MADISON, Wis. -- Besides packing boxes and throwing out old lamps, student advocates say student tenants need to also brush up on their tenant rights, WISC-TV reported.

The Tenant Resource Center said students should document every detail of their apartment's condition before and after living there.

That also includes taking pictures, if necessary, or finding a witness for verification.

"Take the time to really try to go through and check every little detail and write everything down, so next year when you're moving out of your apartment, you can't be charged for those items out of your security deposit," said Tenant Resource Center's Megin McDonnell.

It's advice UW student Ted Kraemer takes to heart.

"Sometimes I think to myself, 'Yeah, I think that might have been there, but I'm not really sure,'" said Kraemer. "So I definitely wish I wrote more stuff down. I'm just so excited to be at my new place and stuff that I forget about it."

Landlords cannot charge a tenant for pre-existing damages or anything within the normal wear and tear.

For any questions about tenant rights, contact the Tenant Resource Center at 257-0006.