For those of you still smarting from a foreclosure, you may just want to grab the first available apartment you can to get by and get past this recent difficulty. But we wanted to remind you to think of security concerns before you move into a new place that’s potentially in a brand new area.
Talk to the Neighbors. There’s no better way to assess how safe an area is than by talking to the neighbors. Also, you can get crime reports through your local city government. The City of Albuquerque offers these statistics, which you can check out on this link. You can also see the FBI’s Uniform Crime Statistics broken down by location and type of crime.
Check Security Equipment. Landlords may assure you that everything is safe, but go see for yourself what kinds of deadbolts, exterior lighting, and security systems are in place before signing anything.
Review State and Local Laws. Okay. This isn’t the most exciting thing to do, but it’ll help you to know your rights. Nolo offers a section of their Web site specifying landlord-tenant clauses on this link that you can read. Most states require landlords to have minimum safety precautions such as peepholes, deadbolts, window locks, and safety glass.
Meet with Your Landlord. Talk with the landlord about any safety concerns that you have and want addressed. Make specific requests about what you want fixed and put that request into writing. If you know of any state or local ordinances being violated, mentioning them to your prospective landlord can show that you mean business.
This should get you started on the right foot. If the landlord doesn’t seem amenable to your concerns, then you may not want to live there anyway. However, many landlords want to fill vacancies and will work with you as best they can to take care of business.
