{"id":87376,"date":"2019-09-11T00:53:22","date_gmt":"2019-09-11T07:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=87376"},"modified":"2026-01-22T00:24:01","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T08:24:01","slug":"renewing-lease-expert-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/renewing-lease-expert-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"Expert Interview: What to Consider Before Renewing Your Lease"},"content":{"rendered":"

Decisions can be stressful even for the calmest of us, and pros and cons lists are insufficient when you\u2019re not sure what aspects you should consider. One such moment which takes a toll on a renter is whether or not to renew the lease. To make things easier, we asked some experts for advice on what questions to ask yourself before deciding to renew the lease. Here\u2019s what we found:<\/p>\n

Money Matters<\/h2>\n

The first thought people have is that this choice revolves around financial issues<\/a>. Budget considerations are very important in the decision to renew or not, and this is not even about the rent itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cComparing potential savings or increases in monthly rent isn\u2019t the only thing renters should consider when it comes to their budget. It is equally important to consider the costs of truck and moving services<\/a>, set-up fees for utilities, and the actual cost of utilities\u201d, says Sean Organ, Area Vice President at Morgan Properties<\/a>. He adds that \u201c[a]nother thing to consider is the time and effort involved to pack, move, and then unpack, as they are likely to need a few days off of work to get settled\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"young_couple_busy_moving\"<\/p>\n

However, money is not the only aspect to think about when deciding between renewing your lease and moving into another rental. Your lifestyle, career, and your relationships come into play, as well as different aspects of the community you\u2019re currently living in.<\/p>\n

Personal Issues<\/h2>\n

A considerable part of the decision to rent somewhere in the first place is location, specifically relative to the renter\u2019s workplace. Career advancements are important to consider when discussing lease renewal:<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents should really take time to analyze their loyalty to their current job. If a renter is actively seeking new job opportunities across various states, it might be better to renew for a shorter term to avoid paying early-termination fees. They should also look at their current commute, amount of time spent at their job, and transportation expenses as well\u201d, advices Holly McQueen, Vice President of GMH Capital Partners<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Keeping on with personal issues, relationships\u2014whether with a significant other or with family and friends\u2014can define the lifestyle you need as a renter. McQueen says that \u201c[c]onsidering relational dynamics is important. Is your relationship with a significant other getting more serious? Are you considering moving in with a family member or friend? Taking the time to evaluate each relationship can really help renters put these things in perspective\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"man_dog_renting_together\"<\/p>\n

Finally, if you want to adopt a pet, it\u2019s crucial to check if your apartment community is pet-friendly or not. This can help make the decision for you. \u201cOther things to keep in mind are the apartment\u2019s pet-restrictions<\/a>, unit size, backyard space or designated parks for pets to play, and if there is a vet nearby. Most landlords will allow the residents\u2019 furry friends for a pet fee\u201d, added McQueen.<\/p>\n

Community Features<\/h2>\n

After taking note of what aspects are important for you and your lifestyle, take a look at the place you\u2019ve been living in and evaluate it. Try to find the features you like and those you dislike, to see which outweigh which.<\/p>\n

If anything changes in your life, try to picture how this new aspect will fit in with your current living situation. For instance, if you decide to have a kid, you’ll most likely want to live in a community with a playground, in a family-friendly neighborhood.<\/p>\n

The amenities your community offers should suit your lifestyle and add comfort and convenience to your stay. You can also ask around and check if any upgrades are on the way, in which case it may be simpler to renew than to start apartment hunting again.<\/p>\n

\"community_amenities_pool\"<\/p>\n

Dan Flamini, Area Vice President with Morgan Properties, recommends taking into account the customer service of the community as well. \u201cResidents should consider the quality of the interactions they\u2019ve had with both their landlords and onsite staff to vet if they were genuinely happy with the apartment\u2019s customer service\u201d.<\/p>\n

He encourages communication for a better decision: \u201cThey should also voice all concerns to their landlords, especially if a particular issue is their reason for not renewing. Most landlords will work with residents to resolve their issues to keep them happy and comfortable in their existing home\u201d.<\/p>\n

In the end, what you feel is best for you is the way to go, but being in the know about the important aspects of renewing the lease is very helpful. If you are not sure what to do, write down what you need and what you want from a rental, prioritizing the necessities, and be very aware of your budget and availability. Take it one step at a time and it will be much easier to choose.<\/p>\n

If you decide to move and you need to start browsing for a new rental<\/a>, head on over to RentCafe<\/a> and find your perfect fit.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Decisions can be stressful even for the calmest of us, and pros and cons lists are insufficient when you\u2019re not sure what aspects you should consider. One such moment which takes a toll on a renter is whether or not to renew the lease. To make things easier, we asked some experts for advice on…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":148,"featured_media":87451,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3671],"tags":[38975],"class_list":["post-87376","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-renting","tag-rental-application","gallery-content-unit"],"yoast_head":"\nExpert Advice on Renewing the Lease - RentCafe rental blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Whether or not to renew your lease is a stressful decision for a renter, so we asked some experts for advice on what to consider before deciding.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/renewing-lease-expert-advice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Expert Interview: What to Consider Before Renewing Your Lease\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Whether or not to renew your lease is a stressful decision for a renter, so we asked some experts for advice on what to consider before deciding.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/renewing-lease-expert-advice\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RentCafe rental blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2019-09-11T07:53:22+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-22T08:24:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/62\/2019\/09\/shutterstock_231366088.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"890\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mihaela Buzec\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mihaela Buzec\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/renewing-lease-expert-advice\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/renewing-lease-expert-advice\/\",\"name\":\"Expert Advice on Renewing the Lease - 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