Whether you’re going to rent a condo, apartment, or single-family home, when you have kids, you want to keep a few key things in mind.
Renters with kids have particular specifications that should be more important to them than a single renter or a couple who’s renting.
The following are some of the important things to know about being a renter with kids and choosing a home.
Get Renters Insurance
Whether you have kids or not, when you’re a renter, getting insurance to protect yourself is always important. The prices vary, but generally, the coverage isn’t much and can provide a lot of protection. For example, renters insurance in South Carolina is $195 on average a year, and the national average is even lower at $188 a year.
The property insurance your landlord carries will cover losses to the building itself where you live, whether it’s a duplex, apartment, or house. Your personal property and other liabilities are only covered with renters insurance, though.
As a tenant, you have to find one and pay for it. If someone were to be hurt at your home, such as a friend of your child, you could be sued. With the relative affordability of the coverage, it’s not a good idea to go without it.
Initial Considerations
Before you begin searching for a rental, the first thing to do is have a specific monthly budget in mind that you can afford. You need to use a rent calculator if you haven’t already, which will factor in your annual income, your location, and some other considerations to help you figure out a reasonable rent for your family. Don’t forget the cost of utilities as you’re calculating your budget. Some landlords include utilities, but it’s not a given.
How much space do you need for your family? Is each child going to have a separate bedroom? How many bathrooms? Do you need at least one bathroom with a tub?
Do you need a separate dining area? As well as your main living area, are you going to need an additional room for something like an office or playroom?
Some families find that they’re better off with less square footage but more rooms because they can get more designated spaces and privacy for everyone.
It’s All About the Location
When you’re choosing a place to live with kids, location should be one of your biggest considerations.
You want to make sure there aren’t any red flags in terms of security and safety. A child-friendly area is one with speed bumps, plenty of street signs, and sidewalks. You also want to think about the nearby schools, and of course, playgrounds nearby are a plus for families who are renting with kids.
If you aren’t sure what it might be like to live in a particular area, try to take some time to talk to the other neighbors and see what they have to say.
Watch Out for Safety Hazards
Not every rental is going to be child-friendly. Look for loose, wide railings, low windows, windows with broken locks, steep staircases, and other such things that could make a particular rental community or house inappropriate for families with kids.
What about safety features like fire sprinklers, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers?
If there’s a pool, hot tub, or any other type of water, is it fenced in, or would it be too accessible to kids?
If you didn’t have kids and you were renting, having a balcony could be a plus. With kids, it can become a minus because it can become a safety risk. The same can be true with a patio if it would potentially give a child the opportunity to wander away.
Amenities
If you’re looking at an apartment or condo, you’re not going to have a dedicated outdoor space like you would in a single-family home, so what are the amenities like on the property? Kids need plenty of room to play inside and outside.
If you’re considering an apartment or condo, how will the stairs factor into your daily life? Are you going to be struggling with strollers, car seats, groceries, and also trying to get your kids up those stairs every day?
An onsite washer and dryer can be a game changer for families who are renting too.
An assigned parking spot can be worth it for families with kids, so you’re not spending time driving around with kids in the car. Are there enough parking spots for everyone in your family? How will guests park? Is there secure, covered parking available?
High-Rise vs. Traditional Buildings
Renting in a high-risk community has advantages like better security, convenience, and amenities. At the same time, a high-rise community isn’t one that’s usually designed for families, and you’re going to have less access to the outdoors and green spaces.
Traditional buildings might have more other families who are tenants, but they’re probably not going to have elevators, and they might be less secure.
Know Your Rights
If you’re planning on renting as a family with children, make sure that you know what your rights are in doing so.
Over 20% of renters have children, so you aren’t alone in this.
The federal Fair Housing Act prevents discrimination against protected groups. Familial status is considered one of these protected classes.
Familial status under family law includes families with children who are under the age of 18, pregnant women, and anyone who obtains custody of a child.
A property owner can’t refuse to rent to you if you fall into these categories. Nor can they evict a tenant because children join the family.
A lot of states have their own fair housing laws that go beyond these.
There are a lot of states and municipalities that have occupancy rules for rentals, and they differ from place to place, but they often say that no more than two people per bedroom are allowed to live in the home. These regulations usually don’t apply to children.
A landlord can usually tell you how many adults can live in a home but not how many children.
Finally, keep in mind that rent prices have to be the same for families with children. Landlords can’t adjust the rent because you have kids.
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