The Playbook / Live It / Firstly — Apply, Approve, Move
Before You Sign Your Lease.
A lease is a legal agreement — the one you'll live with for the next 12 months. Read the whole thing. Ask questions. Get clarifications in writing.
What's Normal in a professional-management lease
- A standardized industry lease — most commonly the NAA Blue Moon lease.
- Community-specific addenda covering pets, parking, utilities, guests, and amenity rules.
- Clear language on rent, fees, late charges, and lease term.
- A signed copy for you to keep, digital or paper.
What's Raising Eyebrows
- A custom lease drafted by the landlord's attorney (common with private landlords).
- Clauses that waive your right to sue or force arbitration.
- Automatic renewal clauses you have to opt out of in writing.
- Excessive penalties, junk fees, or vague 'other charges as determined by landlord'.
- Language that contradicts something you were told verbally.
Your Plays
- Ask: "Is this an NAA Blue Moon lease?" (See the Decision Framework for how to tell.)
- Read the whole lease — yes, even the boring parts. Take an hour if you need it.
- Use the Lease Clauses That Raise Eyebrows checklist as you read.
- Clarify anything confusing in writing (email or the online portal).
- Save a digital copy and a printed copy.
See something, say something
If a clause doesn't sit right, don't sign until you understand it. Ask Noon can help you phrase questions to your landlord in a way that gets clear answers without escalating.
Not sure what kind of lease you have?
Identify your leaseReady to read line-by-line?
Open Lease Clauses That Raise EyebrowsPrintable companion PDF
Optional printable version of this resource.
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