What's the difference?

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
What's the difference?
8
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 3:46pm
I am currently living in an apt (which I hate) and we are thinking about renting a house when our lease is up. What is the difference between a house and an apt? Is renter's ins more exp with a house? Do you have to mow your lawn, if there is one, with a house? Do things in the house still get fixed like they do in an apt. Ex: if there is plumbing problems, does the landlord fix it?
I would prefer to buy a house but I guess dh just isn't ready yet and honestly, we probaly should pull ourselves a little farther out of debt and have a bigger savings before we do that anyway. Thanks for any advice.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2004
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 4:23pm
I think it depends on the landloard and the details of your lease. I rent a house now. I like it much better than an apt. I have a roomate and rent a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom house. We only pay 1200$/ month (in central NJ). But the rent doesn't cover any utilities, so we pay for water, sewer, trash pickup, gas, and electric. Also, according to our lease we pay for our own repairs, unless it's something major like the roof or something. We have a landscaping service that mows the lawn, but we're responsible for our own snow removal. I like the house better, because it's quiet and parking is never a problem. My renter's ins. is pretty cheap, only 19$/month.
Avatar for mquin73
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 9:19pm

The biggest difference between renting a house and an apt, is that in the house usually the utilities will be more, usually you have a yard that you are responsible for, and your renter's ins will be a little more.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Mon, 01-31-2005 - 10:22pm
Renters insurance might be a little more. It's up to the landlord (and maybe some state's laws) as to what is covered. I pay for water, electric and heating oil, and furnace maintenance. My last place I paid water, electric and trash/sewer. My last place I paid the first $100 of any repair, my current place I don't pay for any repairs. I do have to pay for someone to mow the lawn and I have to take care of my own snow removal. I think the biggest difference is it usually costs more to rent a home, and utilities cost more, plus lawn care, that can really add up.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 12:01am
The privace of a home is certainly priceless but the other things I'm not so sure I want to foot yet. I knew the utilities would be more but I'm talking the repairs. I guess I could look at a couple different leases but I know and am not willing at this point and time, to do my own repairs, esp since renting a house is more expensive than renting an apt. I talked to dh and he says he'd rather rent a townhouse. Thanks everyone!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 9:21am
A townhouse or a condo works the same way. If you are renting from an individual you may have to pay for repairs, it may be different for each landlord unless your state has laws restricting those types of charges (for example, I think my friend in Mass. said you can't charge tenants for the water bill). In any case, when you start looking ask the landlord how they handle repair expenses and make sure it's stated in writing in the lease so you are protected.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Tue, 02-01-2005 - 10:27pm
I don't see why that would happen at the particular townhouses we are looking at. They are all located on the apt complex sites. KWIM? The apts and townhouses are on the same property being run by the same office. I don't see why if apts don't have to pay for repairs the townhouses would either. I will double check but basically these townhouses are just apts that cost a little more. lol
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Wed, 02-02-2005 - 9:10am
No, you could be responsible for repair costs if you rent from an individual owner (be it a condo, a townhome or a house), although not always, it depends and it's important to know what is in the lease. I agree, usually a rental complex will cover the repair costs.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-21-2004
Wed, 02-02-2005 - 12:51pm
Yeah, last night dh and I were talking and I said something to him about that he said usually only if it's an individual owner which we aren't looking at. It does make sense though. Thanks for the input, my mind is a little more at ease and I also have something to look for when I look at places. Thanks.