Townhouses and apartments are classified as residential rental properties and while renting an apartment might seem like it, renting a townhouse is as great too and may come with even more benefits.
If you are a first time renter or you are just looking for a townhouse to rent, this article will help you understand everything you need to know about townhouses, apartments and all you need to know before and while renting a townhouse.
Let’s get right into it!
Townhouse
Typically, a townhouse is an individually owned, multi-floor residence connected to one or more units by their shared walls. Simply put, a townhouse is a single-family home with at least two floors sharing a wall with another house and is mostly maintained by its residents.
Townhouses are more common in densely populated suburban and metropolitan regions along the roadways, built in a long chain side-by-side. That is, there are no gaps between them. They appear similar in terms of architecture and may typically function like condos. Additionally, they are a cost-effective approach to using space.
Renting a Townhouse vs Apartment
The townhouse vs apartment debate has been ongoing for a long time now. In this argument, the question of buying or renting is easy to answer, but most people looking for somewhere to live have difficulty deciding whether to rent a townhouse or an apartment.
Let’s take a closer look.
While you do, check this out too: Leasing vs Financing: Which is Best for You?
What is an Apartment?
While we already understand a townhouse, an apartment is only different due to its structural management and organization. An apartment encompasses a community all inside the same walls. It is a unit in a larger building with multiple tenants, all of who are managed by the same entity and regulations.
In simple terms, a townhouse is a multi-unit structure on a single piece of land, usually attached to a single house. An apartment building can be a single-family home with multiple apartments or a collection of several small houses. Townhouses and apartments are classified as residential rental properties, but there are some key differences between the two types of housing that you should know before making your decision.
Living in a Townhouse vs Apartment
The most significant difference between a townhouse and an apartment is that a townhouse is often more expensive than an apartment. If you are looking at buying your first home, then there are some things that you should consider before you buy.
Townhouses are more expensive than apartments. This is because they have the added construction costs and utilities such as gas, electricity, water, and sewerage.
Townhouses also tend to be bigger than apartments, which can be good or bad depending on your needs. If you have a big family, this may be great, but if you are just starting out and want to save money, it could be an issue.
Also another difference might be the Home Owners Association {HOA) fees. When renting an apartment, your rent is your only responsibility as there are no HOA fees, community repairs, and upkeep. However, this is different for townhouses.
In conclusion, renting an apartment is an excellent option if you want to keep your expenses low and travel more. But renting a townhouse can be your best option if you want to stay at home.
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Renting a Townhouse
Renting a townhouse can be an excellent option for anyone looking to move out of an apartment but might not be able to afford one. Also, townhouses are a great option for anyone looking to live in a spacious and secure home, for anyone who has never rented an apartment or house before, or for anyone whose credit history is not good.
However, before renting a townhouse, there are things you need to know – all of which we will briefly discuss going forward.
Is Renting a Townhouse a Good Idea?
Renting a townhouse is a great idea, as it comes with tons of advantages which include:
- You get the space you need in a smaller footprint. You will not have to deal with having an apartment in a large building and many hallways. This can be quite frustrating, especially if you have an active lifestyle.
- You get better value for your money. If you are looking for an affordable place to live, this option is definitely worth considering.
- You get more privacy than if you were renting an apartment. You will not have to worry about roommates or strangers coming into your home anytime or at night!
one of the few downsides is that it may take some time before you find out if this is something that works well for you and your family.
Pros and Cons of Renting a Townhouse
If you have never lived in one, you might not be aware of what makes townhouses so desirable and popular. So we’ve compiled a summary of the benefits of renting a townhouse.
Pros
- More space and privacy: Townhouses have larger living areas and more privacy. Your living room can be as large as the bedroom, giving you more space to relax and entertain your guests.
- Lower maintenance: One of the most beautiful things about living in a townhouse is that you get some yard in the front and back and don’t have to maintain it.
- Sense of community: People who live in townhouses have dozens of people within a stone’s throw. If you are a community person and love to have people around you, go for a townhouse.
- Amenities: Townhouses prioritize uniformity, simplicity, and convenience. As a result, the HOA fee or purchase price will cover many of the facilities and services you want. Besides amenities like swimming pools, gyms, and even vehicle wash stations might include services like pest management, HVAC inspections, and garbage collection.
- Location: Typically, townhouses are usually in convenient locations and near plenty of amenities, such as dining, shopping, and entertainment.
Cons
- Less privacy: Living next to people who are less courteous and noisy can be problematic.
- You may have eliminated freedom: Although this can vary depending on the development, most HOA may put strict restrictions on the changes you can make in your townhouse, both inside and outside. This, in turn, stifles your creativity, especially if you are a person who likes renovations and updates.
- Expensive maintenance fees: The price of maintaining property when you own it is not included in the monthly payment; however, if you buy with a mortgage loan, then your lender will pay these bills on your behalf (although they may charge.
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Renting a Townhouse with Bad Credit
Your credit score will greatly influence your ability to rent a house. Some landlords may check to see whether you have prior evictions or other rental-related blemishes on your credit report. In contrast, others may reject your rental application if you have low credit, despite your sizable earnings.
If you are worried that your bad credit may keep you from finding a place to live, here is how to rent a townhouse with bad credit.
