Tenant FAQs

• How much is the application fee?

  The application is $50 per person.

• Does each person need to fill out an application and pay the fee?

  Anyone over the age of 18 who will be living at the property needs to complete an application and pay the fee.

• What do you need for an application?

  In order for an application to be considered complete, each person needs to fill out an application form as well as provide proof of income, a copy of his or her driver’s license, and the $50 application fee.

• Does income need to be 3 times the rent?

  No. Our approval system consists of a variety of components; rent to income ratio is just one of those components.

• What are the qualifications to rent and how do you “score” an application?

  Applicants earn points for their qualifications in 12 categories. We do our best to look at the application packet as a whole; a poor score in one category will not automatically result in the application being denied.

  Rental Application Guidelines

• Where can I find the application?

  The application is available in the link below. We have also provided a link to the rental guidelines and scoring matrix for your reference.

  Guidelines Matrix Apply Now

• How much is the security deposit?

  The Security Deposit will be equal to the first month's rent of the property you are interested in. If a zero deposit option is available, offer terms will be disclosed at the time the application is complete.

• How does your screening process work?

  Our screening process involves verifying income and employment, and running a credit report, background check, evictions search, and sex offender check. We also contact your current landlord and get a landlord reference.

• What can be used as income verification?

  Copies of pay stubs, offer of employment letters, social security or disability statements, court ordered child support, and student loan documents are all suitable forms of income verification.

• Do you take Section 8?

  Each of our properties is individually owned, so the policy regarding whether or not a property will accept housing vouchers is determined by each owner. Please contact our office to inquire about a specific property.

• Am I required to see the property?

  We strongly recommend that you view and walk through any property you are considering renting.

• How does the lockbox work?

  We have two different styles of lockboxes. If the lockbox has our logo on the front cover, line up the numbers of the code (which you receive one you confirm your showing through text or email) and then grab the sides of the box and pull the front of the box forward. If there is no logo on the front of the box, expose the dial by sliding the black cover down. Line up the number of the code, and then push the lever to the left of the dial toward the bottom of the box. This releases the lock and you can pull the face of the box open.

• How can I set up a showing?

  You can set up a showing by clicking the red 'Schedule a showing' button next to the property you are interested in. You can also call our office Monday - Friday 9 am - 5:30 pm , and any member of our staff would be happy to schedule it for you.

Roommate Questions

• If I rent a home with multiple roommates how is the deposit and rent split up?

  Sloane Realty always considers the property as a whole. It is up to the tenants to decide amongst themselves how to split up rent. We advise roommates to talk about all expenses (utilities, yard maintenance, deposits, etc) prior to agreeing to lease a property together.

• What does JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY mean?

  Under joint and several liability or all sums, a claimant may pursue an obligation against any one party as if they were jointly liable and it becomes the responsibility of the defendants to sort out their respective proportions of liability and payment. This means that if the claimant pursues one defendant and receives payment, that defendant must then pursue the other obligors for a contribution to their share of the liability.

  Joint and several liability is most relevant in tort claims, whereby a plaintiff may recover all the damages from any of the defendants regardless of their individual share of the liability.

  As an example, Mary and Sue rent a home for $1000 and agree to pay $500 each towards the rent. Mary does not pay. Sloane Realty would have to notify both Mary and Sue that the rent was not paid and if an eviction or collection is started it would have to be against both Mary and Sue regardless of the fact Sue made a payment. It would be up to the roommates to hash out who is responsible amongst themselves.

  Lets add Sue’s dog to the scenario. Sue’s dog has issues with being left alone and decides to eat the blinds causing $100 in damage to the home. Sloane Realty will notify both parties that $100 has been added to their account and both roommates would be responsible for paying. It is up to the roommates to determine who is responsible but if it is not paid, when the security deposit is settled, the bill will be taken out of the deposit and then an equal amount would be disbursed to each tenant.

  Sloane Realty will not be able to make determinations on responsibility of damages or amounts owed between roommates.

• Are there any online resources for typical roommate issues and my rights as a tenant?

  We found several while preparing this document. Google "Roommate issues". One of the best resources was "Renting a House or Apartment With Roommates".

• What if I paid my rent on time but my roommates are late?

  The property is considered a whole so even if one tenant has paid on time, if the full monthly rent has not been paid by the 5th of the month then late fees will be added and the names on the lease will be responsible for getting the balance paid to zero.

• Can I bring in a new roommate in the middle of a current lease?

