Tenant Q&A

Barnard Realty Group is very particular in the tenants they rent to. We go to great length to keep our properties maintained and we expect our tenants to do the same. In general, we look at an applicant’s past behavior and assume their future behavior will be similar. Our applicants must exhibit a strong characters of being a good, responsible tenant. The following is a list or criteria for look for and process with each application.

Rental History- We will personally call or send out a questioner to your previous landlord and ask them personal relevant questions about your past performance at their property. To help expedite the application process, we ask that you give them a heads up and ask them to return the requested information as soon as possible.

Credit/ Criminal Check- All applications start with a third party agency that provides us with a credit report as well as any criminal history the applicant may have on their record. If you are someone that is worried about something we may find, it is always best to share those with us and have open lines of communication.

Employment/Income- With all of our application we request two months’ worth of pay stubs. This help ensure that we are not spreading our tenants too thin and causing extra stresses. It is Barnard Realty Group rule of thumb that we try and keep our tenants rent at no more than ¼ their gross monthly income. Life throws us all curve balls, and can causes financial hardships. The last thing we want is our tenants not to be prepared for those moments because we have strapped them down financially.

Proof of Identification- At the time you submit an application a copy of your Driver’s License or ID Card need to be presented. Ensuring you are whom you say you are.

Lastly we will reach out to your current employer to obtain a character reference. We want to make sure that the applicate is dependable, has good communication skills and is motivated. Over the course of your lease and issue may arise (ie. Repair needs to be made, financial hardship, health issue) and we like to ensure that those will be communicated to and with us.

Once an application is submitted through our website it normally takes between 1 to 3 days for the screening process to be completed and verified. Giving your employer and previous landlords a heads up really helps expedite the process. If the leasing agent has not contacted you after three days please follow up with them directly. All application fees are charged by a third party company and therefore are non-refundable.

All rent is due on the first of the month. We give our tenants a 5 day grace period. If rents are not posted by midnight on the 5th an initial $75 charge will be applied and $10 per day thereafter until rent and late charges have been paid in full.  Rent will be considered late even if you make a partial payment and fees will be calculated on the full rent amount not on the rent amount still owed. Our online system and tenant portals will send rent payment reminders to you as well as remind you about payments until they are made.

As a convenience to our tenants and owners, we have multiple ways for you to make a payment. The majority of tenants pay onlone through there tenant portal. We also accept cash, check and money orders at our office location. Around the time of move-in you will receive an email from Barnard Realty Group inviting you to activate your Tenant Portal. Each secure portal is unique to each tenant and linked to the email provided on the lease. Once you activate your account portal, click on “Make a Payment” choose “E-check” for the free option that will pay your rent directly from your checking account. Choosing the “Credit/Debit Card” option will assess a fee. Please refer to your tenant packet for fees. These fees will not and cannot be waived or refunded by Barnard Realty Group.

No, Barnard Realty Group does not require you to carry renters insurance, but does strongly recommend it. In the event of a break-in, fire, tenant liability, damage to personal property, flood or other loss issues, the tenant’s losses will not be covered without renters insurance. The policies are fairly inexpensive and worth the small investment.

For normal, non-urgent maintenance requests please log into your Tenant Portal and click on New Maintenance Request. Please describe the problem with as much detail as possible. For appliance issues, a make and model number will be helpful. This will help your property manager hire the right vendor for the job. Once submitted, a Work Order is emailed to your property manager and they should contact you within 24 hours. The law requires that most repairs be started within 10 days. However we will work diligently to get them done as soon as possible. You can check on the progress of your request through your Tenant Portal as updates will be made throughout the process.

For police or fire emergencies, please call 911, and then call your property manager to report the incident. Urgent maintenance items includes, but not limited to, sewer backups, a broken water pipe anywhere on the property, a break-in causing an unsecured front door, or major roof leaks with water leaking into the home. All tenants have our personal phone numbers and are free to call and text at any time! We are here to help, rain or shine! A maintenance request should also be submitted.

For the most part, the owner will be responsible for all repairs done on the property, unless the damage is caused by tenant neglect or improper use. We are then, required to charge for the maintenance service. Any broken windows or clogged plumbing, hung garbage disposal, A/C damage from not property changed filters and key replacement will also be repaired at tenant’s expense.

No, you must obtain written permission from the property manager. Some condominiums have strict HOA rules about satellite dishes. Our general rule of thumb is that you need to ask the provided to install it on a pole in the yard. Fastening a large dish to the roof can cause damage and allow for water penetration in bad weather. If approved, any and all cost of installation is at the tenant’s expense. In some cases, tenant may be responsible for returning the property to original condition at move-out once the dish has been removed.

Each property is different. Pets will be permissible only when the Landlord allows a pet on or in the property. Please ask your property manager if they allow pets. If pets are allowed, additional security deposit funds will apply. Dogs that are considered dangerous breads are not allowed. Whether you are or are not permitted to have a pet on the property, at no point are guest allowed to bring over an animal.

If you vacate the property before the expiration of the lease term, you will be obligated under the terms of the lease for the rental payments for the remainder of the term or until the property has been re-rented, whichever is less. Tenants shall also pay any rental costs incurred by the Landlord including but not limited to utility charges, advertising costs, forfeit of security deposit, and any leasing fees sustained by the Landlord. Barnard Realty Group will work diligently to lease the property as soon as possible and keep your expenses low. It will be in everyone’s best interest if the property is in show condition for prospective new tenants.

Glad you asked! Barnard Realty Group requires a minimum of a 45 day notice in writing, to be given before vacating the property. There is a Notice to Vacate form located on our website for your convenience.

After termination of the lease agreement, your manager will do a thorough inspection of your property. They will then send you a check and a statement notifying you of any charges deducted from the deposit. This will be sent out within 30 days from lease termination. In order to receive a full deposit refund please review and complete the items referenced in the Tenant Move Out Checklist, located on our website. You will also need to provide your manager with a forwarding address as well as any property that belongs residence (ie. Keys, garage door opens, mail box keys, etc.)