5 lease red flags renters miss

Most leases look boring until something goes wrong. Buried in the fine print are a handful of clauses that reliably catch renters off guard. Here are the five we flag most often.

1. Automatic renewal

If you don't send written notice by a specific deadline, the lease renews itself, sometimes for another full year. Diary the notice date the day you sign.

2. Joint and several liability

With roommates, this means each of you can be held responsible for all the rent, not just your share. If one person bails, the landlord can come after you for everything.

3. Waiver of jury trial

A quiet sentence that gives up your right to have disputes heard by a jury. It's common, but you can ask to strike it.

4. Broad right of entry

"Landlord may enter at any time" is usually unenforceable, most states require advance notice. Know your local rule before you accept it.

5. Vague repair responsibilities

Watch for language that pushes major repairs onto you. Habitability is the landlord's job in most states.

Paste your lease into Lease Checker and we'll flag these automatically.