Q: Do I have to view a property before submitting an application?
A: Yes – we require that all applicants view the property they are applying for before submitting their application. If you are unable to view the home yourself, you can have someone view it on your behalf.
Q: Do you accept pets?
A: Many of our properties do allow pets, though some do not. This information is on every listing, so please review the listing to see if the property allows animals. If the property allows pets, there is a $350 pet fee due per pet before move-in. Of the $350, $200 is a refundable pet deposit and the other $150 is a non-refundable pet fee. We do not allow aggressive breeds at any of our rental properties. All pets must be under 75 pounds, and we do not allow more than two per property.
Q: Do you accept Section 8 vouchers?
A: We do not currently have any properties
registered with the Section 8 program, but you can visit
www.gosection8.com to view
properties that are available via Section 8.
Q: How do I view your available rentals and what times do you schedule showings?
A: Most of our properties are set up on a self-showing system, meaning you can view the home 7 days per week between 8:00am and 8:00pm, even holidays and weekends! Just register through our showing system (link is available on each individual listing) and select your date/time. Upon confirmation, you’ll receive a unique access code to enter the property at your selected time, which will remain active for two hours. For the few homes that are not available for self-showings, you can view our leasing agent’s calendar and schedule your showing online using the same process. For more information, please call our office.
Q: How long does it take to process an application?
A: Generally speaking, it takes about 24 - 48 hours to process an application. To expedite this time frame, please attach all of the required forms with your application (paycheck stubs, photo ID, pet documents, etc.) and notify your employer and landlord that we’ll be contacting them to verify your information.
Q: How long will you hold the property for an approved applicant?
A: We will place a courtesy hold on the home for 24 hours to give approved applicants time to submit their holding deposit. Upon receipt of the holding deposit, we can hold the property for up to two weeks from the date of the applicant’s approval.
Q: How much security deposit is required?
A: Though this varies per property, we generally require one month’s rent for the security deposit. This may increase depending upon the results of your application and background screening.
Q: How quickly can I move in after my application is accepted?
A: Assuming your application and accompanying forms (paystubs, photo ID’s, etc.) are provided timely and in order, upon approval of your application we can generally arrange for a move-in within three business days. Should you like to move-in rapidly, please let your leasing agent know and we will do our best to expedite the process for you.
Q: Upon approval, how long do I have to sign the lease agreement? Where and when?
A: You have three (3) business days to sign the lease once it is received by you. All leases are delivered to you and may be signed electronically via your new Resident Portal. As soon as the application is approved and the security deposit is received, the lease is prepared and emailed to you through your new Resident Portal for your review and electronic signatures.
Q: What are your rental qualifications and what is required?
A: We run a comprehensive check of your criminal background, credit history, and rental history. We also verify employment and income, and require that our residents make at least three times the monthly rent in gross income. Certain felony convictions within the last seven (7) years or any evictions on your civil record may result in a denied application, though criminal cases are reviewed on a case-by-base basis. Please view our Resident Qualifications & Approval Guidelines for more information. We require copies of your most recent paycheck stubs, a copy of your photo ID, pet documentation, and the non-refundable application fees paid online when you submit your application. The holding deposit will be due within 24 hours of application approval, and must be in the form of a certified check or money order.
Q: What do I have to pay prior to move-in?
A: Due with the application is the non-refundable $60 application fee per adult. Upon application approval, the holding deposit for the property is due within 24 hours, which will allow us to take the property off of the market. Due at move-in is the first full month’s rent, any remaining or additional security deposit required, and any pet fees/deposits. Though we do prorate if you move in mid-month, the prorated portion of rent is due your second month of occupancy while the full monthly rental amount is due at the time of move-in.
Q: What happens if I submit my application and there is already an application in process for that property?
A: We accept applications on a first come-first served basis. If we have a pending application, no other applications will be accepted until the first is completed. If the first application is approved, we will do our best to find another suitable property for you.
Q: What happens if my application is denied?
A: You will be notified via email of the application results. The application fee is non-refundable. If you submitted your security deposit with the application, that will be returned to you in the event the application is declined. A written adverse action letter will also be mailed out to your current address in accordance with Federal law.
Q: What utility companies am I required to contact before move-in?
A: You will be provided with a list of utilities you are responsible for in the lease agreement as this varies per property. Our FREE concierge Utility Service, Citizen Home Solutions, will be contacting you by phone to help you setup your utilities. This is an absolutely free service to assist you with connecting utilities, cable and internet according to your area.
