Renting your first apartment feels big for anyone, but it’s especially real for students and young professionals in Baltimore. You’re picking where you’ll sleep, study, work from home, and stash your laundry basket.
Along with the excitement comes questions: How much can I spend each month? What does that lease even say? Which block actually feels safe at night? This guide keeps things practical and clear so a first-time apartment renter can move from “where do I start?” to “keys in hand” without guesswork.
Build a Budget That Matches Real Life
Begin with your take-home pay, not the salary before taxes. It is a common yardstick to allocate about thirty per cent of your net income to rent, though you should treat it as a suggestion rather than a strict mandate. Additionally, you need to include all unavoidable fixed costs, such as electricity, gas, water, and waste collection costs, in case the landlord does not cover them. Also, consider the monthly internet and renters’ insurance, which typically costs between ten and twenty dollars and may be included in your lease. And in case you commute by driving, remember to add fuel costs and the price of a parking permit, or any other applicable parking charges.
If you ride the Light Rail or bus, add a pass. Food, phone bills, streaming services, and student loan payments sit in the same spreadsheet. Then look at the upfront money: application fees, a security deposit that can equal one month’s rent or more, possible move-in or elevator fees, plus the first month (and sometimes last month) of rent. We also cannot leave out essentials like a mattress, basic kitchen supplies, and cleaning supplies that you need to take care of in your first apartment. As the whole image comes out, you would decide on whether a studio or a one-bedroom apartment would be better, or it would be more prudent to share the expenses with a roommate.
Choose a Neighborhood That Fits Your Routine
Think about the trip to work or class at the time you’ll travel. A commute that looks okay on Google Maps at noon might take twice as long at 8 a.m.
Check what buses or trains run nearby and how late they operate. Safety is important, so check recent crime statistics and talk to residents about their experiences walking home at night. Go during the day to witness the traffic and noise, and then again after dark. Look for everyday needs within reach: a grocery store that doesn’t require a car, a pharmacy, a laundromat if you won’t have machines in-unit. Parking rules matter too; a cheap apartment loses value fast if you rack up tickets because street parking is limited or you didn’t realize you needed a permit. Put location in the same equation as rent, not as an afterthought.
Read the Lease Every Line Counts
A lease is a contract. It sets the rules for how to rent an apartment and what happens if something goes wrong. Check the length: twelve months is standard, but you might see six or nine. Some places switch to month-to-month after the first term. Look for how and when rent can go up after the first year. Note the due date each month and what the late fee is if you miss it. Pay attention to who handles repairs, how to request them, and how fast the landlord says they will respond.
See what the lease says about entry to your unit Maryland landlords must give notice except in emergencies, and the lease should match that. If you think you might need to leave early, find the section on breaking the lease. Some landlords charge a apartment fee, others want the entire remaining rent unless they re-rent.
Ask whether you can sublet if a job or internship pops up across the country. Utilities and services should be clearly specified: if water is “included,” does that mean up to a certain cap? Any pet policy, parking arrangement, or storage rule may be in a separate addendum; read those too. If a sentence feels vague or unfair, ask for clarity or a change. Many landlords will adjust simple wording if you ask before signing.
Gather Your Documents Before You Apply
You’ll move faster in a competitive market if you have everything ready. Most landlords ask for a photo ID; recent pay stubs or a job offer letter; permission to pull your credit or a copy of a recent report; and contact info for past landlords or a supervisor who can vouch for you.
Students often use financial aid letters or a scholarship award as proof of funds. If your income or credit is thin, a cosigner can help, so collect their info too. Put these into a single PDF or cloud folder so you can send them in minutes when you find a place you like. Fast, complete applications often win over slower ones.
Tour with Your Eyes Open
As you tour, turn on faucets to check water pressure and temperature, look under sink cabinets to see leaks or mold and turn on light switches. Open windows and check the locks. Try your phone in different corners to see if the service drops.
Shared spaces count: filthy corridors, trash-filled rooms in disarray, and malfunctioning washers in laundry rooms give you a clue to how management handles the basics. Ensure the unit you are directed to is the same as the unit specified in the lease – be sure to obtain the unit number in writing.
Decide: Alone or With Roommates?
Living solo means control over noise, guests, and decor, plus no debates over dishes in the sink. The tradeoff is cost you pay the full rent, deposits, and utilities. It can also feel lonely if you’re new to town. Roommates can cut expenses and make a larger place possible, but they also introduce possible conflicts over cleaning, bills, and quiet hours. Many of the lease requirements in Baltimore have put all the tenants in the trap of jointly and severally liable, i.e. even when one person runs, others will be required to pay the entire rent.
Make a straightforward roommate agreement that spells out who is to pay what and when, how you are going to divide shared items, how early exit will work out etc. Before anyone moves in, it is more comfortable to discuss money.
Know a Few Maryland Basics
You don’t need to be a lawyer, but you should know the basics:
- Maryland law requires landlords to maintain rentals in a safe and habitable condition.
- Security deposits have limits, and landlords must give you a receipt and return the balance within a set time after move-out (minus documented damages).
- Landlords must provide notice before entering, except in cases of genuine emergencies.
- Evictions must go through the court. You can’t be locked out or have utilities shut off without a legal process.
The Stuff Question: What Do I Need for My First Apartment?
One should always plan for the very first week in the new accommodation instead of waiting until everything has settled down. You will certainly need somewhere to sleep, which means at the very least a mattress placed on a proper frame rather than directly on the floor, along with suitable bed sheets and pillows. You will also need the means to freshen up, which includes a shower curtain and towels. Mealtime arrangements demand a few plates, bowls, cups, forks, and a cooking pan. For basic hygiene, you will need an all-purpose cleaner, a broom, or a Swiffer-style mop, along with trash cans and garbage bags, as well as an ample supply of toilet paper and paper towels.
Moreover, one should also have a small toolbox with a screwdriver, a hammer and a tape measure, along with a plunger, a few replacement light bulbs and a power strip at their disposal. After you feel more at home, you can slowly include machines like a microwave oven or toaster, a desk if you work at home, storage bins, a television and some decorations to make it your own. Buy in stages so the budget you set earlier stays intact. Renter’s insurance and a small emergency fund belong on that first-week list too, even though you don’t unpack them from a box.
The Steps to Renting an Apartment—In Order
Here are some essential things you need for your first apartment:
- Do the math and set a budget ceiling.
- Start searching on online platforms, local Facebook groups, university housing boards, and even “For Rent” signs on the street.
- Gather your documents in one place so you can apply fast.
- Read the lease and ask questions until every clause makes sense.
- Pay fees and deposits, and receive receipts, along with a move-in condition form that includes photos.
- Set up utilities and renter’s insurance before moving day so the lights and internet are on.
- Move in with your essentials and keep a small log of any fixes needed in the first few days.
These steps provide a practical timeline for “how to get your first apartment” and “how to rent an apartment,” offering clear guidance on the process.
Conclusion
Renting your first apartment is a lot less stressful and a whole lot more predictable with preparation. At The Mt Washington Group, most of the guesswork disappears when you arrive with a specific budget in mind, select a neighborhood that fits into your everyday life, read through all parts of the lease, and bring the correct paperwork with you.
You may be renting a 1-bedroom apartment close to downtown, or you may be thinking of renting a shared rowhouse in Charles Village, but the same rules apply: follow your own good habits—ask clear questions, take notes, and don’t feel rushed. If something doesn’t feel right, walk away—there are always more listings. With good prepping, a first-time apartment renter will be able to sign with confidence and focus on securing a place to call home truly.