The desire to change apartments seems impossible when you first get settled in to your new place, but it’s not long before the new usually wears off and you start dreaming about the next step: becoming a homeowner.
But some tenants don’t have to get to that stage before they’re ready to get out of dodge, and we can’t always blame them for feeling that way. There are certain signs that indicate it’s time to change apartments as soon as humanly possible. (Five that we could think of.) They are:
Rent goes beyond the threshold of home ownership…
Renting an apartment certainly has its advantages over home ownership — not having to fix things for instance — but there is one huge perk of owning your own house that you won’t get with a rental. Equity. The payments that you’re making on your house build equity of ownership until the whole thing is yours. True, if you don’t (or can’t) make a house payment, you run the risk of foreclosure, but once that house is paid for, they’ll need a stick of dynamite to get you out, and you own 100 percent of the value. With rentals, you get nothing. Every dime that you spend pads someone else’s pocket. Because of this, if you can get a house for the same that you’re paying in rent, then you should seriously consider it. (Or at least move to a cheaper apartment.)
…And they’ve stopped fixing your issues.
While a little nudge upward in the rent is to be expected over time, if you notice that things are starting to look rundown, that your landlord is slow to respond or altogether non-responsive, then you’ve got to ask yourself where that extra money is going. If you pay more, then you should be paying for a better place in which to live. Period. If they’re poor at fixing issues, yet quick to raise your rent when the lease comes due, ditch ‘em.
Plus, you notice more bugs around your place…
If pest control is included as part of your rent, and you continually have bug problems, then it could be indicative of a larger issue. It’s certainly a case where you’re being ignored by the people to whom you’re paying rent, and that is unacceptable in itself. But the more dangerous the bug — wasps, for example — the greater the threat to you, your spouse, or any small children you may have around the place.
…And you’re running out of room.
If you require a large storage unit for many of your things, then it may be time to consider buying or renting something bigger. This problem is one that often arises when a couple is pregnant or decides to adopt.
Last but not least: break-ins.
While it’s probably not your landlord or their property manager breaking in to your apartment, they should be taking measures to ensure their property is safe for its tenants. Whether that means renting out an apartment for free to a law enforcement officer in exchange for off-duty protective services, or installing a security system, they need to reinvest part of the revenue they get from you and the rest of their tenants into the property itself.
In Summary
Deciding to change apartments can be aggravating if you’re not fond of moving, but it becomes a necessity when any of the above cases are prevalent. As your lease renewal date approaches, take a look at each of these areas and weigh whether the decision to stay is truly worth it. Renters are not second class citizens. They deserve the best, especially when they’re paying for it. Good luck!
