Renting at the top end: questions to ask before you sign
Deposits, maintenance responsibilities, generator costs and notice periods: what to clarify before agreeing a lease.
Farhan Chowdhury1 min read
Prime rentals move quickly, but a few minutes spent clarifying the lease avoids most disagreements later.
The deposit and advance rent
Agree in writing how much is payable up front, what it covers, and the conditions for its return at the end of the lease.
Who maintains what
Leases should say clearly who is responsible for air conditioning servicing, plumbing, appliance repairs and redecoration. In serviced apartments these are usually included; in unfurnished homes they often fall to the tenant.
Service charges and utilities
Ask what the monthly service charge covers — security, generator fuel, lift maintenance, common-area cleaning — and how utilities are metered.
Notice and renewal
Check the notice period on both sides, any break clause, and how rent will be reviewed at renewal.
The inventory
For furnished homes, an inventory signed by both parties at the start of the lease protects everyone. Photographs help.
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