If you rent a house, in addition to the rent, you will generally be expected to pay for gas, electricity, heat, and sometimes water and sewage. You also provide (or pay for) normal maintenance, such as grass cutting, window washing, leaf raking, and snow removal. If the house has a sidewalk, you may be responsible for having it cleared of snow within a few hours after each snowfall (usually within four daylight hours).
Furnished Apartments or Houses
The word furnished means different things to different people. You will normally be supplied with the essentials: stove, refrigerator, beds, chairs, sofa, tables, lamps. Minimal china and glass, flatware (often rather poor), basic kitchen supplies, curtains, and some pictures may be supplied. Sometimes, but very rarely, there is a small supply of bed, bath, and table linens and blankets.
You will need to supply your favorite kitchen utensils, some table linens or place mats, extra lamps, coat hangers, whatever electrical appliances you want — such as toasters and irons — and generally, bath and bed linens and blankets. You will certainly want to bring enough of your own things to make you feel comfortable and at home. Your own pictures, books, decorations, and the like will make it seem more like home to you.
The word unfurnished means different things also, but generally a stove and refrigerator are included — also towel racks, light fixtures, and other such built-in items often not included in other countries. Partly furnished often means only that there are some large furniture items that the previous tenant didn't bother to take.
Housing Agreements and Leases
Don't sign any agreement, normally called a "lease," until you have consulted a member of your company's personnel department, a lawyer, a real estate specialist at your bank, a well-recommended real estate agent, or an official at your university.
You should understand clearly in advance what the lease states about ending it or renewing it if you want to stay longer, provisions for damages, number of allowed occupants, rules about children or pets, rules that apply to subletting (i.e., renting to other parties while your own lease is in effect), painting or redecorating regulations, and hidden charges — sometimes extra ones suddenly appear for such items as a TV antenna or garbage removal. Also ask when the next rent increase will occur and what it is likely to be.
When you rent an apartment, you are normally asked for one month's "security deposit" in addition to the first and sometimes the last month's rent. The security deposit will be returned to you when you leave if there has been no major damage to the premises during your occupancy. The landlord or the landlord's agent will do the inspecting. The security deposit is an assurance to the landlord that any damage to the premises will be covered. For your own protection, you should examine the apartment carefully before you sign a lease, and get the landlord's or agent's signed (written) acknowledgment of any cracks, stains, holes, scratches, or other damages that existed before you became the tenant. Otherwise, you may be charged for preexisting damages two or three years later when you leave.
If you should move before your lease runs out, you will have to negotiate with the landlord to terminate your lease unless this provision is already written into your original lease. You may have to pay the rent until another tenant can be found, but sometimes you merely forfeit your deposits. It is best to clarify this in writing if the lease does not specify. Often, you can arrange an "early out" option in exchange for a slightly higher monthly rent.
All such matters should be discussed in advance, as mentioned above, and be sure to get professional advice before signing your name to anything. Once a contract is signed, it becomes binding. It cannot be canceled, and the terms cannot be changed without great legal difficulty. Furthermore, you will then have no opportunity for any further negotiations.
To summarize, find out the following before you sign:
1. Which services and utilities are or are not included in the rent — heat, electricity, gas, air conditioning, washing machine, clothes dryer, etc.?
2. Do you have to pay a brokerage fee (if you found the apartment through an agent)? If so, how much will it be?
3. How often will the landlord repaint the apartment, and who will pay for it?
4. Exactly how long does the lease run (they vary)?
5. What are the conditions under which you can end the lease if you leave early?
6. If you should want to sublet to someone else, can you? Under what conditions?
7. Does the landlord know the size of your family? Not all apartment houses allow children.
8. Does the landlord allow pets? Have written permission if you are going to keep a pet.
9. If you rent a house, who pays for lawn mowing, snow removal, etc.?
Utilities
Utilities refers to gas, electricity, heat, air conditioning, and water. Stoves (sometimes called ranges) are either gas or electric. Your heating costs may or may not be included in the rent — ask! If you have to pay, ask for the average monthly cost. Central heating systems generally burn oil or gas; in some cases, apartments or even houses may have electric heating. Be particularly careful about electric heating in climates with cold winters — you may find yourself paying six or seven hundred dollars a month, just for heat.
Modern apartment buildings are nearly always equipped with centrally operated air conditioning, which can be adjusted by the occupants of each apartment. If you live in an older house, it is likely to have window air conditioners. If there are no window units and the need is great, you can rent air conditioners on a monthly basis for the few hot months.
Most of the country operates on 110–120 volt current, 60 cycles, AC. Unless your own small appliances can be converted for U.S. current, you are well advised to leave them at home. For small items, transformers can be a nuisance. However, you can buy all kinds of appliances here at reasonable prices.
In most rented apartments and some rental houses, you will not have to pay for water or sewage. Houses are metered for water, and if you have to pay for it, the bill will arrive either monthly or quarterly. Water rates are low. In most communities, the charges for water consumption and sewage are combined. Sewage is generally a flat fee per month.
You can safely drink water from taps anywhere in the United States. Do not drink from brooks, streams, or rivers, however. Pollution is widespread. Tap water may taste unpleasant because it contains a high percentage of minerals or purifying chemicals. If you find this distasteful, you can buy bottled water in the supermarket, have filters installed, or buy an inexpensive, hand-held filtering system.
Staten Island rentals are very reasonable rental expenses and sophisticated as well. In addition those very near to city. SO I am planning to move over there as early as possible.