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Housing

Before You Sign That Lease - Stuff You Can’t Afford to Miss

Before You Sign That Lease - Stuff You Can’t Afford to Miss

Before You Sign That Lease - Stuff You Can’t Afford to Miss

Aug 7, 2025

Sam Lipscomb

3

min

You’ve found the place. You’re ready to move in. The landlord sends you a PDF with 14 pages of tiny font and legal-sounding stuff. You skim it, sign it, and move on.

But leases are where a lot of student renters get screwed-by accident. Late fees, weird rules, impossible clauses. Here’s how to read your lease without needing a law degree.

  1. What’s the Actual Lease Term?

Double-check:

  • Move-in and move-out dates

  • Whether you’re locked into a full year (even if you’re studying abroad)

  • If it auto-renews (some do!)

Ask: can I sublet if I leave early? Get that in writing.

  1. Rent Details: The Fine Print

Clarify:

  • Is rent due on the 1st or a different date?

  • Is there a grace period?

  • What’s the late fee-and when does it kick in?

  • Who do you pay (person or platform)?

Some leases stack late fees daily. You don’t want surprises.

  1. Utilities and Extras

Look for:

  • Which utilities are included (if any)?

  • Is there a flat fee or is it based on usage?

  • Are you required to set up accounts in your name?

Also check for weird charges like "amenity fees" or "maintenance processing fees."

  1. Repairs and Responsibilities

Who handles what?

  • Are you responsible for replacing appliances?

  • Do you have to mow the lawn or shovel snow?

  • How do you request maintenance-and how long does it usually take?

Make sure your lease doesn’t push unreasonable repairs onto tenants.

  1. Roommate Situations

If you’re signing as a group, are you:

  • Jointly responsible for the whole rent?

  • Or only responsible for your share?

Joint liability means if your roommate flakes, you’re on the hook for their half.

  1. Security Deposit Terms

What counts as “damage” vs normal wear?

  • Can you use it toward last month’s rent? (Usually no)

  • How long do they have to return it?

  • What’s the cleaning fee (and can you avoid it)?

Take pics when you move in and out. Saves you later.

  1. Rules You Might Miss

Some leases include clauses about:

  • No overnight guests

  • No candles or incense

  • Required renters insurance

  • Noise restrictions after 10pm

None of these are bad, but you want to know ahead of time.

  1. Get It Reviewed

If anything is unclear:

  • Ask your school’s student legal aid (they often review leases for free)

  • Google the clause (you’re not the first one confused)

  • Don’t be afraid to ask the landlord to explain or revise something shady

One Last Thing: Build Credit From That Rent

Most leases don’t report rent payments to credit bureaus-unless you go out of your way.

With Fizz, you can build credit just by paying rent and bills on time, no extra steps, no interest, and no cosigner. It’s a huge win for your future lease applications.

Sign smarter, live better.

Fizz helps you build credit while managing rent and utilities-no hidden fees, no fine print surprises.

Join Fizz and rent like a pro

Sam Lipscomb

Author bio

Sam is a Kenyon College alum and is head of content at Fizz. He's been a go to personal finance resource among his peers since getting his first credit card during his sophomore year of college. He hails from Washington, DC, loves all things aviation, and currently lives in Los Angeles.

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ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


450 Broadway, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


All activities conducted by Fizz as program manager in connection with the Fizz Card and the corresponding line of credit are conducted by Fizz Technologies, Inc. (NMLS: 2522542).


Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. ¹Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary. To opt out of future recurring subscription charges, Members may cancel their Membership through the app at any time prior to their next billing date. Cardholders who cancel their Membership will lose access to their Fizz Card and line of credit at the end of their subscription term. Closing a line of credit may negatively impact your credit score.


Fizz cardholders: Fizz reports your payment history on the revolving, open-end line of credit accessed by your Fizz Card. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Individuals in TikTok videos featured above are paid spokespeople. Selected customer reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of January 2025.


²Credit score sliding scale feature is for informational purposes only. Credit score ranges based on information available on RentSpree. Car loan figures assume a loan value of $30,000 over 72 months and based on information available on CNN. Student loan figures assumes a $35,000 private student loan with a 10-year term and based on information available on CNBC, NerdWallet and Credible. Apartment approval based on information available on BI and RentSpree.


