Six Tips for Being a Good Neighbor in Your Apartment Building

January 13, 2022 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Moving into your first apartment and getting to know your neighbors can be a bit intimidating at first, but if you take the time to get to know your new neighbors, you might feel much more at home. Knowing the people that live around you can help you develop new friendships and feel safer in…

Is it Legal to Pay Rent via Venmo or PayPal?

December 30, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

One of the first things you need to figure out when moving into a new apartment is how you’re going to pay your rent. These days, most people manage pretty much everything from their cell phone, so why can’t paying rent be the same? Venmo and PayPal are two of the most popular mobile payment…

Is It Legal to Rent Out Part of Your Apartment on Airbnb?

December 23, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

After moving into an apartment with more space than you need (or one you’ll be away from for extended periods), one of your first thoughts might be to rent part of it out. Short-term rental agencies like Airbnb have made this route a great option for many people, but local zoning laws or rules set…

When Can You Legally Break Your Lease?

November 22, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

When you have a lease on an apartment, you might find that its length is becoming a headache. Or maybe you wind up running into problems in your neighborhood, or you’ve reached a point of no return in your relationship with your landlord. Perhaps a new job offer has come up that means you need…

How to Keep Your First Apartment Safe and Secure

November 18, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

We all want to feel safe at home, but doing so can be hard for a number of reasons. Feeling comfortable in your own space is vital to your emotional well-being, especially if it’s your first time living away from home. Do you want to know the best ways to keep your first (or any)…

Why is Your Smoke Detector Flashing or Beeping?

November 8, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

One of the most irritating sounds you could ever hear around your first apartment is the sound of your smoke detector beeping, and for good reason. Smoke alarms are made to be extremely difficult to ignore. If you’ve already checked and you’re sure there’s not a fire, there are a few other things that could…

When Can You Legally Withhold Rent?

November 3, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

There are times when tenants can legally withhold their rent. You have the right to safe, sanitary, and habitable housing. Plumbing that doesn’t work properly, mold, and mildew are some examples of unsafe and unsanitary conditions. If the landlord consistently fails to provide changes to these challenging circumstances after repeated requests, then under certain circumstances,…

What Is a Garden Apartment?

October 5, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

The term garden apartment might not necessarily mean a living space with direct access to green space. Garden apartments describe a style typically no more than three stories tall (with some exceptions) surrounded by green areas designed for community access. Garden apartments may include lawns, small stylized nature parks, and community garden spaces. They can…

How to Identify a Gas Leak

October 1, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Subtle and potentially lethal, gas leaks can be tough to identify without training and proper knowledge. Based on your physical symptoms and environmental signs, you can quickly and effectively find a leak in a gas line, then alert a qualified plumber or gas line technician. If you’re looking for quick tips on how to quickly…

How to Eliminate Musty Smells from Your New Apartment

August 30, 2021 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Sometimes, landlords leave an apartment vacant for months before finally finding a tenant. Neglect over time can lead to an unpleasant, stale odor plaguing your newly leased apartment space. Here’s some advice for eradicating that musty stench in your new apartment. Causes Look at your apartment layout and narrow down the possibilities of where odors…