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| Renting and Leasing |
Houses – There are many homes for rent in the San Antonio area. While you’ll pay more, you will get more, including a fenced yard.
Apartments – There are thousands of apartment units in the greater San Antonio area with many choices of amenities and locations. These can include garden-style apartments with three levels or less and usually have staircase access. Mid-rise apartments are four-to-six levels and are more dominant in urban areas.
Townhouses and condos – Ideally suited for busy professionals who require more amenities, including concierge services, maid service, shuttle services and valet parking.
Temporary/Corporate Housing – This option best suits people in these situations: homebuyers encountering various delays; homeowners who are renovating their homes; new residents or visitors searching for an apartment or house; tourists or business people on an extended stay; personnel who are relocating; visiting executives; or corporate clients.
All-inclusive short-term housing – Many newcomers opt to use “all inclusive” short-term rental properties that provide everything from furniture to dishes and linens to utilities and phone service. While these properties typically charge a higher rate, they can often be more flexible than individual landlords. With this approach you’re free to place the majority of your belongings in storage and keep only personal possessions with you at your rental.
Hotel/Motels – If you need housing for a relatively short period of time, staying in a local hotel or motel might fit the bill. Depending on your budget, you can check in to an extended-stay neighborhood property. Some properties offer special weekly rates for guests who are in need of short-term housing. Ask about fees, availability for the dates you anticipate needing and short-term storage options.
Amenities Galore
In addition to affordable rents in the area, amenities provided by many apartment complexes are considered luxuries in other U.S. cities. Expect to find features such as covered parking, microwaves and ice makers, fireplaces, community clubhouse, large kitchens with generous storage, sport court, children’s playground, lighted tennis court, private patios and walk-in-closets. You’ll also find apartments that accept small pets under 25 pounds. Be sure to ask about amenities that are important to you.
Renter Resources
Part of your rental-search tool kit should include helpful resources, online and printed. You’ll also want to cruise neighborhoods of interest to you and look for signs on front lawns. While you’re at it, stop by the local grocery store and peruse the free publication racks. There you’ll find any local resources that may include listings in a specific neighborhood. Ask if there is a regional newspaper as well. Your company’s relocation representative can also help you with availabilities in various San Antonio neighborhoods.
Before Signing the Lease
You’ve made your selection and you’re ready to sign the lease. Are there any remaining issues to address? Review this summary checklist before you sign.
Texas Apartment Association (TAA) Answers Frequently Asked Questions
Under the TAA lease, the management must leave notice of entry inside your apartment indicating that a management representative entered the apartment, and why he or she was there.
Apartments – There are thousands of apartment units in the greater San Antonio area with many choices of amenities and locations. These can include garden-style apartments with three levels or less and usually have staircase access. Mid-rise apartments are four-to-six levels and are more dominant in urban areas.
Townhouses and condos – Ideally suited for busy professionals who require more amenities, including concierge services, maid service, shuttle services and valet parking.
Temporary/Corporate Housing – This option best suits people in these situations: homebuyers encountering various delays; homeowners who are renovating their homes; new residents or visitors searching for an apartment or house; tourists or business people on an extended stay; personnel who are relocating; visiting executives; or corporate clients.
All-inclusive short-term housing – Many newcomers opt to use “all inclusive” short-term rental properties that provide everything from furniture to dishes and linens to utilities and phone service. While these properties typically charge a higher rate, they can often be more flexible than individual landlords. With this approach you’re free to place the majority of your belongings in storage and keep only personal possessions with you at your rental.
Hotel/Motels – If you need housing for a relatively short period of time, staying in a local hotel or motel might fit the bill. Depending on your budget, you can check in to an extended-stay neighborhood property. Some properties offer special weekly rates for guests who are in need of short-term housing. Ask about fees, availability for the dates you anticipate needing and short-term storage options.
Amenities Galore
In addition to affordable rents in the area, amenities provided by many apartment complexes are considered luxuries in other U.S. cities. Expect to find features such as covered parking, microwaves and ice makers, fireplaces, community clubhouse, large kitchens with generous storage, sport court, children’s playground, lighted tennis court, private patios and walk-in-closets. You’ll also find apartments that accept small pets under 25 pounds. Be sure to ask about amenities that are important to you.
