Moving from Mexico to Texas, renting apartment

[meganthompson1]

Hello everyone, moving from Mexico to Austin, Texas. For some time, the company where I work will provide me with an apartment. However, later I would like to rent my own, but I am confused here. What legal aspects should you pay attention to when looking for an apartment to rent? Do I need any other documents? Do I need any contracts or agreements?

[meganthompson1]

Okay, let's do it differently. Can I just find a pre-made template or do I have to put it together myself, how does it work?
I would be grateful for any advice
Because I had no connection with American law before and it all confused me too much.
It will be easier for me if someone explains to me from their own example, because there is a lot of information on the Internet and I am simply confused in all these laws.

[Dx134]

I don't know why this thread is in the naturalization subforum; renting an apartment has more or less nothing to do with immigration status at all. I've rented several apartments in this country and nobody has ever asked to see my immigration documents. However, many landlords do run some kind of background check, and will look at you a bit askance if you don't have a social security number. The laws (e.g. rent control, hazard disclosures, occupancy limits) governing leases, the rights of landlords and tenants (e.g. eviction protections), etc. vary from state to state - scratch that, town to town. Therefore, there isn't a one size fits all type of guide to renting apartments.
Background checks vary based on whether you're trying to lease something from a corporate landlord or a private one, and also between individual landlords. They generally want to see your rental history, criminal history, and funds to pay your rent with. If you have deficiencies in any of these areas, you can expect a higher chance of getting your rental application denied or the landlord to ask for a substantially higher-than-normal security deposit. Especially because you don't have any kind of rental history in the US, you might need to shop around more before you can find a good and affordable apartment. With all that said, in most metro areas, apartments are abundant; I'm sure you'll eventually find something nice.
The process will tend to look like this:
0. Look for a suitable property. You can go to apartment listing websites or websites of well-known corporate landlords.
1. Schedule a tour of the property you're interested in renting. During the tour, you should ask your landlord about the lease terms that may be dealbreakers for you. (You should probably not apply for a property you haven't toured unless absolutely necessary.)
2. If, after the tour, you're still interested, submit an application. This is where you'll need to upload your documents about income, savings, rental references, etc. You'll probably need to pay a small fee for the background check.
3. If the landlord approves your application, you'll get a lease (rental contract) you need to sign. It's an extremely important legal document; ready it thoroughly, and if you don't understand certain terms, look them up. If something doesn't look right, ask your prospective landlord; you might be able to get a modified lease, especially from private landlords.
4. Sign the lease and initial wherever necessary. (This thing about initialing contracts was unknown to me before moving to the US. The purpose is to direct your attention to the absolutely most important terms of the lease. Your initials at those spots will serve as proof that you read those terms.) The apartment isn't yours until the lease is signed by both you and your landlord.
5. Buy renter's insurance if the lease mandates it (in fact, even if it doesn't...), and get the utilities signed over to your name as dictated by the lease terms. You must do these things before the lease starts.
6. Hand over the first (and maybe last, if the lease so dictates) month's rent to your landlord at the latest on the day your lease starts. (You might need to get a cashier's check for this payment; it's happened to me...) Do a move-in inspection together with your landlord. Make sure you note down the slightest bit of damage, not working fixtures or appliances, uncleanliness, etc. on the move-in inspection sheet. Anything your landlord finds when you move out that isn't documented during the move-in inspection will cost you money (i.e. deductions from your security deposit).
7. Do your best to stay within the bounds of the lease.

This is my personal experience with renting apartments in the San Francisco Bay Area but as I said, laws governing leases can be wildly different based on where you are renting. Good luck!