Don't sign anything until you've read this
Every fall, thousands of ASU students sign leases they don't fully understand. Some get lucky. Many don't. From paying double rent during a move-out overlap to losing an entire security deposit over something they thought was cosmetic damage, the consequences of lease carelessness are real — and avoidable. Here are the five most common mistakes we see, and exactly what to do instead.
The #1 mistake by a wide margin. A lease is not a formality — it's a contract. And buried inside almost every lease are clauses that will directly affect your life: early termination fees (sometimes two or three months' rent), the notice period required to not auto-renew, restrictions on guests or pets, and what happens if a roommate leaves. Read every page. If something is unclear, ask for clarification in writing before you sign. If the landlord pressures you to sign immediately without time to read, consider that a red flag.
Many ASU students do internships, study abroad, or summer programs that take them away from Tempe for weeks or months at a time. If your lease doesn't allow subleasing — or allows it only with landlord approval — you could be stuck paying rent on an empty apartment. Before signing, look specifically for the sublease policy. If you anticipate needing to sublet, negotiate this into the lease up front or choose a landlord whose standard lease permits it.
Security deposit disputes are one of the most common landlord-tenant conflicts, and the outcome almost always comes down to documentation. If you didn't photograph and note every scuff, stain, and door that didn't close right when you moved in, you may be blamed for damage that was already there. On your first day in the unit, spend 20 minutes photographing every room, every wall, every appliance. Email the photos to your landlord immediately as a timestamped record. This one step saves most deposit disputes before they start.
"Utilities included" is not always what it sounds like. Some landlords include water but not electricity. Others include internet at a shared speed that's unusable during finals. A few include utilities only up to a capped dollar amount — and charge you the overage. Ask for the exact list of what is and isn't included, in writing. Then verify with the prior tenants if possible.
Most leases require 30 to 60 days written notice before move-out — even if your lease has a fixed end date. Miss this window and you may be charged an extra month of rent, or your lease may auto-renew for another term entirely. Put a reminder in your phone for the correct notice date the day you sign your lease. It takes ten seconds and can save you hundreds of dollars.