Apartment lease analyzer
Don't sign blind.
Multi-unit-building lease about to land in your inbox? Upload it. Dang reads the apartment-lease-specific clauses and flags where money quietly leaks: pet stacking, move-in fees, building-rule changes, parking and storage add-ons, entry notice for showings.
No account requiredFile deleted after analysisNot legal advice
What Dang checks for
The apartment-lease-specific patterns that trip up renters in multi-unit buildings.
- Stacked move-in fees. Some states count non-refundable charges toward the deposit cap. Flagged where total move-in money exceeds the state limit. Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 caps most California deposits at one month.
- Entry notice for showings and inspections. Many apartment buildings schedule frequent unit access. Flagged when the clause sets a window shorter than your state requires. Cal. Civ. Code § 1954 requires 24 hours; Fla. Stat. § 83.53 requires 12.
- Pet rent + pet deposit + non-refundable pet fee. Stacking all three on the same animal is a common quiet-charge pattern.
- Building rule changes by "notice". A clause letting management change rules unilaterally during a fixed-term lease may not be enforceable. Dang flags this for review.
- Parking and storage as separate agreements. Watch for parking or storage spelled out as side contracts that can be revoked even if the lease continues.
- Late fees and grace periods. Flagged when the fee exceeds a statutory cap or no grace period applies. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a caps at $50 or 5% of rent.
- Early-termination penalty. Penalties above two months' rent get flagged. Many states impose a duty to mitigate.
- Renewal and non-renewal notice windows. 60-day-plus non-renewal windows are aggressive and flagged.
State variation matters
Apartment-lease enforceability turns on the state landlord-tenant statute. Two anchor examples:
- California caps most residential deposits at one month under Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5. Entry requires 24 hours' notice under Cal. Civ. Code § 1954.
- New York caps deposits at one month under N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108. Late fees capped at $50 or 5% of rent under N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a.
Sample preview
Move-in money totals 2 months of rent across deposit and non-refundable fees. California caps most residential deposits at 1 month.
Source: Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.560-day non-renewal notice window. Above the 30-day common standard. Worth diarizing.
Late fee appears to exceed the state cap. Worth checking.
Source: Source: N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-aWhat to ask before signing
- Does total move-in money fit my state's deposit cap?
- How much advance notice does the building need to enter for showings or inspections?
- Are pet rent, pet deposit, and pet fee all stacked on one animal?
- What happens if building rules change mid-term?
- Are parking and storage on separate agreements that can be revoked?
Frequently asked questions
How is an apartment lease different from a residential lease?
In most states they are governed by the same landlord-tenant statute. Apartment leases tend to add building-rule, common-area, and parking provisions on top, and the operator often manages many units, which can change negotiation room.
Can my apartment building add fees mid-term?
A unilateral mid-term fee addition to a fixed-term lease is rarely enforceable. Modifications generally require both parties' agreement.
Are pet fees regulated?
Some states count non-refundable pet fees toward the deposit cap; others let landlords charge separately. Service animals and emotional-support animals are protected under the federal Fair Housing Act.
What does the analyzer cost?
Preview is free. Full report is $6.99, one-time, no subscription.
Sources & further reading
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5 · California security deposit cap
- Cal. Civ. Code § 1954 · California entry notice
- N.Y. Gen. Oblig. Law § 7-108 · New York deposit
- N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 238-a · New York late-fee cap
- Fla. Stat. § 83.53 · Florida entry notice
No account required · File deleted after analysis · Not legal advice. Dang reports contract findings in plain English. For consequential decisions, consult a licensed attorney in your state.