Tenant FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Pre-Application
Can you HOLD a rental property for me? by Property Management in Temecula
We do not “hold” properties and a property is not considered rented until a Residential Lease has been signed and a Security Deposit has been paid. If your application has been approved, you will need to sign the lease and pay your deposit before the property is considered officially rented to you.Are Rents Negotiable?
Our rents are decided based on an assessment of the current market value of the property. The owner and the property manager have agreed upon this price. Generally speaking, the rents are not negotiable.Lease Length – How long are your leases?
We require a minimum of a one-year lease unless instructed differently by the owner. Sometimes a tenant will offer an owner more money for a shorter lease. Any lease under one year will only be given to a tenant with owner approval. All leases are in writing. Longer leases are approved after discussion with the property owner. At renewal, we may on occasion elect to place a tenant on a month-to-month or 6-month rental lease to accommodate the sale of the property by the owner, a tenant’s pending departure, or moving the property into a more active rental period such as the summer. Lease length is always determined through consultation with the owner.How much Security Deposit do you Charge?
We require one month’s rent equivalent for a security deposit. In certain circumstances, if tenants do not meet the single security deposit criteria, we might charge up to two months of equivalent rent. California law states that when renting an unfurnished property the maximum security deposit is two months of the rent and three months equivalency for a furnished unit.What if I pay a deposit and then change my mind?
Once you pay a deposit and sign the lease, you have committed to rent the property. If you fail to move in as agreed, you will forfeit the deposit. The forfeited deposit pays the owner for holding the property for you. You should not pay a deposit unless you are sure you are going to move in.Application Process
Who has to be listed on the Rental Agreement?
Everyone who will be residing within the property must be named on the Lease Agreement. All residents over 18 years of age or older must submit a rental application for the property. Guests under 18 do not need to submit a rental application but if they are going to be living at the property tenants need to inform us of their name and date of birth. It is our Policy that anyone staying with the tenant longer than 30 days is no longer a guest but a roommate, therefore, if the person is Eighteen (18) years of age or older, he/she must fill out and submit our Rental Application for approval by House Match Properties. Tenant(s) must abide by the decision of House Match Properties whether another person or persons can be added to the Rental/Lease Agreement. Failure to do so may result in termination of their lease.When is rent due?
Rent is due on the first and late on the 2ndday of the month. The only exception to this rule is if the second falls on a weekend or holiday then rent is late on the next business day. With online payment options, you can pay your rent on weekends, holidays, and when on vacation. No checks to mail. Please pay your rent on time to prevent late charges being posted to your account. If a tenant moves into a property during the middle of the month, the tenant will owe a full months rent for the first month, and the rent for the second month will be pro-rated.What is Renter’s Insurance and Why do I need it?
Property owners generally carry a standard fire and liability policy and have additional coverage with “landlord/rental” insurance, but they normally cannot cover the contents or possessions of the resident. The reason that insurance companies do not provide this type of coverage is because they are “non-owner” occupied properties. Therefore, it is very important for you to have adequate insurance coverage for your contents. A renters insurance policy can cover your personal property, liability coverage, and additional living expenses. This can include hotel bills due to a fire or damaged roof, or replacing your furniture damaged in a flood. Again, your landlord’s insurance will not cover your belongings. All tenants are required to carry a liability policy of 100k on the property.There is a monthly fee of $30, including rental insurance, or $19, no rental insurance, charged to the tenants to allow access to Property Manager’s on-line secure portal, HVAC Filters sent every 6 months, free e-check payments, reporting rent payments to credit bureau, Property MELD to allow vendors to text tenants during repairs to set up appointments, extended weekly office hours, lease renewal and signing fees, and other tenant benefits. One benefit of the RBP is the first of any fees changed to tenant for violations, late payments, etc is waived.
Prorated Rent
Prorated rent is when rent that’s calculated proportionately. In other words, you’ll pay rent not based on the total monthly price, but for how many days you used the rental that month. For example, if a tenant moves into a property during the middle of the month, the tenant will owe a full month’s rent for the first month, and the rent for the second month will be prorated.Move-In
Move-In
Learn about the move-in processCan I move in a day early?
It may be possible with a change of lease fee. We have cleaners, locksmith, and service providers scheduled up to the date of your move-in, so an early move-in may or may not be possible. We also meet with you prior to move-in to do the move-in inspection, which needs to be completed prior to move in. You would have to agree to paying the extra days of rent and a change of lease fee.How do I pay rent?