1. Know precisely what is in your credit report
Check for inaccurate information on your credit history and use the credit report dispute to have the eros removed before looking for a townhouse to rent. The less negative information, the more your chance of finding a house.
2. Check with property owners who don’t check credit
Aim for properties owned by individual landlords as ones owned by management companies require credit checks and will probably turn you down if you have a bad one.
Individual landlords mainly check for good rental history and stable income. There are a few ways to find townhouses owned by individual landlords:
- Check out Craigslist
- Browse the classifieds in your local newspaper or that of the area you want to live in.
- Ask an agent
- Get a recommendation
3. Demonstrate provable income and prepare to pay more upfront
More often than not, stable and sufficient income can offset a bad credit history when looking for a place to live. All you need to do is make about three or more monthly rent to show you can afford the payment.
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4. Ask a co-signer to help
This might be the last option on the list. Your co-signer has to meet the necessary credit requirements to rent a townhouse. While you do this, you must know that should you fault your payment; the homeowner can legally go after your co-signer for the value you owe.
Questions to Ask When Renting a Townhouse
One of the most searched keywords recently has been ‘renting a townhouse Reddit,’ which is because many people looking for a place to live in are trying to get all the information and townhouse renting tips they can so they don’t end up making some wrong choices.
Whether you are renting a house for the first time or you already have some experience in it, be sure to know that these are the must-ask questions you should have the answers to before renting a townhouse.
If you have been on the search too, here are some tips and questions to ask before renting a townhouse.
1. What are your rental terms?
When renting a townhouse, this will be important because the more flexible your rental terms, the more affordable it will be. Some landlords may only be willing to offer lease terms for a single year or less, so if you want to stay in the exact location for longer than that, you’ll need to look elsewhere. In asking this, here are the questions that should be answered:
- The length of contract – how long the renting is for.
- How much the rent is – your monthly rent and when it is due
- Other deposits or fees – What are they for? Why? How much?
- The grace period or a late payment fee is given to pay after tour rent is due.
- Notice period – How much notice you need to give about your next decision before your rent is due.
2. Are there any appliances and amenities included?
Usually, most townhouses come with appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and a few others. Find out what appliances they offer and what happens if an appliance breaks.
If the townhouse does not come with amenities such as a clothes washer and dryer, do well to find out if there are laundry facilities near you to make work easier should you decide to rent the townhouse.
Also, check out for garbage pickup, trash, or recycling.
3. What utilities are included in the rent?
Usually, many townhouse owners include fees for utilities such as water, electricity, heat, sewer, and a few others in the rent. Find out if these fees are included in the rent as they are what you need to live comfortably.
4. How do I pay rent?
There are different rent payment methods, so it is important to determine which the townhouse demands. This could be physical payments or checks monthly. However, finding a townhouse that offers multiple payment methods, including online, is more important.
5. What is the maintenance policy?
Find out what happens when something breaks in the period you are living in the house and who bears the cost of the repair.
6. How is the neighborhood?
When renting a townhouse, focusing on just the house you are renting is not always enough. Understanding what the neighborhood looks like is also as important. What kind of neighborhood do you want? Also, you can ask your potential neighbors about the neighborhood before deciding to live there to ensure it meets your expectations.
7. What is the security deposit, and is it refundable?
Be clear on how much the security deposit costs and if you can get it back when your rent is expired.
Confused? Security deposits are put in place at the beginning of your stay in case you cause any house damage.
8. Where can I park?
If you have a car or plan to buy one while you live there, you sure would want to find out where you can safely park your car. Also, find out where the people visiting you will park their vehicles, and if the answers do not meet your expectations, you might look for another townhouse.
9. Can I renew my rent?
Knowing if you can or are expected to look elsewhere when your lease expires is important.
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10. Are pets allowed?
You definitely want to ask this! If you are a pet lover, you must understand that not every rental is pet-friendly and if letting your pet go doesn’t sound like something you can do, then look elsewhere.
11. How much does it cost to live here?
Townhouses are typically priced fairly close together, so they’re not as expensive as other types of apartments like high rises or condos — but they still aren’t cheap! The cost of living in a townhouse varies depending on where you live and how much space you have (or don’t have) on your floor-space (the amount of square footage).
Conclusion
Townhouses are great to live in. All you need to do is find the one that best suits your interests and expectations. We hope our guide was helpful and will help you find the townhouse of your dream. All the best!
FAQs Renting a Townhouse
Limited freedom
Less privacy
Resale value – if you are buying and not renting
Safety and Security
Low purchasing cost
Space and flexibility
Great location
Quality of life amenities
Minimal maintenance needs
Privacy
Strong rent potential
The fact that townhouses are affordable and don’t require a lot of upkeep while the investment is held is one of the biggest advantages of doing so. Due to the rise in demand for townhouses, owners are expected to see an increase in capital appreciation.
Typically, townhouses are not soundproof. Many common, everyday sounds can be clearly heard even when they are not occurring in your house due to the sharing of walls and occasionally an HVAC system.
References
- floor-spaceGreenresidential.com – Pros and Cons of Townhome Living
- Rentpmi.com – Questions to Ask Before Renting a Townhouse
- Thebalance.com – Renting an Apartment With Bad Credit
- Triplecrowncorp.com – To rent a townhouse, a condo, or an apartment?
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