Renter Resources
Part of your rental-search tool kit should include helpful resources, online and printed. You’ll also want to cruise neighborhoods of interest to you and look for signs on front lawns. While you’re at it, stop by the local grocery store and peruse the free publication racks. There you’ll find any local resources that may include listings in a specific neighborhood. Ask if there is a regional newspaper as well. Your company’s relocation representative can also help you with availabilities in various San Antonio neighborhoods.
- Real estate agents – You’ll want to use the services of a realtor who can help with your rental needs. Most national realtor firms offer rental assistance, especially those catering to the relocation market.
- Relocating to San Antonio advertisers – The pages of this relocation guide contain helpful information on many reliable and quality resources for renting or leasing in the San Antonio region (www.relocatingtosanantonio.org).
- The San Antonio Express News is the city’s main daily newspaper and one of the 10-largest newspapers in the nation (www.mysanantonio.com).
- For the Hispanic market, there are several Spanish-language newspapers: El Continental (www.elcontinental.com), La Prensa (www.laprensasa.com) and Rumbo de San Antonio (www.impre.com/rumbo/san-antonio/home.php).
- For Spanish-speaking families relocating to the area, online apartment resource www.ParaRentar.com offers a selection of apartment options.
- Active adults over 55 can visit www.senioroutlook.com to find numerous apartment listings in San Antonio.
- Craig’s List (www.craigslist.org) is free to landlords and apartment hunters.
Before Signing the Lease
You’ve made your selection and you’re ready to sign the lease. Are there any remaining issues to address? Review this summary checklist before you sign.
- Be sure you’ve been given a tour of the exact home or apartment that you’re going to rent and not a model.
- If there are any problems with the house or apartment you’ll be moving into, provide a detailed list and give it to the landlord or owner. Indicate you want these items repaired before you move in. If these items are not fixed by the time that you move in, document the things that need to be repaired or replaced in writing and with photographs. Send a copy to the landlord or owner and keep a copy for yourself. These things should include any chips in the walls, broken appliances and anything in the house that looks worn or deteriorated. In the event that a deposit is held for any of these items, you now have proof that they were in existence before you moved in.
- It’s a good idea to request that the locks are changed before you move into your new place. Once new keys are made, ask the landlord or owner to tell you who has copies of the keys. Usually, the only other people that should have access to your home is the owner or landlord.
- Consider renter’s insurance. It is not that expensive, and depending on the terms of the policy that you purchase, renter’s insurance will protect you from fire, break-ins or other disasters at a low cost.
- Depending on your lease, the owner may or may not be responsible for minor problems like leaky faucets or problems with appliances.
Texas Apartment Association (TAA) Answers Frequently Asked Questions
- Can the manager enter my apartment when I’m not at home?
ANSWER: There are a number of reasons why property managers or maintenance staff may need to enter your apartment, and it could be very inconvenient for you if you always had to be home and available when these circumstances arose. If you signed a TAA Lease Contract, you’ve given permission to the apartment management and/or maintenance personnel to enter your apartment when you are not there for:
- Responding to your request.
- Making repairs or replacements.
- Estimating repair or refurbishing costs.
- Performing pest control or doing preventive maintenance.
- Changing filters.
- Testing or replacing smoke detector batteries.
- Retrieving unreturned tools, equipment, or appliances.
- Preventing waste of utilities.
- Exercising a contractual lien (removing your non-exempt belongings if you haven’t paid the rent).
- Leaving notices.
- Delivering, installing, reconnecting, or replacing appliances, furniture, equipment, or security devices.
- Removing or rekeying unauthorized security devices.
- Removing unauthorized window coverings.
- Stopping excessive noise.
- Removing health or safety hazards (including hazardous materials), or items prohibited under our rules.
- Removing perishable foodstuffs if your electricity is disconnected.
- Removing unauthorized animals.
- Cutting off electricity according to statute.
- Retrieving property owned or leased by former residents.
- Inspecting when immediate danger to person or property is reasonably suspected.
- Allowing persons to enter as you authorized in your rental application (if you die, are incarcerated, etc.).
- Allowing entry by a law officer with a search or arrest warrant, or in hot pursuit.
- Showing apartment to prospective residents (after move-out or vacate notice has been given).
- Showing apartment to government inspectors, fire marshals, lenders, appraisers, contractors, prospective buyers, or insurance agents.
Under the TAA lease, the management must leave notice of entry inside your apartment indicating that a management representative entered the apartment, and why he or she was there.
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