Each tenant will have a tenant portal, which they can access to pay the rent. By using ACH (Automated Clearing House) – this automatically takes your rental payment directly from your bank and deposits it into the HOUSE MATCH bank, saving you time. (No charge to tenant) Credit cards or debit cards (large fee from third party company) Cash(small fee) Contact House Match for info and form to pay at 7/11 or CVS.How are Utilities handled?
Utilities are paid by the tenant, unless otherwise noted in your lease. Tenants are responsible for changing all billing information to their name and mailing address effective with their schedule move-in date. Some utility companies need advance notice, so please se up your utilities once your lease is signed.Rent payments are due on the 1stday of each month and are considered late on the 2nd. If a tenant moves into a property during the middle of the month, the tenant will owe a full month’s rent for the first month, and the rent for the second month will be pro-rated. The second month’s rent is the one pro-rated, never the first month.
Maintenance
What is the Maintenance process?
If there is something needing maintenance at a home, the tenant can enter a repair request in their maintenance portal (Property Meld). In an emergency, call our direct phone number 951-225.4020. This maintenance line is monitored 24 hours a day. After determining that it is a legitimate problem, we will send a service vendor to make the repair. The vendor will contact the resident and coordinate a date and time to perform the repair. Most repairs are scheduled within 1-2 business days. Comfort items such as air conditioning, no hot water or heat, receive the highest priority and are attended to as soon as possible.How do I reset the garbage disposal?
Most garbage disposals have a reset button or Allen adjustment located under the canister. Try to press this button to reset the garbage disposal before calling for maintenance. An Allen wrench to rotate the blade if something has become lodged is needed to reset others. This Allen wrench has been provided and should be taped to the garbage disposal. Please make sure to keep your hands out of the garbage disposal at all times and the breaker is off for the disposal. If a repair person is sent and the garbage disposal just needs to be reset you will be responsible for the cost of the repair.Pest Control – What is Your Policy?
Owners are responsible for all pest control in the first 60 days of a new tenancy. If the tenant has any pests, owners will pay to have the house treated. After the first 60 days, the tenant is responsible for some pest control. This would include ants, fleas, roaches, spiders, and small mice. The owner is responsible for maintaining the residence in a reasonable rodent-proof condition and rectifying any condition that would allow squirrels, birds, etc… to enter and nest. Infestations of squirrels, skunks, rats, and other vermin, as they can cause damage to a property and can be a health risk to people. Infestations of this type are treated at the owner’s expense. This does not release the tenant from their obligation to keep the property in a clean and sanitary condition so as not to promote the attraction of rodents and or pests.I want to change the color of the paint in the rental and make other changes. May I do this?
As part of the lease agreement, renovations made by a tenant are only permissible with written approval by Property Management Company. You may, of course, hang paintings of your choice on the wall, provided you do use normal size nails and do not do excessive holes. This rule against renovation without permission applies to all renovations, including changing your carpeting or other floorings, installation of built-in appliances, etc. Please do not affix a satellite dish or other antenna to the roof, without acquiring permission first, as you will be charged for any damages to the roofing.HOA
HOA Violations Process
Our goal at House Match is to avoid any HOA violation however if one occurs we want to get HOA violations resolved as soon as possible. If you receive an HOA violation please forward it to us ASAP out contact email is [email protected].As a tenant you are responsible for complying with all of the rules and regulations for the property that are promulgated by the HOA in which the property is located. Complete copies of the current rules and regulations promulgated by the HOA are in the tenant portal and incorporated in the Lease.
We are going to need your help to get the HOA violations resolved even if it is not your fault. (Example Painting Fence) If the HOA imposes a violation and it is a tenant-related responsibility then you will be receiving an HOA violation fee from House Match. It is important that you correct violations ASAP and send us photos of the correction so that we can submit them to the HOA and avoid any / more fines from the HOA and House Match. If photos are not received by House Match we will send a House Match representative to take photos of the violation. For each trip that we must send an employee to take photos you will be charged $100 plus any HOA administration charges.
Once the HOA violation has been resolved, if you feel that the fine was not fair or you had an extenuating situation then you may fill out our HOA dispute form. The HOA administration charge can be disputed but us having to drive out to take photos of the issue will be your responsibility because we welcome and hope you will send photos of the issue to us so that we do not have to send a representative.
If the violation is the owner’s responsibility then you will not be fined but we still need your help with photos and sometimes to coordinate with vendors to get them resolved. Owner HOA violations can be annoying to the tenants because the HOA might suspend pool access or other items. We want to get any HOA violations resolved ASAP.
