Actually, landlords are legally obligated to provide hot water and heat (though you pay for it, obviously). Also ask about sewage and water since sometimes those are included, sometimes not.
Ask about early termination of the lease, or grounds for eviction (again, READ THE LEASE -- that should be in there, but you can always ask because he might be more reasonable than the lease would imply, though you can't necessarily trust his word
).
Find out if there is extermination provided (not people, bugs).
Find out if there is a "redecorating fee", which is a load of horsesh|t they'll dump on you at the beginning of the lease. I had to pay $600 one time for that crap (one month's rent, no choice because I was a student and it was perfectly situated).
Most of all, do not sign a lease until you have seen the apartment. Inspect VERY carefully. Look for gaps in door and window frames (high heating/cooling bills), loose locks (have them fixed by landlord), drips on faucets, test the heating/cooling system, check the outlets (are bathroom outlets those funky kind that are wired to the building codes? they have the "reset" switch on them), check baseboards and closets for water damage or insect damage...let me see, has to be more...
For a student, you might not care as much as others would (like me), but it helps to find out things before you move in. Be aware of where your windows are pointed, where busy streets are, and how thick the walls are with your neighbors. I was stuck in an apartment for a year that was up against a very busy road that connected to the hospital -- can you say ambulances practically every hour? Fortunately, I met a girl quickly and started sleeping at her place.
Good luck -- you'll learn to hate renting!
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