First-time renters and anyone comparing a room, apartment, or shared lease who wants to understand the full cost and keep reliable records.
Course 41 · Life course 13
Rent Your First Apartment With Confidence
Set a real housing budget, verify listings, compare homes, read the lease, document move-in, and stay organized as a renter.
Before you start
Use sample amounts to list monthly income after tax, recurring bills, transport costs, debt payments, and money kept aside for unexpected costs. You can use your own figures privately if you are preparing to rent.
See everything you’ll needWhat you’ll leave with
A renter-ready file with an affordability limit, verified shortlist, lease review, move-in record, and monthly housing system.
Start course Start without an account. Sign in to save lesson progress across devices.
Your project
Start with the practice files. Build your project one lesson at a time.
Practice files are free without an account. Sign in to save your project record in My Proof: a description, checklist, and optional work link. Keep the original files in your own app or notebook; saving a project record does not upload them.
- Get your materialsDownload the practice worksheetUse the downloadable worksheet or toolkit alongside the lesson instructions.
- Make your projectView the project checklist Work in your own notebook, document, or software. Use the supplied practice examples when you prefer.
- Keep a private recordSave a project record Sign in to save a description and checklist, then return to update them.
Optional course overview
Watch an introduction.
This overview from Khan Academy introduces ideas you’ll practice in the lessons.
Watch directly on YouTubeKhan AcademyThings to Consider When Renting a HomeYouTube
Course handbook
Know the route before you begin.
Here’s what you’ll need and what you’ll make. You can return to this guide during any lesson.
- Use sample amounts to list monthly income after tax, recurring bills, transport costs, debt payments, and money kept aside for unexpected costs. You can use your own figures privately if you are preparing to rent.
- Identify the cities or neighborhoods you can actually reach for work, school, food, health care, and support.
- Use local tenant guidance for rules that differ by location, and never send money before independently verifying a listing and the person offering it.
Finish with proof you can use.
Build a renter-ready packet containing your housing ceiling, total-cost worksheet, verified three-home shortlist, question list, annotated sample lease, move-in evidence checklist, payment calendar, and local help contacts.
Save a project record in My ProofSee project checklist and review criteria
- A monthly housing ceiling, move-in cash target, and three-scenario affordability worksheet.
- A completed verification log for two listings with sources checked, questions asked, red flags, and a go or stop decision.
- A scored three-home comparison with inspection notes, total monthly cost, commute, dealbreakers, and unanswered questions.
- An annotated sample lease with a one-page money, duties, deadlines, exit terms, and questions summary.
- A dated move-in evidence folder with condition checklist, labeled media index, repair notice, receipts, and backup location.
- A twelve-month renter calendar, maintenance-request template, roommate agreement outline, and move-out evidence checklist.
Three ideas to help you along the way
Three useful ideas
The rules behind the steps.
Price the whole home
Rent is only one line; utilities, fees, transport, insurance, deposits, and move-in costs determine whether the choice works.
Verify before paying
A copied listing and urgent payment request can look convincing, so confirm the property and authorized contact independently.
The written record matters
The lease, condition photos, receipts, requests, and notices create the timeline you may need later.
What do these words mean?
Key words
Key terms worth knowing.
- Lease
- A contract that states the rental term, price, rules, responsibilities, and remedies of the parties.
- Security deposit
- Money held under applicable law to cover certain unpaid obligations or damage beyond ordinary wear.
- Screening criteria
- The income, credit, rental-history, identity, or other standards a housing provider uses for applicants.
- Renter's insurance
- Coverage that may protect a renter's belongings and liability, subject to the policy's terms and exclusions.
Your route6 lessons.
6 lessons.
One useful project.
Work in order the first time. Each lesson makes something the next lesson can use.
- 1Up next
Set a complete housing budget
Work out the most you could spend on housing after allowing for other living costs, money needed to move in, and unexpected expenses.
- 229 min
Verify the listing and the person behind it
Screen rental listings for impersonation, copied photos, fake urgency, and unsafe payment requests.
- 334 min
Compare homes beyond the photos
Evaluate condition, location, access, safety, rules, and total cost with the same checklist for every option.
- 438 min
Read the lease before you sign
Locate the terms that control money, duration, occupants, repairs, notices, renewal, and ending the agreement.
- 527 min
Document move-in and protect the record
Create time-stamped evidence of condition, payments, keys, communications, and promised repairs.
- 620 min
Run a reliable renter system
Organize payments, maintenance requests, inspections, notices, roommates, and move-out preparation.
Use the tools
See all tools Tools to help you practice.
Source transparency
Sources and further study.
Explore the references behind the lessons and take your learning further. Source notes explain access and reuse.
Ready when you are
Start lesson one Start with the first useful move.
You’ll always know what to do, what to make, and where to go next.
Open collaboration ideaHelp keep this complete course free.
Potential collaboration: Housing counselors, renter services, utilities, and community organizations
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