Tenant Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of the more frequently asked questions by tenants and prospective tenants. We have tried to provide clear answers, but if you need more detailed explanations, or have a question which is not answered here, please refer to you lease agreement or feel free to Contact Us.
DISCLAIMER: The following is provided for general informational purposes only, and tenants should refer to their lease documents.
Further information can be found on our Information for Tenants section.
Important Advice for All Tenants:
For better security, always use the deadbolt lock on your doors. Also, please remember that management and/or ownership are not responsible for the contents of your unit. You must have Renter’s Insurance in order to cover losses.
MOVE-IN & MOVE-OUT:
- Do you accept pets?
- Are stoves and refrigerators included with the unit?
- What’s the procedure for renting an apartment with a roommate?
- What fees are required for move-in?
- If I move-in mid-month, is that when I pay my rent each month?
- What is the security deposit used for?
- What is the procedure for moving out of my unit?
- What if it’s only a roommate moving out?
RENT & LIVING IN THE UNIT:
- Am I allowed to make “improvements” to my unit?
- Is there a “curfew” on noise-levels?
- What kind of security is there at your properties?
- What do I do about a noisy neighbor, or other neighbor complaint?
- What should I do if I’m going to be out of town when rent is due?
- On what day is rent considered late?
- What happens if my rent check bounces?
- What is a “Three Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit”?
- Will you accept a rent check from someone other than me?
- If there is a matter in dispute with the management company, can I withhold my rent until it is settled?
UTILITIES & PARKING:
- What utilities am I responsible for paying?
- When should I have utilities put in my name?
- What do I do if someone is parked/parking in my parking space?
REPAIRS:
- What is an isn’t an Emergency?
- What do I do when my garbage disposal is clogged?
- What do I do when my sink, tub, or shower is clogged?
- What do I do if there is a leak in my roof?
- What if I want to install a dishwasher, or an Air Conditioning Unit?
Do you accept pets?
We are a pet-friendly company, but different buildings have different rules. Pets are assessed and allowed on a case-by-case basis, usually with a non-refundable pet fee, a pet deposit and/or additional rent. If you are considering getting a pet and are already in one of our units, please check with us first to avoid any disputes later on. For more information see: https://comfypads.com/pets/
Are stoves and refrigerators included with the unit?
Stoves are, but refrigerators are on a case-by-case basis, depending on the unit. If there is a refrigerator in the unit, it will not be warrantied.
What’s the procedure for renting an apartment with a roommate?
A rental application and background-check is necessary for each person 18 or older living in the unit, even if that person will not be named on the lease. Anyone who signs the lease must also undergo a credit-check.
What fees are required for move-in?
Generally, we ask for a security deposit and the first month’s rent. These must be paid in secured funds (Cashier’s Check, Money Order, Cash), prior to receipt of keys for move-in.
If I move-in mid-month, is that when I pay my rent each month?
No. For any move-in that occurs on a day other than the First, we charge pro-rated rent the second month of tenancy in order to bring the Rent Due Date to the first of each month. These terms will be in your lease agreement, and explained to you at lease-signing.
What is the security deposit used for?
A “security deposit” is a refundable deposit of money to the landlord to ensure that rent will be paid and other responsibilities of the lease are performed by the tenant (e.g., paying for damages or alterations done by the tenant). The property being rented is a significant expense, and a security deposit helps the Landlord know that they will receive the unit back in the condition that the Landlord first rented it to you in. Maintaining the property during you lease and returning the premises in the condition you received it is the best way to ensure the maximum return of your security deposit.
Please Note: Your Security Deposit is NOT your last month’s rent. You MUST still pay your last months rent as you would any other rent.
What is the procedure for moving out of my unit?
If your lease is about to end, that does not mean you are required to move, or that we anticipate a move-out. We are always happy to negotiate a lease renewal or extension. However, if you decide to move-out, you MUST mail or email us a written notice of your intent to vacate as outlined in your lease agreement. Follow this with a call to the office to confirm receipt of the notice. For detailed information regarding Move-Out procedures see these articles: What do I need to do at Move-Out and What is a Move-Out Inspection
Please Note: Written notice must be received by us 30 or 60 days (see your lease agreement) before the beginning of the next rental period, or you will be responsible for all of the rent in the next rental period.
What if it’s only a roommate moving out?
If the departing roommate is on the lease agreement than they need to inform us of their move-out in order to allow us to remove their name from the lease. Any new roommate must go through the same approval process as the original person. (However, this does not mean that roommates will be added to the lease, nor granted rights to tenancy.) Security deposit refund upon the move-out of a single roommate will be due that roommate from the person(s) remaining in the unit, or the new roommate, NOT from Comfy Property Renatls, LLC.
RENT & LIVING IN THE UNIT:
Am I allowed to make “improvements” to my unit?
All improvements (shelves, paint, etc.) must be approved by the management company in writing. Any improvements that result in the unit needing to be returned to pre-move-in conditions (wall-color, shelves, etc) may lead to you being billed or deductions from your security deposit for the costs of returning the unit to its original state. If you make changes to the unit without prior consent, you will also be charged for the cost of administrative time to remedy the situation.
Is there a “curfew” on noise-levels?
If you are in a multi-tenant complex, Yes. Our Tenant Rules & Regulations are provided to all tenants at lease-signing. Tenants may not make any loud noise after 10 p.m. and before 8 a.m. However, all noise (including music, television, and conversation) must be kept to reasonable volume at all times of day, out of respect for other tenants. (We also ask that tenants with adjoining walls refrain from vacuuming or other household chores which create noise within the curfew hours.). If you are in a single family home, you need to follow the local ordinances (the local police department can provide these) and association rules which we can provide upon request.
