7 Things to Know When Living Alone

February 2, 2022 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

Moving out and living alone for the first time can be intimidating, but if you prepare right, it can be a fun adventure and a great season of your life. Between cleaning, interior decorating, and everything else, living alone for the first time is a great opportunity to learn new things! Read on below for…

5 Things Your Landlord Doesn’t Want You To Know

January 27, 2022 | By Stella M AuthorMy First Apartment

As a tenant, it might seem like you’re subject to your landlord’s every whim, but that’s not necessarily true. There are numerous laws and legal protections in place for the benefit of renters – you just have to know what they are! Keep reading below for five things your landlord doesn’t want you to know.…

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…