Six lease clauses worth a second look before you sign

A lease is a contract you will be held to, and yet many renters sign it in the car park of an open inspection. Taking an evening to read it properly is one of the cheapest forms of protection available.

You do not need to be a lawyer. You need to know where the surprises usually hide.

Break fees and early exit

Find out exactly what leaving early costs. Some leases charge a flat fee; others make you liable for rent until a new tenant is found. Ask whether you can sublet or find a replacement yourself, which is often cheaper.

Rent reviews and utilities

A clause allowing rent to rise during a fixed term should stand out, and so should anything that passes water or strip-light replacement costs onto you. Make sure the lease says who pays for what, in plain words.

Check entry notice as well. The lease should reflect the notice period your local law requires, and a clause that tries to shorten it is a red flag.

Condition reports

Take dated photographs of every room on move-in day and attach them to the condition report. When the bond comes back, those photos are your evidence, and a landlord who sees them is much less likely to argue about a mark on the wall.