How to stay safe when renting a room from a stranger

Given the large swath, the American Called “Generation Rent” that they are less likely to own a home, interest rates, inflation, and rent Soaring— just further insulting an already serious injury.more people forced be creative to secure housing.For some, that might mean giving up the lofty goal of renting an entire apartment and settling in rent a room.

On paper, this isn’t much different than renting an apartment with a roommate who shares the rent.in fact it can be very Because I’m just renting a small space in someone else’s house. Your legal rights as a tenant are the same as if you were renting an entire residence, but in practice you have no control over many aspects of your living situation, from utility bills to your residence, which makes you isolated and privacy-challenged. can be an experience. Access to different areas of the space.because you’re still alive When Landlords you don’t know well, this is a recipe for stress.

One of the biggest concerns when renting a room is security. How do you feel safe when living with (and at the mercy of) strangers? You have to take a few steps.

do due diligence

When renting a room from someone you don’t know, safety begins before you even sign the rental agreement or lease. Meet potential landlords and roommates. At least have a video chat with them. Please do not hesitate to ask us anything you are concerned about. A lawful and reasonable landlord should be willing to answer any questions you have about the living conditions they offer.

Check out the property and surrounding area to see if you’ll be comfortable there, and consider paying for background checks on the people you live with. We operate a unique tenant rentbury—the cost is usually passed on to you—so why not turn the tables and see who you plan to live with in the next few months or years? Google the address or landlord’s name. Alone, you may find complaints and other issues from previous tenants.

Add (or improvise) rock

The biggest security concern when renting a room is the safety of your private space.property owner You retain the right to access your space at any timecan be terrifying when a relationship goes bad.

Legally you can’t add a key to a room or change an existing key without the landlord’s permission, so ask in advance and get it in writing (preferably in the rental agreement itself).totally possible Remove and replace existing knobs or door locks Bought for myself without damaging the door and allowing me to put the previous lock back in place when I vacate the room.

If your landlord won’t allow you to add or change locks, you can improvise locks on your doors. of room. One of the easiest ways to do this is metal dinner fork and a pair of pliers. This prevents someone from opening the door from the outside without making any changes to your existing doors or walls, which may help you sleep better at night.

add camera

Residents are generally allowed to use security cameras in their private spaces as long as they do not intrude on common areas.A simple indoor camera like Amazon’s Blink Model It can discreetly be placed on a shelf, monitor your room when you are not there, and send motion-activated alerts. At least you can tell if it’s been there. Or you can sleep soundly at night knowing they respect your privacy. The main consideration here is to use a wireless setup that doesn’t damage walls or require other permanent changes.