Q: When are new properties listed?
A: Our website is continually updated to reflect our current inventory of available properties for rent.
Q: Where can I get information your available properties?
A: All of our available properties are listed here on our website under the Properties tab. You can also call our office to inquire about availability as well as for answers to any other questions.
Q: Who must fill out an application and what is the fee?
A: Any adult over the age of 18 must fill out an application and pay the non-refundable $60 application fee per adult. The application fee is payable online via credit or debit card, and must be paid in order to submit your online rental application.
Q: Am I required to have renter’s insurance?
A: We do not require our residents to have renter’s insurance, though it is strongly recommended to protect your personal property in the event of a fire, flood, hurricane, etc. The homeowner’s property insurance only covers the home itself, not any of your personal belongings in it. We recommend you contact your automobile insurance provider as they often offer renter’s insurance as well and you may qualify for a multi-line discount. If you like, our office can also provide you with renter’s insurance providers at your request.
Q: Can I access any information online?
A: All of our residents have access to their Tenant Portal online 24 hours a day. Upon move-in, you will receive an email to activate your account. Within the tenant portal, you are able to pay rent online, set up automatic payments, and submit/track maintenance requests.
Q: Can I add or remove someone from the lease?
A: An additional resident can be added to the lease at any time, provided they fill out an application, pay the application fee of $60, undergo a background screening and are approved. From that point, it is a simple addendum to add them to the lease. A resident can only be removed from the lease if all remaining residents will still financially qualify without them.
Q: Can I install a satellite dish?
A: You cannot install anything on the exterior of the property or roof, therefore all satellite dishes must be on a tripod or pole and may be subject to homeowner’s or condominium association rules governing satellite dishes. If a satellite dish is not allowed for your particular association, this will be noted in the association documents.
Q: Can I perform work on a unit myself and send you the bill?
A: No. We do not reimburse residents for unauthorized repairs. All work on the property must be completed by a vendor that is fully licensed and insured, and approved by Innovative Realty ahead of time.
Q: Do you have an emergency line and what is the procedure for emergencies?
A: If you have an emergency, you can call our office and be directed to the emergency line/agent on call. Please be aware that very few things constitute actual emergencies. Fires, floods, heating problems when the weather is under 40 degrees, and anything resulting in an un-secured or unsafe property are considered emergencies. In the event of a fire, flood or threat to personal safety, please contact the fire or police departments prior to notifying us of the issue. A/C issues, regardless of the outside temperature, are not considered emergencies per Florida law, though we will do our absolute best to get an HVAC company out as quickly as possible.
Q: How can I pay rent?
A: Rent can be paid in many ways. The easiest method is paying online with either your ACH information or a credit/debit card. One-time payments or recurring payments can be set up using your Tenant Portal, though payments may be subject to transaction fees. Alternatively, you can drop off a personal check, certified check, or money order or mail it to our office at any time. Cash is never accepted.
Q: How do I submit a maintenance request?
A: Non-emergency maintenance requests can be submitted online via your Tenant Portal. This is the fastest option for submitting maintenance requests. Requests can also be called in or emailed to our office during normal business hours. If you have an emergency, you can call our office during business hours and one of our team can assist you. If you experience an emergency after-hours, on weekends or holidays, you can contact our office and follow the prompts to be connected to our on-call emergency agent. Please be aware that very few things constitute actual emergencies. Fires, floods, heating problems when the weather is under 40 degrees, and anything resulting in an un-secured or unsafe property are considered emergencies. In the event of a fire, flood or threat to personal safety, please contact the fire or police departments prior to notifying us of the issue. A/C issues, regardless of the outside temperature, are not considered emergencies per Florida law, though we will do our absolute best to get an HVAC company out as quickly as possible.
Q: How often are inspections completed?
A: Routine inspections are done three months after you move in, then every six months after that. You will receive a courtesy email or written notice at least 24 hours in advance. We conduct inspections to ensure there are no items of maintenance necessary or that require attention and also address any resident concerns.
Q: I need to break my lease – what do I do?
A: We do not offer a lease break option. If you choose to leave early, you will be responsible for the rent until we can find a new residents or until your lease ends – whichever comes first. Should you break your lease, you will also be responsible for any and all costs associated with finding a new resident; lock changes, maintenance, cleaning, carpet cleaning, advertising fees, marketing, etc. Please contact our office for more details.
Q: If I’m vacating, how and when do I have to give my notice?