What kind of security is there at your properties?
Different units have different security measures, including secure entry or security gates, but they are not necessarily standard to all units. We recommend that all tenants make use of the deadbolt lock on their doors, as a general security measure, since the lock on a doorknob can be easier to circumvent. We also recommend placing some kind of barrier on the track of sliding doors and/or windows, to prevent them from being opened from the outside. We also require that tenants have Renter’s Insurance of at least $500,000 for their entire stay in our units and recommend that tenants get further insurance to cover their valuables. Comfy Property Rentals, LLC and the individual building owners assume no responsibility for the safety of the contents of tenants’ units.
What do I do about a noisy neighbor, or other neighbor complaint?
First try to handle it directly with the neighbor in question, and in a friendly manner. If the problem persists, contact the management company. (If the noise is extreme, after 10pm, please call the local police department if you feel it is warranted.)
What should I do if I’m going to be out of town when rent is due?
Plan in advance! Use an online bill payment system or send us a check before you leave town, and we will hold it until the day your rent is due. Late rent is late rent, regardless of the reason.
On what day is rent considered late?
Please refer to your individual lease. In most cases, however, rent is considered late if it is not received in our office by 5pm on the third day of the month. In buildings with “rent-boxes”, please have your rent check in the box no later than 5pm on the third day of the month, to be sure we pick it up. It is your responsibility to get your rent to us on or before the due-date and “it is in the mail” will NOT be accepted as an excuse for late rent. If you know you will be unable to pay rent on time, let us know. We always try to work with our tenants in these matters, but if no word is received from you in advance, you may receive legal notices as well as late fees (refer to your lease for late fee information). Please be considerate of our time as well as your record, as it takes us a great deal of time to visit each property for rent collection, or to post notices when rent is late.
What happens if my rent check bounces?
You are responsible for the bank’s Nonsufficient Funds (NSF) fee. Generally, this fee is $25.00. You must also replace the bounced check with a Cashier’s Check or Money Order. We will not attempt to re-deposit the check. Once you bounce a check with us, we will no longer accept checks for rent payments from you and you must pay using Cashier’s Check, Money Order or Online.
What is a “Notice to Quit”?
A “Notice to Quit” is a legal document served to a tenant when they have broken their lease, typically for not paying rent. The common reasons this is sent is when rent has either been returned due to NSF, or if it has not been received by the due date. Once this notice is served, if rent is not paid or remedy is not made as detailed in the notice, it can be used as the beginning of an eviction process.
Will you accept a rent check from someone other than me?
No. Rent checks will only be accepted from those persons whose names are on the lease. If you require assistance with your rent for any month, the person assisting you should write a check to you directly.
Note: If you need to write your rent check from a Business Account, please provide us with a copy of your business license to prove it is your company.
If there is a matter in dispute with the management company, can I withhold my rent until it is settled?
No. According to most state’s laws, you cannot withhold rent from the person to whom it is owed, in order to influence matters under dispute. You also cannot deduct any amount from your rent, without first receiving prior written approval from the management company or owner. In cases where you have received prior written approval to handle repairs or other matters by yourself, it is standard for us to reimburse a tenant after they have paid their full rental amount.
UTILITIES & PARKING:
What utilities am I responsible for paying?
Refer to your lease. Generally, the tenant will be responsible for all utilities.
When should I have utilities put in my name?
Before you move into the unit and before you receive the keys. The utility company can set service up to begin billing on your move-in date, even if you had a “whirlwind” lease-signing. If you fail to put service in your name at move-in, we will charge an administrative fee of $50.00 to compensate Comfy Property Rentals, LLC for each time necessary for our office to contact the utility company directly.
What do I do if someone if parked/parking in my parking space?
Try the diplomatic route first: Place a note on the car, and find alternate parking for that day or night. (When parking on the street, remember to check all posted signs! Comfy Property Rentals, LLC is not responsible for parking fines.) If the situation continues, call a Tow Company. Also, write down the information of the car (description, license plate, etc.) and contact us at the office so that we can locate the tenant or neighbor in question.
REPAIRS:
What do I do when my garbage disposal is clogged?
Clear all substances from the drain. Never place your hand inside the garbage disposal to check for, or retrieve, objects! Check for any small, hard particles caught in the bottom of the disposal. Move the parts in the garbage disposal around with a broom or mop handle. After removing the broom or mop (or other tool), press the little “RESET” button under the garbage disposal. Next, try turning the garbage disposal on by using the regular switch. If it still does not work, call us and we will call a plumber to fix it. If you are found to be responsible for the clog, you will be charged for the plumber’s visit.
What do I do when my sink, tub, or shower is clogged?
Call us. If you are found to be responsible, the bill for the plumber will be passed onto you. NEVER PUT DRAIN CLEANER DOWN THE DRAIN.
What do I do if there is a leak in my roof?
Call the office and we will arrange for repairs A.S.A.P.
What if I want to install a dishwasher, ceiling fans, or an Air Conditioning Unit?
You must get written permission from the ownership/management before beginning work. If approval is granted, the unit must remain in the apartment after move-out. The owner is not obligated to reimburse for this out of pocket expense. State Law provides that anything connected to the property or built in becomes the property of the owner. Any installations need to be done by a licensed, insured and approved vendor.
