In Santa Clara County, landlords will not be able to raise rent in one year more than an estimated 8.3% per year. If you have rented your unit for over a year, your landlord will not be able to evict you without a good reason, like not paying rent or violating your lease agreement.
Renting an apartment isn't as easy as waltzing in and saying “I'll take it!”—particularly in today's competitive rental market. With many prospective tenants to choose from, landlords can be picky, and they will prioritize applicants with a track record of paying off debts and respecting their neighbors and community.
Renting, especially on a short-term basis, can sometimes come with higher monthly costs due to the increased flexibility it offers the landlord. For instance, a studio apartment for rent on a month-to-month basis might be more expensive per month than the same apartment under a lease agreement.
The application will ask you for the following information: your place of employment, past employers, names and addresses of your current and past landlords, your Social Security number, driver's license number and authorization for the landlord to run a background and credit check.
Both parties agree to the terms of the lease, including the rental amount, length of time for the contract, as well as any consequences that may result if either party doesn't uphold the terms and conditions of the contract.
Breaking a lease, for whatever reason, will not automatically result in a derogatory mark on your credit history. Potential credit problems arise when any incurred debt isn't repaid to the landlord, prompting the landlord to turn the account over to a collections agency.
Housing (rent or mortgage) should not be more than 1/3 of your income before taxes. If you work full time (40 hours) at $12 per hour, that's $2000 per month, so you shouldn't spend more than $667 per month on housing. That's definitely going to restrict where you can live.
Renting, especially on a short-term basis, can sometimes come with higher monthly costs due to the increased flexibility it offers the landlord. For instance, a studio apartment for rent on a month-to-month basis might be more expensive per month than the same apartment under a lease agreement.