If you are ever in a situation where you might have trouble paying rent or utilizes, use the link below find out about financial assistance programs that may apply to you

https://phillytenant.org/rental-assistance/

How can I avoid having my drains get clogged?

• • • AVOID letting food, hair, wipes, sand, grease, or other trash go down the drains. 

    • An excellent drain cleaning / clearing solution recipe is: 1 cup salt, 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, followed by 8 cups boiling water. We recommend performing this treatment monthly to avoid build-up. 

Can I have guests?

• • • IF I RENT A HOUSE OR APARTMENT: 

      • • Sure you can have overnight guests in your apartment. 

        • Overnight hours are considered 10pm to 7am daily. 

        • The only time having guests will be a problem is if a guest staying longer than the terms time specified in your lease. 

        • For most leases, guest are allowed to stay 20 overnight stays per year. 

        • Please check your lease for specific information about the allowed time period. I

        • If an overnight guest stays beyond what is stated in your lease, you will be considered in breach of your lease and must request to have them added to the lease or removed from the apartment/house. 

    • IF I RENT A ROOM OR LIVE IN A SHARED HOUSE:

      • • If you rent a room or live in a shared house, overnight guests are prohibited. 

        • Overnight hours are considered 10pm to 7am daily. 

        • If an overnight guest is found to being staying on the property, you will be considered in breach of your lease. You will be given the option to pay $25 per day for each guest that remains on the premises during overnight hours (if the occupancy limit for the property has not been reached) or you will be given notice of lease termination. 

I will be away and would like to rent my space out on a home sharing site like VRBO, AirBnB, craigslist, or something similar, is that allowed?

• • • No, we do not allow sublets for any reason .

How to I keep the counters from being damaged? 

• To avoid costly damage from nicks and cuts in counter tops, please use a cutting board at all times. 

How to I avoid being charged for replacing the stove when I move out?

• Wipe your stove top off every time you finish using it.

• Clean the top of your stove at least once a month.

• Clean your oven every 6 months.

• Report any damage or issues with your stove top or oven as soon as possible.

How to I avoid being charged for replacing the kitchen cabinets when I move out?

• Clean the handles and outside of your cabinets at least once per month. 

• Empty and clean out all your cabinets at least once per year. 

• Report any damage or other issues with your cabinets as soon as possible. 

Will my rent ever be increased?

Rent cannot be increased during the time you have an active lease. For example, if you have a yearly lease, your rent will never be increased during that 12 month period. If you have a month-to-month lease, your lease will never be increased within that 30 day period.   When your lease is set to expire - the landlord has the right to increase for multiple reasons, such as:

• • • Increased property taxes for the county (tax money is taken out of your rent to fund public projects like fixing roads, maintaining street lights, plowing and salting the roads after a winter storm, and paying for police/firefighter operations).

    • Increased utilities rates (if you are in an apartment where utilities are part of the rent agreemet)

    • Building or unit renovations

    • Cost of living increase for the area 

If your rent is set to be increased, if you are on a yearly lease, you will receive a minimum of 45 days notice with specific details about the change. If you are on a month-to-month lease, you'll receive a minimum of 30 days notice. 

I need to leave my rental before my lease is up. Can I do this? And what will happen?

• • • Any early termination or extension must be discussed with the landlord or rental office.

    • You can choose to break your lease early, but you will lose your security deposit. 

My lease is almost up, what happens when it expires?

• • • According to your lease, once your lease expires, it will be automatically converted to a monthly lease. If you switch to a month to month lease, then your rent may be increased, Rent increases can be $25 to $300 extra, per month.  For more information, contact the rental office or the landlord.  

What happens is I lock my keys inside my rental?

If you lock yourself out of your rental, just contact the landlord or the rental office and someone will be sent to the property to let you in. There is a fee for lockouts. Use this link to get more information on lockout fees. 

What happens if I lose my key?

If you lose your key, just contact the landlord or the rental office and someone will be sent to the property to provide you with a copy. There is a fee for lost key replacements. Use this link to get more information on lost key fees.

How do I clean the mini blinds in my rental?

Do not soak mini blinds. Spray them with a mild soap and water solution and wipe them down. 

My neighbors keep making noise late at night, or are always being extremely loud. What can I do?

• • • If the neighbor lives in your building: Contact the landlord or the rental office and report the complaint. If the neighbor is living in your building, that means that they have signed our rental agreement. The rental office will give the neighbor 3 warnings before terminating their lease for excessive noise complaints. Your name will never be used in any reports, or released to the anyone, for any reason. All tenant complaints are anonymous. 

    • If the neighbor does not live in your building: Contact the landlord or the rental office and report the complaint, if you don't feel comfortable calling the police. The landlord or the rental office will contact the neighbor about the noise or call the police on your behalf. Your name will never be used in any reports, or released to the anyone, for any reason. All tenant complaints are anonymous. 

What should I do if my heating stops working?

• • • If your heating has gone out - slightly open an indoor faucet and allow it to drip to prevent freezing until the heating system is operational, then submit a maintenance request. 

What should I do if my power goes out?

• • • If the power goes out in your unit, go outside and check the block. Are your neighbors without power too? If the area is out of power,  report outage to the local power authority (PECO), or contact the landlord/rental office for more info.

    • If the power is only out in your unit, report a maintenance emergency. If you live in a shared unit, please report a maintenance emergency immediately. 

What's an easy way to keep my tub/shower clean?

Dilute 1 part white vinegar in 5 parts water for cleaning all ceramic tiles.