How to Spot a Bad Landlord and Neighbors (Before It’s Too Late)

Read Time: ~3 minutes

When I found my first apartment, I thought I had everything figured out. The tour went well, the lease seemed standard, and the landlord responded quickly. But a month in, reality hit. The landlord disappeared when things broke, and my upstairs neighbor turned every night into a personal concert.

If only I had known what to look for.

The Landlord Red Flags

My first warning sign should have been the landlord’s slow responses before I even moved in. At first, I thought they were just busy, but when a simple plumbing issue took two weeks to fix, I knew better. A responsible landlord communicates and handles maintenance without endless excuses.

Then there was the lease. I skimmed through it without paying attention to the vague wording and extra fees. When I eventually moved out, getting my deposit back was a nightmare. Later, I asked around and found that past tenants had similar issues with ignored repairs and unfair charges. If I had done that research before signing, I could have saved myself the trouble.

The Neighbor Clues

I also missed the warning signs with my neighbors. The apartment tour was in the middle of the day when everything seemed quiet, but I didn’t think to ask around about what it was like at night or on weekends. Since visiting a listing at night isn’t always safe or possible, I could have spoken to nearby businesses, security personnel, or current tenants to get a sense of the noise levels and activity after dark. Turns out, my upstairs neighbor loved blasting music at 2 AM.

Then there was the parking situation. What looked like plenty of spaces quickly turned into a daily fight for a spot. The trash piled up faster than it was taken out, and it became clear that the landlord didn’t enforce any rules.

The Lesson

If I could go back, I’d ask more questions about repairs, security, and the building’s overall vibe. I’d visit at different times of the day and talk to current tenants.

A good apartment isn’t just about the layout or rent price. It’s about the people who manage it and the ones who live next door. If something feels off, trust that feeling. Your future self will thank you.