Signing a first lease in Dallas–Fort Worth, TX: what should I check before I sign?

A lease is a contract. Read every page before you sign. Ask about anything you do not understand. Check these points:

1. The monthly rent, when it is due, and any late fees. 2. The security deposit, any other fees, and what you must do to get the deposit back. 3. Which utilities you pay and which the landlord pays, such as water, electricity, gas and trash. 4. How long the lease lasts and what happens if you need to leave early. 5. Who handles repairs and how to ask for them. 6. Rules about guests, pets and parking. 7. Any promise the landlord or agent makes. Get it written into the lease.

Keep a signed copy of the lease. Take photos of the home before you move in.

The Office of the Texas Attorney General has consumer protection information for renters in Texas, including a tenant guide [1]. Read it to learn about your rights and duties as a renter [1].

If an agent helps you find a rental, the Texas Real Estate Commission licenses real estate agents in Texas. Check the agent's license there [2].

Watch for rental scams. Be careful if someone asks you to pay before you see the home or sign anything. Also be careful if someone asks you to pay by wire transfer or gift card. FTC consumer advice explains common rental scams and how to report one [3].

Sources [1] Office of the Texas Attorney General (consumer protection): https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/ [2] Texas Real Estate Commission: https://www.trec.texas.gov/ [3] FTC consumer advice: https://consumer.ftc.gov/