  It depends. Each home is unique but we will work with you as much as we can. Please contact Sloane Realty as soon as you start to think about adding a roommate. If you are able to bring in a new roommate in the middle of the lease the roommate must be screened through our office. The new roommate will need to fill out an application and be approved. If you have a good history of paying your rent and taking care of the home, the additional person’s screening is not as rigorous as an initial lease. You will also need to decide if you want to renew the lease at the time of the addition or if you you want to keep the same terms (ie when the lease ends). Please be sure to call and talk to our staff so that they can help guide you through the process.

• What happens to the security deposit if only one person on the lease moves out early?

  The security deposit stays with the property and only when the property is completely vacant and turned back over to Sloane Realty can the security deposit be disbursed. When a roommate moves out, the security deposit is to be worked out between all tenants and a written agreement is to be turned into Sloane Realty for records.

  For Example: Lets revisit Mary and Sue

  Sue has decided to move out of the home early and Mary wants to stay. If the lease is not completed yet, then the rent must still be paid. We see a lot of situations where a tenant leaves the rest of the roommates in a bad situation by leaving without continuing to pay their obligations. Ultimately this situation is between the tenants and we do not have the ability to go after one tenant out of a group for nonpayment. Luckily, Mary has found someone (Alex) to replace Sue. Alex needs to turn in an application to Sloane Realty and must await approval before moving into the home. Once Alex is approved, it is up to Alex, Mary, and Sue to determine how much Sue is to get back any Security Deposit. Sloane Realty can only disburse Security Deposit to the people on the lease as Tenants. Occupants and previous tenants have no claim on deposit unless we receive written notice from the current tenants. Remember that Sue’s dog did $100 in damage in the example above.

  Mary and Sue give Alex a copy of the move in inspection. Alex notes that the that everything is the same as the move in inspection and feels comfortable being responsible for the condition of the home. Mary remembers the $100 amount that was charged for the dog damage and after talking with Alex and Sue it is decided that Alex will give Sue $400 in deposit and then be responsible for the $100 due for dog damage.

  Alex needs to understand that once he becomes a tenant, he is as equally responsible as Mary for retuning the home in the same condition as when it was received. It is very important that the discussion be had before Alex moves in.

  Another example: Mary and Sue have a lease ending July 31. July 1st, Sue decides to give her 30 day notice. Mary decides that she would like to sign a new lease and remain in the house. Since Sloane Realty can not disburse the deposit until the property is returned to our possession, it is up to Mary and Sue to be sure Sue gets her deposit back. If the tenants split the deposit equally initially, then the best case scenario is that Mary give Sue half the deposit minus any damages caused by Sue, and then Mary would receive the full deposit upon her move out later on.

  We have seen roommates nearly come to blows over deposit and payment disputes. Be sure to talk out possible scenarios clearly so that you reduce the risk of tension and arguments. We can provide some guidance but we can not get between tenants in cases such as these.

Miscellaneous Issues

• If I need to break my lease, what are my options and what am I responsible for?

  If your lease needs to be broken, be sure you inform Sloane Realty as early as possible so that we can begin advertising the property for a new tenant. We will try everything possible to find a replacement tenant so that your responsibility for the remaining rent is limited. To help us find a tenant, please be prepared to have the property in good condition and be as flexible as possible for showings.

  Per state law, your security deposit will be disbursed within 30 days of the end of your lease or relinquishment of possession, whichever is later.

  Our lease offers three options for lease termination. Tenants are encouraged to review the options prior to deciding to break the lease. You will be asked to select a termination option when you give notice.

• What if I want to get a pet in the middle of my lease?

  If you would like to get a pet in the middle of your lease please be sure you notify Sloane Realty immediately. A pet application will need to be filled out and a photo of the pet (if applicable) will need to be turned into Sloane Realty in order to get owner approval for the pet. If the pet is approved by the owner then a Pet Addendum will be sent out to be filled out by the tenant(s) and a pet rent will be added to the tenant(s) account.

• What if I signed a lease to start on a certain date but requested to move in a day or two earlier, would that be allowed?

  If you would like to take possession of the property prior to the start date on the signed Residential Lease Agreement you will need to notify Sloane Realty immediately so we can determine if the property is vacant and available for an early move in. Rent for the extra days will need to be paid prior to move-in.

• Can I pay my security deposit in payments?

  We do not accept payment plans for security deposits. If you qualify for our zero security deposit program, this may be the best option for you.