Will you only be in town for the summer?
Do you have a serious case of wanderlust?
Are you searching for a new job but unsure where it might be?
Is the thought of signing a long-term contract enough to get you pulling out the Pepto?

If so, you may want to think about renting with a month-to-month lease. If you’re not ready or able to commit to a fixed-term lease, the flexibility might be exactly what you need. Read on to learn more about why you may (or may not) want to think about a different form of leasing. Read the rest of this entry »

Maybe your car broke down and your hard-earned savings went straight to the mechanic. Perhaps you didn’t get the hours you needed at work, and your paycheck was already lacking to begin with. Whatever the reason, sometimes life happens and you end up being late on rent. If you’re a few days behind on rent, read on to find out what to expect. More importantly, learn how you may be able to get your landlord to (hopefully) cut you a little slack. Read the rest of this entry »

When trying to find an apartment, it can often be difficult to find an apartment that meets all your needs.  Many renters are looking for a nontraditional living situation.  For example, renters may need an  to find an apartment during the process of trying to find a house, or are at the end of a current lease and are having trouble finding a new place to live, or may only be living in a city for a few months thanks to a temporary job.  How do you cope with the in-between period of apartment living?  One option to explore is that of a month-to-month lease.

The possibility of obtaining a month-to-month lease often depends on the apartment complex.  Unfortunately, they are not readily available at many apartments.  Smaller apartments may be willing to negotiate, however, and it certainly never hurts to ask if they are willing to make concessions.  For example, you may find an apartment with a leasing office that can write one-year leases with a clause allowing tenants to end the lease prematurely and move if they are presented with the closing papers on the tenant’s new residence.  A month-to-month option may also be available to tack onto a current lease that is going to end soon.  With sufficient notice, the apartment can extend your lease as needed.  This can be helpful as you try to find an apartment to replace your current residence.

If you find an apartment that is willing to lease month-to-month, the downsides may include an additional fee tacked on to your monthly rent, or even a non-refundable deposit.  However, remember that this may be preferable to committing to a full-term lease while you find an apartment or house, then having to break it when you are ready to move out.

If you cannot find an apartment that allows a month-to-month lease, some apartments offer lease terms as short as 3 or 4months, but the cost will be substantially higher than a normal lease.  Additionally, you could see if you are able to find an apartment with a renter to sublet from for the amount of time you need.

Utilize tools like apartmentsearch.com and our moving checklist to plan ahead and be efficient about your search to find an apartment to lease.

Six-month and 12-month apartment leases are typical, but what if you have no way of knowing how long you’ll need to rent? Though it can sometimes be tough to find an apartment with the right options, renting an apartment with a month-to-month lease may be your best bet if you have short-term needs or plans that are up in the air.

Apartment managers want to have a high occupancy rate, and they want to be able to plan for when renters are moving in and moving out, so it’s understandable that most managers do not allow tenants to have a month-to-month lease. New tenants will have the toughest time finding this type of lease when trying to find an apartment, while renters who have been in their apartment for the term of a first lease may actually be presented with the month-to-month option by their landlord when the time comes. Even so, this offer can come at a cost: landlords can increase your monthly rent if you don’t sign a longer-term lease.

It’s different for every place, of course, but factors that may influence your chances of getting to go month-to-month include the current state of the leasing market — how in-demand is your apartment complex? Another factor may be your history as a renter there. If you’ve always been on time paying rent, this could influence their decision.

One thing to keep in mind while you are searching to find an apartment is that it doesn’t hurt to ask. Communicate your situation with your apartment manager and see if they offer a solution you can both agree with. If you’re currently going through an apartment search to find an apartment, be sure to ask about a month-to-month lease, and if the apartment doesn’t offer one, ask what the options are for subletting or even breaking a lease — it’s information that’s very important for a renter to know in order to find an apartment that’s ideal.

If you can find an apartment with a month-to-month lease, it offers tremendous flexibility, but you’ll need to find out the details to your agreement. Many apartment managers will require 30 days notice, or even 60 days notice, before you can move out.