Make sure you are moving in to a space that suits your needs
While it may seem obvious, it happens all the time- if you have a car but the building does not have parking, or you need a quiet environment but you move in above a bar- these kinds of things lead to an unhappy tenancy and an unhappy renter is the last thing a landlord wants to have! Be clear about your criteria just as your landlord is clear about theirs.

Read Your Lease thoroughly to understand it
Your lease is a legal binding document. So this means it is to be taken seriously. Do not communicate verbally – make sure that all agreements and promises are put into writing. Keep a copy of your lease and keep a copy of any written promises for future reference. This means maintenance requests or any variance to a standard policy should be communicated through email.

Pay Your Rent on Time
This means received on or before the 1st. If you are within the grace period that is still considered late- it just doesn’t always mean late fees.

Keep Your Unit Clean
It is essential to have a personal broom, mop, vacuum and other cleaning products in order to keep your unit clean.

Get to Know Your Neighbors
Being a good neighbor is part of being a good renter. If you know your neighbors well enough to work out any issues directly this saves your landlord so much work in communications.

Let the Landlord Know About Maintenance Problems Immediately
Do not worry that you are bothering the landlord. By hearing about maintenance quickly the landlord is able to do an easier repair most times. If the repair ends up being something you are responsible to do as a renter then it also benefits you to know sooner.

Learn the difference between tenant and landlord responsibilities
The best way to know the difference is to read through the Seattle Renter’s handbook.

Make sure your landlord always has your contact information
This means if your email, phone number, emergency contacts or registered vehicle information changed please send an update.

Help Keep Common Areas Clean
Some buildings have regularly scheduled cleanings, however even with this messes can happen in the time between. It is always appreciated when a common area is kept tidy and clean to help minimize the efforts of our janitors.