Common HOA violations that are tenant responsibility: – Lawn needing to be mowed and edged / weeds
– Garbage cans placed out on a non-garbage pick-up day
– Basketball goals left on the curb
– Unauthorized boats or trailers parked in the driveway or on the street
Violation Fees:
Stage 1 – 1st Violation $25
Stage 2 – 2nd Violation $50
Stage 3- 3 or more violations $150
If you receive no violations for 12 months in a row you will reset back to stage 1.
Pets & Animals
What breeds of dogs are restricted from your properties?
We do not allow certain breeds of dogs that have violent tendencies. We do not allow any dogs that are mixed with dogs that have violent tendencies. Dangerous breeds that are not allowed include, but are not limited to Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Doberman, Chow, Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Great Dane, St. Bernard, Akita, Wolf-hybrid, Presa Canario, Bull Mastiff, Australian Cattle Dog, Caucasian Ovcharka, Boerboel, Dogo Argentina, Gull Dong, Belgium Malinois, American Bulldog, American Staffordshire Terrier, and German Shepherd.Other breeds may not be allowed on a property by property basis, decided by the owner of the property.
Notify your HOUSE MATCH team of your request for a pet. Do not move a pet into the property without permission. You will need to complete a “Current Resident Pet Application Form” and submit the pet info to PetScreening.com. A link to this company is located on our website. There will be a $100 Fee to process this request, which will include creating a lease addendum. If the owner does allow a pet, the tenant will be subject to Pet Rent of $35 per month per pet. If the owner says no, abide by the decision and your rental agreement. If you do have a pet without permission, this is a lease violation subject to $200 fine plus a fine of $35 per month since the lease start date, and possible eviction. Pets must be up to date on their shots.
Notify your HOUSE MATCH management team what pet you want. The Property Manager will contact the owner and submit your request. If the owner does allow an additional pet, the above process will apply.
All visiting pets need to be approved before visiting the property. The same policy applies to visit pets as permanent pets.
Leasing Changes
How do I terminate my lease early?
While we look forward to all tenants completing the duration of their lease, we understand that tenants personal situation bring about the need for breaking a lease. Breaking a lease prior to the end of the term does cause additional work for House Match and creates costs for the owner. Due to this, there are fees associated with a tenant breaking a lease.In the event that Tenant is not serving on active duty in the military and must terminate the Lease before the end of the Lease Term as a result of a job transfer, home purchase, family emergency or any other circumstance, Tenant is responsible for continuing to make timely and regular Monthly Rent payments and all other fees and costs contained in this Lease including, but limited to, paying utility and maintenance costs until the date the Leased Premises are rented to a third-party who has actually taken possession of the Leased Premises and begun paying rent, regardless of whether Tenant has vacated the Leased Premises at any time prior to the third-party occupying the Leased Premises. In addition to paying the Monthly Rent payments and all other fees and costs contained in this Lease, Tenant is responsible for the normal costs associated with vacating the Leased Premises.
Tenant is additionally responsible for the following fees:
1- An early termination fee in the amount of $500
2- A re-leasing fee equal to 50% of the current Monthly rent rate; The current monthly rent rate according to their rental agreement.
3- The costs to re-key the Leased Premises.
While Landlord will work diligently to mitigate Tenant’s damages by re-leasing the Leased Premises as soon as reasonably possible, Tenant understands that Tenant must cooperate with Landlord’s leasing efforts by making the Leased Premises available for showings and having the property clean and “show” ready.
Any change to the move out date above must be submitted in writing and approved by House Match Inc. (Email is Acceptable)
During the period of this notice, House Match, and/or other licensed real estate brokers will be showing the property to possible future tenants or purchasers with 24-hour notice. /span>
The prospective roommate will have to submit an application and HOUSE MATCH must approve the person PRIOR to them moving into the property. You can complete an application online at our web site www.HouseMatchCA.com. If HOUSE MATCH denies the applicant, they cannot move into the property. If approved, you and the approved applicant must sign new rental/lease agreements. A $150 lease change fee will be charged.
Move-Out
What is the difference between Normal Wear and Tear Versus Damages that I might be charged for upon move-out?
