[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-306329-105":53,"doc-detail-306329-en":127},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":120,"head_meta":122,"extra_data":124,"updated_unix":126},105,"en","watch-out-rental-traps-warning-flyer","Watch Out! - Rental Traps Warning Flyer","","Watch Out! describes common landlord tactics that can trap tenants before and after signing a lease, including bait-and-switch rental units, hidden unacceptable terms in fine print, and “as is” clauses that make disputes difficult. It provides practical remedies: inspect the actual unit, ensure the lease lists the unit number you inspected, request a blank lease before signing, negotiate changes in writing, and do a walk-through with documentation.",{"@graph":63,"@context":119},[64,80,102],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":41,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/watch-out-rental-traps-warning-flyer/306329/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/watch-out-rental-traps-warning-flyer/306329.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"Margaret","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-19",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":101},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",9,{"@type":103,"mainEntity":104},"FAQPage",[105,111,115],{"name":106,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":108},"What should you do before signing a rental agreement to avoid bait-and-switch traps?","Question",{"text":109,"@type":110},"Inspect the actual rental unit before signing and always demand to see the unit you may rent. Make sure the lease lists the unit number you inspected on the first page.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"How can tenants respond to large late fees mentioned in a lease?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"Late fees must be stated in a rental agreement signed by the tenant. If you negotiate a reduced late fee, the new fee must appear in the written lease to be enforceable.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What should you request and do when reviewing a lease’s fine print?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"Ask for a blank lease when you apply to rent or contact the owner/manager, then read all terms before signing. Avoid being hurried, since long leases often contain traps.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},306329,1790173602,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":79,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":140,"read_time":73},137451207643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","Watch Out!  \nSome landlords set traps for unwary tenants. Be prepared! Read this flyer before it’s too late!  \nBefore you pick your new home, Watch Out!for:  \nTrap: Bait and switch-different rental unit.  \nRemedy: Inspect the actual rental unit before signing a lease.  \nMany large apartment complexes have a “model” unit. Always demand to see the actual unit you may decide to rent before signing a lease. Make sure the lease has “your” unit number – the one you actually inspected – on the first page. If you’re told that “your unit” is being repaired and can’t be shown, either make a future appointment to see the actual unit or find another place to rent. Don’t rent based only on a newspaper or internet advertisement. Once you sign a rental agreement, “bait and switch” is very hard to prove. And many written agreements contain “as is” clauses whereby the tenant accepts the rental unit in its present condition. Do a “walk through” with the landlord either before you sign an agreement or shortly after you move in. If the landlord won’t join you, write down all the problems with the rental unit within a few days after you move in.  \nYou can use the list on our website when moving in and moving out: [http://www.utahlegalservices.org/public/self-help-uploads/AptChecklist.pdf](http://www.utahlegalservices.org/public/self-help-uploads/AptChecklist.pdf Give a copy to the landlord)[ Give a copy to the landlord](http://www.utahlegalservices.org/public/self-help-uploads/AptChecklist.pdf Give a copy to the landlord) and keep a copy for yourself. Taking pictures can also help. You’ll be glad you did.  \nTrap: unacceptable terms buried in the fine print.  \nRemedy: ask for a blank lease when you fill out an application to rent or the very first time you contact the owner/manager. Then read it all before you sign it.  \nPlease keep reading. What’s below details many of the traps found in written leases. If you don’t read the lease before you sign it, you will almost certainly be stuck with the terms. Long leases often contain traps!  \nWatch Out!for possible problems in the rental agreement before you sign it:  \n• Huge late fee(s):  \nLandlords can only charge late fees if such charges are stated in a rental agreement signed by the tenant. Watch Out! for exorbitant fees. Some landlords claim $50 per day! Others charge one up-front late fee such as $150 on the first day that the tenant is late. Such massive late fees can be challenged in court but by the time such a challenge gets before a judge, the tenant may already have been evicted. If you negotiate a reduced late fee, the new fee must appear on the written lease or it will not be enforceable. If the late fee is large and you cannot negotiate a reduced late fee, look for another landlord. If you’re late paying the rent, you will likely incur a late fee even if you pay before the notice comes. Read more below and see our flyer:  \n[http://www.utahlegalservices.org/public/self-help-uploads/Nonpayment%20eviction%20flyer.pdf](http://www.utahlegalservices.org/public/self-help-uploads/Nonpayment%20eviction%20flyer.pdf)  \n• Uncertain monthly rental amount:  \nSome rental agreements state a monthly rent and then various fees such as for utilities, parking, taxes, service of notice but in text buried pages later allow these amounts to be changed during the lease term.  \n•“Concession” recovery:  \nLandlords often advertise a “move-in special” like “first month free” or “$99 moves you in”. This “free rent” is often apportioned over 12 months. But Watch Out! for fine print that says you must pay the rent on the first  \nday of every month – even if no late fee is charged until the third or fifth of a month – or lose the concession. You may have 3 extra days each month to pay before a late fee is imposed (a “grace period”) but this is not the same as what the tenant must do in order to keep the concession. If you lose the concession this way, the notice you get may come after you pay the rent: you now owe additi","cbCailnBO8i4r5XQ","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCailnBO8i4r5XQ","pdf",464615,"English","# Watch Out! for Rental Traps\n## Bait and switch and unit verification\n## Unacceptable terms in fine print\n## Key lease pitfalls tenants should check\n## Steps to protect yourself before signing","[{\"question\":\"What should you do before signing a rental agreement to avoid bait-and-switch traps?\",\"answer\":\"Inspect the actual rental unit before signing and always demand to see the unit you may rent. Make sure the lease lists the unit number you inspected on the first page.\"},{\"question\":\"How can tenants respond to large late fees mentioned in a lease?\",\"answer\":\"Late fees must be stated in a rental agreement signed by the tenant. If you negotiate a reduced late fee, the new fee must appear in the written lease to be enforceable.\"},{\"question\":\"What should you request and do when reviewing a lease’s fine print?\",\"answer\":\"Ask for a blank lease when you apply to rent or contact the owner/manager, then read all terms before signing. Avoid being hurried, since long leases often contain traps.\"}]","Watch Out! - Rental Traps Warning Flyer | PDF",1789835433]