For many Kent State students, signing a lease is one of the first major steps toward adulthood, and it also comes with risks that aren’t always obvious. 

“A lease is a legally binding contract, so it is a big deal — it’s probably one of the biggest financial decisions you’ve made as an adult so far,” said Jennifer Cunningham-Minnick, a supervising attorney with Student Legal Services.

As leasing season picks up, students are weighing options based on cost, location and space while also trying to avoid potential scams or misleading listings. 

“Price, location on campus, number of bathrooms and overall space all influenced my decision when choosing a lease,” said freshman digital media production major Logan McCourry.

Even when places look appealing, experts said problems often don’t appear until after the lease is signed. 

“A lot of issues don’t come up during leasing season,” said Bridget Susel, Kent’s community development director. “They happen when students move in and realize what they were told isn’t actually happening.” 

That disconnect often stems from verbal agreements that never make it into the lease itself.

“If something a landlord promises isn’t put in writing as part of the lease, then legally, you have nothing,” Susel said.

Cunningham-Minnick emphasized that written agreements, not conversations, ultimately determine what tenants can expect.

“By and large, what controls is the lease — not what you were told during a tour or conversation,” she said.

To protect themselves, some students are taking extra precautions before signing. 

“All three of us roommates carefully read the contract together to protect ourselves before signing the lease,” McCourry said.

Financial surprises can also catch students off guard, especially when it comes to utilities. 

“Students should get a clear understanding of what utilities are included, because ‘included utilities’ doesn’t always mean everything,” Susel said.

Legal experts recommend documenting all communication with landlords in case issues arise later. 

“You should always follow up with something in writing,” Cunningham-Minnick said. “Emails and texts make it much easier to prove that you notified your landlord of an issue.”

While outright scams are less common in Kent, warning signs do exist. 

“If it’s too good to be true, it probably is,” Cunningham-Minnick said.

Students like McCourry said they noticed potential concerns while touring apartments.

“There were some red flags,” he said. “Some of the apartments looked pretty sketchy, which turned us off of those ones.”

Officials also advise apartment hunters to verify whether a property is legally allowed to house multiple tenants. 

“Sometimes, properties are advertised for more students than zoning allows, and if we catch that, tenants can actually be removed to bring it into compliance,” Susel said.

Students can check this information by calling the Community Development Department at 330-678-8108 and asking for the occupancy limit for the property. All they need is the address of the listing. 

The city also works to ensure safe housing conditions through its rental licensing program, which has been in place since 2019.

“We basically register every rental property and identify the zoning, all the things that need to be taken care of in the house to promote safe and decent housing beforehand,” Susel said.

As part of the process, landlords are given clear expectations before the inspections take place. 

“We check for things like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and safe electrical outlets,” Susel said. “For example, if there’s a fire, that bedroom window needs to be large enough for a tenant to climb out — otherwise they could be trapped.”

As leasing season continues, Cunningham-Minnick said students who take the time to research, ask questions and carefully review contracts are more likely to avoid costly mistakes.

“Make sure you’re actually going to be here, that you’re comfortable with your roommates, that your budget works and that you understand your lease before signing,” she said.

Savannah Carroll is a beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected].