Tenant vs. landlord
A tenant is somebody who rents an apartment or a house
A landlord is somebody who owns an apartment or a house
Utilities
It is the other charges that are not necessarily included in the rent fee.
Example: Water, electricity, phone, internet, trash, etc.
Application
It is the first document that you will have to fill up. You will have to write your personal, professional, and financial information on it. Some landlords require the tenant to pay an application fee as it often guarantees a hold on the room or apartment.
Leasing contract
It is a legal document that both landlord and tenant sign to officially agree on the obligations of both parties during the stated length of stay.
Maintenance person
It usually is a person who comes to fix technical problems such as plumbing issues occurring in the apartment or house.
Credit in the United States
Your U.S. credit score will determine your ability to apply for cellular phone, credit cards, loans, etc. If you don't have credit in the U.S., landlords or companies typically require a higher deposit.
Furnished
When a room or an apartment is furnished, it implies that there are enough furniture and/or appliances for you to live without purchasing any extra ones.
It is important to consider purchasing renter’s insurance while in the United States. Generally, except under very special circumstances, a landlord is not legally responsible for loss or damage to a renter’s personal property. Also, if a renter causes damage to the landlord’s property, even unintentionally, the landlord may have the right to hold the renter financially responsible. In both of these situations, renter’s insurance would protect the renter from having to pay sometimes very large amounts of money.
For more information on renter’s insurance, the following insurance is designed specifically for UC San Diego renters: https://gradguard.com/school-search?school=6965