This Tenant FAQ section was designed to help you navigate some of the questions that come up when renting a house from Rice Real Estate & Property Management. No question is too small, and we try to address as many as possible in the drop-downs below.
PAYING RENT
Yes! Our online tenant portal is fast, secure, and easy to use. We encourage all our tenants to use it. Please visit our Tenant Portal page to learn more.
No cash is accepted. If you are moving in, making a first-time payment, or have been restricted from online payments, you must pay with certified funds (money order or cashier’s check). If you are a current resident, you may pay with money order, cashier’s check, or personal check.
Rent is due, in advance, on the 25th of each month. For example, April’s rent will post on March 25th & is late April 2nd..Rent is considered late when received on or after the 2nd of each month. There is a grace period between the 25th and 1st of the month.
MAINTENANCE
Repair requests should be submitted via the online Tenant portal under the “messages” tab by clicking “contact us”. Please visit our Maintenance Requests page for all the information you need. You will be prompted to sign into your Tenant Portal and you will be able to submit requests with notes and photos attached.
Include the following:
1. Repair request: Detail out what problem is, be as specific as possible and include a photo and/or video, if relevant.
2. Address: street, city, zip + gate code, if applicable
3. Tenant Contact: Your name & phone for repair contractor to call and schedule
4. Availability: days and times available for service
Third party vendors and Tenants coordinate the service call jointly. Kindly be polite to the vendor. If you fail to keep a scheduled appointment with a vendor, you are responsible for the cost of the service call.
Everything should be clearly stated in your lease and we strongly encourage you to fully read and re-read your lease.
You will be responsible for the following things:
• Changing light bulbs
• Clogs in drains caused by hair, grease, soap, or other objects
• Resetting GFCI outlets, breakers, and garbage disposal
• Routine or unit specific pest problems
• Replacing batteries for CO detectors and thermostat controllers
• Changing AC filters on a regular basis (we suggest every 3 months)
Note: You might be responsible for things like landscaping and utilities, but these are lease specific. We strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with your lease. If you have any questions, please let us know or call us.
LEASE
We love our residents and we work hard to provide you with a fantastic home and great service, so that when it comes time to renew your lease, it’s a simple decision. Renewal offers are sent approximately 45 days prior to the lease expiration date. Renewal offers are sent by email and mail. The lease renewal process is simple. Sign and return the lease extension form and you’re all set!
We have an online form to make it simple. Visit this page: Add or Remove a Roommate Request. When adding a roommate, there is a one-time $65 Lease Application Fee per new roommate and a one-time $195 lease amendment fee. Each new roommate will also need to complete a Lease Rental Application and provide valid photo identification.
We have an online form to make it simple. Visit this page: Add or Remove a Roommate Request. When removing a roommate, there is a one-time $195 lease amendment fee.
Normal wear and tear is expected during tenancy. If there are several small nail holes from hanging light pictures or something similar, that will be fine. However, if you use screws, large hooks, or make any holes larger than a small picture nail, you could be charged upon move-out. Large holes are not considered normal wear and tear.
If a TV was hung on the wall the hardware needs to be removed, holes patched and entire wall painted to bring it back to the original condition. If not done and/or not done correctly, we will hire a quality handyman to handle and deduct the cost from your deposit. Email us if you have installed TVs on your wall as we can be of assistance.
Absolutely! Renter’s insurance is a requirement in your lease. It protects your personal belongings as well as your liability if you damage the property. Renter’s insurance can protect your personal property in a rented residential unit from unexpected circumstances such as theft, a fire or sewer backup damage – and will pay you for lost or damaged possessions. It can also help protect you from liability if someone is injured on your property or help with relocation expenses during time you can’t reside in your rented space.
Please be advised that the owner and/or Rice real estate as management company is not responsible for loss by:
1) Theft of resident’s personal property
2) Damage by fire to resident’s personal property
3) Damage by water to resident’s personal property
This depends on the insurance provider that you use. Renter’s insurance can often be provided by your auto insurance company, but Lemonade is a great renter’s insurance provider that many of our tenants use. You are required to have renter’s insurance to cover the property up to a minimum of $100,000 liability. Some leases require a higher liability coverage so be sure to double check your lease. Talk to your insurance provider about what personal items might be covered under the policy. Some will cover personal belongings at no additional cost. Others will charge slightly more to cover expensive personal items.