Fizz is not a credit repair tool and does not offer any form of credit counselling services. Fizz makes no representation or promise that it will improve your credit score, history, or profile or provide you with any assistance in that regard. None of Fizz’s services, including your ability to check your credit report and/or score through the Fizz App, is offered or provided with respect to the extension of credit by third parties. Fizz and its affiliates are not credit repair organizations or credit services organizations, and are not offering to sell, provide or perform any service to you for the express or implied purpose of either improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating, obtaining an extension of credit for you, or providing advice or assistance to you with regard to improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating.


For people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, we accept messages via our in-app chat, emails at [email protected], and calls on our answering machine at (940) 260-2704. If you leave us a voicemail, please leave your name and number and a member of our customer support team will return your call.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


450 Broadway, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


All activities conducted by Fizz as program manager in connection with the Fizz Card and the corresponding line of credit are conducted by Fizz Technologies, Inc. (NMLS: 2522542).


Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. ¹Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary. To opt out of future recurring subscription charges, Members may cancel their Membership through the app at any time prior to their next billing date. Cardholders who cancel their Membership will lose access to their Fizz Card and line of credit at the end of their subscription term. Closing a line of credit may negatively impact your credit score.


Fizz cardholders: Fizz reports your payment history on the revolving, open-end line of credit accessed by your Fizz Card. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Individuals in TikTok videos featured above are paid spokespeople. Selected customer reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of January 2025.


²Credit score sliding scale feature is for informational purposes only. Credit score ranges based on information available on RentSpree. Car loan figures assume a loan value of $30,000 over 72 months and based on information available on CNN. Student loan figures assumes a $35,000 private student loan with a 10-year term and based on information available on CNBC, NerdWallet and Credible. Apartment approval based on information available on BI and RentSpree.


Fizz is not a credit repair tool and does not offer any form of credit counselling services. Fizz makes no representation or promise that it will improve your credit score, history, or profile or provide you with any assistance in that regard. None of Fizz’s services, including your ability to check your credit report and/or score through the Fizz App, is offered or provided with respect to the extension of credit by third parties. Fizz and its affiliates are not credit repair organizations or credit services organizations, and are not offering to sell, provide or perform any service to you for the express or implied purpose of either improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating, obtaining an extension of credit for you, or providing advice or assistance to you with regard to improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating.


For people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, we accept messages via our in-app chat, emails at [email protected], and calls on our answering machine at (940) 260-2704. If you leave us a voicemail, please leave your name and number and a member of our customer support team will return your call.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


450 Broadway, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


All activities conducted by Fizz as program manager in connection with the Fizz Card and the corresponding line of credit are conducted by Fizz Technologies, Inc. (NMLS: 2522542).


Membership is subject to a periodic, recurring subscription fee. Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. ¹Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary. To opt out of future recurring subscription charges, Members may cancel their Membership through the app at any time prior to their next billing date. Cardholders who cancel their Membership will lose access to their Fizz Card and line of credit at the end of their subscription term. Closing a line of credit may negatively impact your credit score.


Fizz cardholders: Fizz reports your payment history on the revolving, open-end line of credit accessed by your Fizz Card. Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Individuals in TikTok videos featured above are paid spokespeople. Selected customer reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of January 2025.


²Credit score sliding scale feature is for informational purposes only. Credit score ranges based on information available on RentSpree. Car loan figures assume a loan value of $30,000 over 72 months and based on information available on CNN. Student loan figures assumes a $35,000 private student loan with a 10-year term and based on information available on CNBC, NerdWallet and Credible. Apartment approval based on information available on BI and RentSpree.


Fizz is not a credit repair tool and does not offer any form of credit counselling services. Fizz makes no representation or promise that it will improve your credit score, history, or profile or provide you with any assistance in that regard. None of Fizz’s services, including your ability to check your credit report and/or score through the Fizz App, is offered or provided with respect to the extension of credit by third parties. Fizz and its affiliates are not credit repair organizations or credit services organizations, and are not offering to sell, provide or perform any service to you for the express or implied purpose of either improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating, obtaining an extension of credit for you, or providing advice or assistance to you with regard to improving your credit record, credit history or credit rating.


For people with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing, we accept messages via our in-app chat, emails at [email protected], and calls on our answering machine at (940) 260-2704. If you leave us a voicemail, please leave your name and number and a member of our customer support team will return your call.