When it comes to renting an apartment, you basically have two choices. You can rent from a corporate-run building that has a lease that resembles a small dictionary, or you can rent from an individual who draws up something that looks kinda legal but you really don’t know for sure. Most people prefer to go with the first option, since they automatically believe that their rights will be protected and that there is less chance of someone trying to pull a fast one if you sign a more official looking lease. While others prefer the working relationship between two people and feel that any problems can be reasonably worked out. Both choices have their potential pitfalls. Often times, people don’t bother reading the mammoth corporate lease they sign and sometimes there can be surprises in store. Rules vary from state to state on how late rent can be paid before fees are charged and one building may include the power bill in rent and others don’t. Make sure you have a full understanding of what your lease says before you sign it. When you rent from an individual, the main problems come from situations that aren’t spelled out in the lease. The landlord thinks its your problem and you think it’s the landlord’s. Just know that no matter what type of lease you sign, no renter/landlord relationship is conflict proof.