There will come a time when you dislike parts of your apartment lease. Some leases contain penalties for late rent that seem harsh. Some mention nothing about repairs. Others require you to pay for heat, even though your unit has no thermostat. The apartment lease is meant to protect both the landlord and the tenant. So, before you sign the lease, negotiate new terms or clarify in writing current terms.

Like any other contract, an apartment lease is between unique tenants and landlords and covers a specific apartment. So it is perfectly okay to modify what is oftentimes a standardized lease--and frequently, landlords do so by tacking on riders. It is in the best interest of both the landlord and the tenants that the lease is tailored to the individual needs of both parties.

It's easy to believe the landlord has the upper hand, but he or she doesn't. Just because the landlord has something you want (the apartment) doesn't mean you should accept everything in the lease. After all, you also have something the landlord wants (money, the habits of a good tenant). This gives you bargaining power to negotiate parts of the lease.

In fact, some landlords are prepared for tenants who might negotiate items such as lower rent, free heating, and consequences for breaking the lease. They already know how much they will change a lease and are open to hearing your points.

Of course, there are landlords who will refuse your request to negotiate. They believe the lease is already fair, and your request hurts them. They want to keep the status quo unless they gain from changing the terms you want to negotiate. The apartment is owned by a large corporation that sticks rigidly to protocol. Whatever the reason, the landlord, like you, is thinking of his or her needs only. Don't let this stubbornness intimidate you. Like the landlord, you should stand up for yourself. If the changes you want to negotiate are fair and reasonable, the landlord loses very little and could gain a lot by pleasing a good tenant who may potentially renew the lease. If the landlord still refuses after you've exhausted all your arguments, you've lost nothing by asking.