Wear and Tear vs. Damages The list below will assist you in determining what is normal wear and tear as opposed to damage to the property you are vacating. Security deposits can be used to repair damage for which a resident is responsible. However, the landlord cannot apply the security deposit to normal wear and tear. The question is: “What’s the difference?” “Normal wear and tear means that deterioration which occurs, based upon the use for which the rental unit is intended, without negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the premises or equipment or chattels by the tenant or members of his household, or their invitees or guests.” Damage can therefore be defined as deterioration which occurs due to negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the premises or equipment or chattels by the tenant or member of his household, or their invitees or guests. Notice that normal wear and tear does not include dirt – excessive dirt is considered negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse. The following incomplete list of examples are intended as a guide to reasonable interpretation of the differences between expected ‘wear and tear’ from normal residential use and irresponsible, intentional, or unintentional actions that cause damage to a landlord’s property.| Wear and Tear | Damages | |
| 1. Small nail holes caused by a 6 penny nail or smaller. A 6 penny nail or smaller. A 6 penny nail is 2 inches long and is used for hanging picture frames and other items on walls. | Large holes from hanging shelving, pictures, screws, wall anchors, flat screen television brackets or any other wall hanging that causes damage larger than a 6 penny nail | |
| 2. Faded Paint | Spot painting and patching or touch up painting of any kind | |
| 3. Faded caulking around the bathtub and tiles | Missing caulking around the bathtub and tiles | |
| 4. Hard water deposits. | Buildup of dirt, mold, mildew, or water stains from a preventable or unreported water leak or drip | |
| 5. Worn out keys | Broken, lost or unreturned keys | |
| 6. Loose or stubborn door lock | Broken or missing locks | |
| 7. Non-Functioning Light Fixture | Missing, Burnt out, or incorrect style light bulbs | |
| 8. Worn countertops due to daily use | Burned, cut, stained, scratched or water damaged countertops | |
| 9. Stain on ceiling from rain or bad plumbing that was reported as specified in the lease agreement | Stain on ceiling from rain or bad plumbing that was NOT reported as required in the lease agreement | |
| 10. Stain on ceiling from water damage from a property above the unit | Stain on ceiling from mold or mildew from running water without using the exhaust fan | |
| 11. Drywall cracks from settling | Holes in walls, doors, screens or windows from misuse, negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse | |
| 12. Faded, chipped or cracked paint | Unapproved or poor tenant paint job | |
| 13. Loose wallpaper | Ripped or marked-up wallpaper | |
| 14. Worn drapery rod | Broken drapery rod or drapery rod pulled loose from the wall | |
| 15. Faded curtains and drapes | Torn or missing curtains and drapes | |
| 16. Heat blistered blinds | Broken, bent, cracked or missing slats, wands or hardware. Broken strings | |
| 17. Screens dirty need to be cleaned | Torn or missing screens | |
| 18. Sticky window | Broken window | |
| 19. Musty odor | Urine or pet odor | |
| 20. Running toilet or wobbles | Broken toilet seat, tank top or chipped or cracked toilet bowl | |
| 21. Closet bi-fold door off track | Damaged or missing bi-fold door | |
| 22. Loose hinges or handles on doors | Damage from a door from forced entry, or damage from using feet | |
| to open doors. | ||
| 23. Worn carpet traffic patterns | Torn, burned, stained, missing, ripped, scratched, or snagged carpet, pet damage | |
| 24. Faded finish on wood floors | Scratched, gouged, warped or water damaged wood floors | |
| 25.Linoleum worn thin | Linoleum with tears, warped, or water damaged wood floors | |
| 26. Non-Functioning smoke or CO detector | Missing or detached smoke detector or CO detector or missing batteries | |
| 27. Dry Lawn | Lawn with pet urine spots, dead areas, excessive weeds | |
| 25.Linoleum worn thin | Linoleum with tears, warped, or water damaged wood floors |
We require professional steam carpet cleaning to preserve the life of the carpet. Home machines do not handle the deep cleaning necessary. The carpet was professionally cleaned for you at move-in, and we do expect the same upon move-out. We do need an emailed receipt at the end of your tenancy.
Your roommate needs to submit a “Partial Notice to Vacate” form. HOUSE MATCH will need documentation from you to show you can support the property by yourself. HOUSE MATCH will not partially refund part of the security deposit to your roommate since it is a condition of your rental agreement. You and your roommate will have to settle any funds owed to each other, including any or all of the security deposit. A $150 lease change fee will be charged.
What if my spouse received orders from the military to a permanent change of duty station?