A: Notice to vacate must be submitted in writing at least 60 days prior to your lease expiration. It must be in writing, but can be emailed, faxed or mailed to our office, or you can download a notice to vacate form from our website and drop it off in person.
Q: What happens if I do not pay my rent on time?
A: If you rent is paid after the 1st of the month, a flat late fee of $75 will be applied to your account. All late fees must be paid with the rental amount. Rent will not be accepted if your late fee is not included.
Q: What happens if I don’t give my notice?
A: Please give your notice within the appropriate timeline in accordance with the lease. If you do not give the appropriate and required notice, the lease will automatically roll over to a month-to-month lease term and there will be an additional short term lease fee of $75 per month. Rent may continue to accrue even after you move out if you do not provide notice in accordance with the lease terms.
Q: What happens if my check is returned by the bank (bounced) for any reason?
A: If a check is returned for any reason, there is a $40 NSF fee applied to your account. We will also apply a late fee of $75, as rent will be unpaid. Rent, the late fee, and the NSF fee must be paid immediately in the form of a certified check or money order. If a resident has three returned checks in any lease term, they will revert to certified funds only and online payments and personal checks will no longer be accepted.
Q: What is the timeline for maintenance requests?
A: All of our vendors are outside contractors and do their own scheduling. They work with many clients throughout the area and will not always have time to handle your request on the same day you submit the work order. They will call you within 24 hours of receiving our work order, and will set up a time and date that is convenient for you. If this is a time-sensitive request, such as a leak, our vendors are generally able to address the issue later that same day.
Q: What maintenance am I responsible for?
A: All residents are responsible for A/C filters, smoke alarm batteries, interior and exterior pest control, light bulbs, oven rings/drip pans, and refrigerator water filters. Depending upon the property, residents in single family homes may also be responsible for lawn care. If a washer/dryer is included in the property, it is provided for resident convenience and the owner will not repair or replace if they break. The same rule applies for pool heaters. Please refer to the rental listing or contact our office for more information on a particular property.
Q: When is rent due?
A: Rent is due on the 1st. We do not offer a grace period, so rent is considered late on the 2nd. Please keep in mind that rent is due on the 1st of the month, regardless what day of the week or holiday this falls on.
Q: Will my lease be renewed?
A: We always wish our residents to renew their leases with us. We will send out a renewal offer about 75 days before your lease ends. If you choose to accept the new terms of the lease, a new lease will be drafted and emailed out to you for your signatures. If you choose to vacate, you will need to provide at least 60 days’ written notice to our office. If you wish to extend for a few months or go month-to-month, there will be a $150/month short term lease fee added to the rental amount.
Q: Will the owner of the property contact me directly?
A: No, the owner of the property will never directly contact the residents. The property management company exists to act as liaison between tenants and owners. All communication will go through Innovative Realty.
Q: What do I do if I disagree with the disposition of my security deposit?
A: If you do not agree with a claim made against your security deposit, you must put it in writing and mail it to our office within 15 days of receipt. Disputes will not be accepted over the phone or via email. After the dispute is received, we will look over the claim and contact you if a change has been made. Please be aware that we are very conscientious about security deposits – we follow the procedure to the letter of the law and do not make a claim unless we have sufficient evidence to back it up.
Q: What if I do not pay my outstanding charges?
A: If you do not pay your outstanding charges within 30 days or contact our office to set up a payment arrangement, the amount due will be reported to the Credit Bureau and will show up as an account in collection on your credit report.
Q: What if my security deposit does not cover my charges?
A: If your security deposit is not sufficient to cover the charges on your account, whether it is damages, past due rent, unpaid maintenance charges, etc., you will be sent a security deposit claim for via certified mail as required by Florida law. This will tell you how much is due after the security deposit has been applied. This payment should be made immediately to avoid further action.
Q: What is the procedure and time frame for returning my security deposit?
A: Per Florida law, we are required to process your security deposit within 15-30 days from the last day of your lease or from the time you turned in your keys, whichever is first. We are also required to send any security deposit claims via certified mail ONLY. They cannot be picked up at our office or sent to a P.O. Box. Security deposit claims will never be discussed over the phone, email, or in person – only via certified mail.
Q: When do I have to return the keys after move out?
A: Your keys are due back at our office by midnight on the last day of your lease. Anything give to you must be returned – house keys, mailbox keys, garage door openers, gate cards, recreation permits, amenity keys, etc. There will be a charge per item if keys are not returned.
