position of knowledge, not anxiety.
Hidden costs like utility responsibilities, parking fees, and pet deposits can significantly affect monthly affordability.
20–40 min

Summary

22 items · 20–40 minutes per showing

Why Your Questions Matter Before You Commit

A rental showing typically lasts 20 to 30 minutes — not nearly long enough to absorb everything that will affect your next year or more of life. The pressure to decide quickly in a competitive market can push renters to skip due diligence, and that's exactly when costly surprises emerge: a lease clause prohibiting guests for extended stays, a building where maintenance requests go unanswered for weeks, or utility bills that weren't factored into the advertised rent.

Asking structured questions during a showing does two things simultaneously. It surfaces factual information you need to make an informed decision, and it reveals how a landlord communicates under normal, low-stakes conditions. A landlord who dismisses reasonable questions or gives vague answers about basic policies is showing you something important about what's ahead.

Before attending your next showing, review the checklist below and bring it with you. You don't need to ask every question at every property — prioritize based on what matters most to your situation. If you have pets, for instance, understanding pet-specific lease terms deserves extra attention. And if you're weighing renting against buying, the homebuying process involves a very different set of considerations and timelines.

Costs and Fees

Ask what the total move-in costs are, including first month, last month, and security deposit. Must
Confirm which utilities are included in the rent and which you are responsible for paying separately. Must
Ask whether there are any recurring fees — such as parking, trash, or amenity fees — not reflected in the listed rent. Must
Inquire about the landlord's policy and timeline for returning the security deposit after move-out. Should

Lease Terms

Confirm the exact lease start date and whether the landlord offers any flexibility on timing. Must
Ask how much notice is required before you vacate at the end of the lease — typically 30 to 60 days. Must
Ask whether month-to-month renewal is an option after the initial lease term ends, and if so, at what rent. Should
Clarify the process and any fees involved if you need to break the lease early. Should

Maintenance and Repairs

Ask how maintenance requests are submitted and what the typical response time is for non-emergency issues. Must
Find out who handles emergency repairs — such as a burst pipe or heating failure — and how to reach them after hours. Must
Ask who is responsible for appliance repair or replacement if a provided appliance breaks during your tenancy. Should
Note any visible wear, damage, or unfinished repairs during the showing and ask when they will be addressed. Should

Building Rules and Restrictions

Ask about the pet policy, including any breed or weight restrictions, pet deposits, or monthly pet fees. Must
Confirm whether subletting or adding a roommate mid-lease is permitted and what the process involves. Should
Ask whether you are permitted to make modifications such as painting walls, hanging shelves, or installing fixtures. Should
Inquire about guest policies, including any rules around overnight or extended stays. Nice to have

Property History and Management

Ask how long the current landlord has owned or managed the property. Should
Inquire about why the previous tenant left, if the unit was recently occupied. Should
Ask who manages the property day-to-day — the owner directly, or a property management company — and how to contact them. Must
Ask whether there are any planned rent increases or property sales in the near term that could affect your tenancy. Nice to have

What to Do With the Answers You Receive

The showing conversation is just the beginning. Any verbal commitment a landlord makes — about who pays for water, whether you can paint, how quickly repairs are typically handled — has no legal weight unless it appears in the lease or a written addendum. After a showing where a landlord agrees to something specific, follow up by email to create a paper trail before you sign.

Get Every Agreement in Writing

Verbal promises made during a showing are not legally enforceable. If a landlord agrees to repair something, allow a pet, or include a parking space, that commitment must appear in the signed lease or a written addendum before you move in. Do not hand over a deposit or sign any document based solely on verbal assurances.

When you review the lease itself, match each answer you received against the actual document. Gaps or contradictions between what was said and what is written should be resolved before you sign. You're not being difficult by asking for clarity — you're being thorough. Many renters discover discrepancies only after moving in, when leverage is minimal.

It's also worth knowing your baseline rights. Many protections — such as the right to a habitable unit and limits on how a landlord may enter your space — exist regardless of what a lease says. Tenant rights that many renters overlook can inform how you interpret lease language and when to push back. Similarly, common misconceptions about landlord and tenant responsibilities can help you separate what you're legally owed from what you may be incorrectly assuming.

Evasive Answers Are a Red Flag

If a landlord becomes defensive, dismissive, or vague when asked straightforward questions about maintenance response times, fees, or lease flexibility, treat that as a meaningful signal. Difficulty getting basic answers before signing often reflects how disputes and repair requests will be handled once you're a tenant. Consider how comfortable you are with that communication style over a full lease term.

This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Rental laws vary by state and municipality. Consult a qualified attorney or tenant rights organization for guidance specific to your situation.

Real Estate Editorial Team is the collective byline for our editorial team and contributor network. Articles published under this byline or an editorial pen name are researched, written, and reviewed according to our editorial standards for clarity, consistency, and independence before publication.

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