There is so much to try to negotiate & worry about when you are looking for an home to rent long term. It would be a lot easier if you were only renting because you needed an immediate place to stay with plans to purchase your own home, but I am planning to rent for nearly the rest of our life. That being said, there are things to consider when looking for a rental home that you might be residing in; When it comes to appearance, the layout & design of the home are important. You also must be careful with the Heating & Air Conditioning equipment that your home has installed. Air conditioning may be optional, however a proper oil furnace is absolutely important. You should ask the landlord how often their Heating & Air Conditioning equipment is maintained or diagnosed. You should also ask for the age of the oil furnace. If the oil furnace is more than a decade old, you may experience a malfunction or completely breakdown in the near future. Do you suppose if your landlord will spend money for the maintenance or replacement of the oil furnace if it ever comes to that? You also should look at the efficiency of the oil furnace. If it costs a lot to operate, it may not be within your budget to rent that apartment. Instead, look for an home with a newer & efficient oil furnace that will last you a while & save you money on the bills every week. Finally, consider the type of oil furnace. I prefer electric over gas because I don’t want to worry about carbon monoxide poisoning. Have fun home hunting!