Most leases turn over around September, making late summer and early fall the stretch when people are walking through places, taking photos on their phones, and trying to remember what they meant to ask once they're back in the car.
But knowing what to ask and having a short list of questions helps you find clarity and make the most informed decisions for where to move. So, what are some questions worth adding to that list?
What to sort out before you ever tour
Ask what the rent actually includes and whether anything is billed separately. Ask what the lease term is and whether there's flexibility on it. Ask how soon the place is available, and whether that date is firm. And ask what they need from an applicant, because knowing whether they want pay stubs, references, or a credit check lets you have it ready rather than scrambling later.
If you have a pet, ask about that first rather than last. Why? Because pet policies rule out more places than any other single factor, and a pet-friendly listing can still have a weight limit or a breed restriction that isn't in the description.
Questions about what it really costs
The rent is rarely the whole number, so it helps to know the real figure before you compare anything.
Ask which utilities are included and roughly what the rest run in a typical month. A landlord who has had the unit a while can usually give you a realistic range, and a big old window unit in a hot climate can add a lot. Ask whether there are recurring fees on top of rent, like parking, trash, amenities, or pet rent. Ask what's due at signing, since first month, last month, and a deposit is a very different upfront number from just first and a deposit.
For example: two places listed at the same rent can be a couple hundred dollars apart once you add utilities, parking, and pet rent. That gap only shows up if you ask.
It's also worth asking what is required for you to get your deposit back at the end of your lease. The answer tells you how the landlord thinks about wear and tear, which is useful information well before move-out.
Questions about the lease itself
This is the part people skim, and it's where expensive surprises can live.
Ask what happens if you need to move out early, and what that costs. Ask whether you can extend if your plans change, which matters if you're there on a contract or a school term that might run long. Ask how renewal works and what kind of increase or discount there might be with renewal. And ask whether the lease is month to month or a fixed term, because those two behave very differently. A month to month agreement renews automatically until either side gives notice, usually 30 days, which gives you flexibility but gives your landlord the same flexibility to raise the rent or end it.
If you need something shorter than a year, ask directly rather than assuming the answer is no. Plenty of individual owners will consider a shorter lease even when the listing says 12 months.
Questions about how the place is run
How maintenance actually works will shape your daily life more than almost anything you can see on a tour.
Ask who handles repairs and how you report them, what a typical response time looks like, and what counts as an emergency. It's better to know what is required in advance, so you're not scrambling to get a fix when something inevitably comes up.
What to look at while you're there
Run the water in the kitchen and the bathroom and watch how long it takes to get hot. Open and close the windows. Check that the doors lock properly. Look under the sinks for stains or warping, which is where slow leaks usually show up first.
Take photos as you go, because three tours blur together fast.
When you can't see it in person
Plenty of people can't tour at all. Military families relocate on orders from across the country,
travel nurses accept a 13 week contract from two states away, medical residents find out in March where they'll be living in June, and students commit to a city before they've ever visited it.
Renting sight unseen is normal in those situations, and it's very doable, but it just calls for a different set of questions.
Ask for a live video walkthrough rather than a recorded one. A live call lets you say "can you open that closet" or "can you show me the water pressure," which is the whole point.
Ask for photos of the specific things that tend to get left out, like the inside of closets, the parking area, the laundry, and a view from each window. Ask about the neighborhood directly: where the nearest grocery store is, if public transportation is available nearby, or what parking is like at night.
And confirm you're dealing with the real owner or manager before any money moves. That's the piece that matters most when you can't be there. On MatchBook, every host and listing is reviewed before it goes live, and lease signing and rent payments happen on the platform rather than through a payment app, which takes most of that worry off the table. If you're renting somewhere else, ask to sign a written lease before paying anything, and pay in a way that can be traced.
Bringing it together
Those were a lot of questions, and the key thing here is that you don't need to ask all of them. Pick the ones that matter for your situation and keep them on hand, like in a list on your phone, so that you have them ready when you need to ask.
The goal isn't to interrogate anyone. Most landlords are glad to answer, and a renter who asks thoughtful questions usually reads as someone who'll take care of the place.
Filter your search on MatchBook
If you're hoping to avoid having to ask this many questions to find a rental, browse furnished and unfurnished homes on MatchBook, where you can filter through properties based on your needs, and you can be assured that every host and listing is reviewed and verified by our team. Lease signing and rent payments also happen on-platform, so you don't have to worry about using a random assortment of tools just to rent a place.
& if you're new to renting by the month, the guide to what a midterm rental is covers how the terms and pricing work.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask a landlord before signing a lease?
Focus on the total monthly cost including utilities and fees, what ending the lease early would cost, how repairs are handled and how quickly, and what is required to get your deposit back at the end of your lease. Those four cover the issues that come up most often.
Is it rude to ask a lot of questions?
Not at all. Most landlords would rather answer questions now than deal with confusion later, and asking quality questions signals that you take the place seriously.
What questions should I ask about utilities?
Ask which ones are included, which are billed separately, and what the separate ones typically run each month. A landlord who has owned the place a while can usually give you a realistic range for both summer and winter.
How do I check out a neighborhood I've never been to?
Ask the host specific questions rather than general ones: where the closest grocery store is, what parking looks like at night, and what public transportation is accessible nearby. Street view and local groups help fill in the rest.
Can I ask for a shorter lease than what's advertised?
Yes, and it's worth asking. Large complexes usually can't change the term, but individual owners often can, and many prefer a well-screened renter for a few months rather than an empty unit.
What if the landlord won't answer a question?
Ask once more in writing so you have a record of it. If it still goes unanswered, that's information too, particularly on questions about fees, repairs, or what happens at the end of the lease.