Your Spouses orders apply to you and any additional dependents that occupy the home. The terms of the Lease will take place as outlined by the Serviceman’s Civil Relief Act. IN THE EVENT the Tenant is, or hereafter becomes, a member of the United States Armed Forces on extended active duty and hereafter the Tenant receives permanent change of station orders to depart from the area where the Premises are located, or is relieved from active duty, retires or separates from the military, or is ordered into military housing, then in any of these events, the Tenant may terminate this lease upon giving thirty (30) days written notice to the Landlord. The Tenant shall also provide to the Landlord a copy of the official orders or a letter signed by the tenant’s commanding officer, reflecting the change, which warrants termination under this clause. The Tenant will pay prorated rent for any days (he/she) occupy the dwelling past the first day of the month.Yes, once you have given notice, we will begin showing the property to future potential tenants. We do understand it is your residence until you move and will work with you on scheduling times. We show the property 3-4 times per week. Each showing lasts approximately one hour. The nicer and cleaner you keep the home reduces the number of showings as we get more interested parties more quickly. If you do not allow the showings, there will be a $100 fine per appointment requested. You do not have to be present for showings. We appreciate you have busy schedules and will try to accommodate as much as possible. A HOUSE MATCH representative will be at all showings and will accompany all people that enter the property.
I hear that you have someone that will help tenants with the purchase of a property?
We do. Christine can help you navigate the process of purchasing a property. She can assist you in getting pre-qualified with a loan officer, reviewing properties, completing offers and cooperating with listing agents to get your offer accepted. We can assist with lease cancellation costs and timelines, so you don’t have much out of pocket when moving to your new home. *Some restrictions apply. You can call Christine directly for information -(858)-442-5149.[email protected]
Move-Out
Move-outLease Renewal
If the landlord chooses to renew the lease for the next year, Tenant will receive the lease 45-60 days before it expires. There is a $150 lease signing fee, which is waived if Tenant signs the lease at least 30 days before the lease ends. If Tenant signs the lease within 30 days of the end of the lease or after the lease ends, there will be a $150 lease signing fee. If Tenant signs a month-to-month lease, a $150 lease change fee, an automatic 7% increase in rent and a $25 per month administration fee applies.
Security Deposit
How long does it take to get my security deposit back?
Landlord shall, no later than 21 calendar days after the Tenant has vacated the Property, furnish the Tenant with an itemized written statement of the basis for, and the amount of, any Security Deposit received and disposition of the Security Deposit, and shall return any remaining portion of the security to the Tenant.What is the difference between Normal Wear & Tear VS Damages?
Wear and Tear vs. Damages The list below will assist you in determining what is normal wear and tear as opposed to damage to the property you are vacating. Security deposits can be used to repair damage for which a resident is responsible. However, the landlord cannot apply the security deposit to normal wear and tear. The question is: “What’s the difference?” “Normal wear and tear means that deterioration which occurs, based upon the use for which the rental unit is intended, without negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the premises or equipment or chattels by the tenant or members of his household, or their invitees or guests.” Damage can therefore be defined as deterioration which occurs due to negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the premises or equipment or chattels by the tenant or member of his household, or their invitees or guests. Notice that normal wear and tear does not include dirt – excessive dirt is considered negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse. The following incomplete list of examples are intended as a guide to reasonable interpretation of the differences between expected ‘wear and tear’ from normal residential use and irresponsible, intentional, or unintentional actions that cause damage to a landlord’s property.| Wear and Tear | Damages | |
| 1. Small nail holes caused by a 6 penny nail or smaller. A 6 penny nail or smaller. A 6 penny nail is 2 inches long and is used for hanging picture frames and other items on walls. | Large holes from hanging shelving, pictures, screws, wall anchors, flat screen television brackets or any other wall hanging that causes damage larger than a 6 penny nail | |
| 2. Faded Paint | Spot painting and patching or touch up painting of any kind | |
| 3. Faded caulking around the bathtub and tiles | Missing caulking around the bathtub and tiles | |
| 4. Hard water deposits. | Buildup of dirt, mold, mildew, or water stains from a preventable or unreported water leak or drip | |
| 5. Worn out keys | Broken, lost or unreturned keys | |
| 6. Loose or stubborn door lock | Broken or missing locks | |
| 7. Non-Functioning Light Fixture | Missing, Burnt out, or incorrect style light bulbs | |
| 8. Worn countertops due to daily use | Burned, cut, stained, scratched or water damaged countertops | |
| 9. Stain on ceiling from rain or bad plumbing that was reported as specified in the lease agreement | Stain on ceiling from rain or bad plumbing that was NOT reported as required in the lease agreement | |
| 10. Stain on ceiling from water damage from a property above the unit | Stain on ceiling from mold or mildew from running water without using the exhaust fan | |
| 11. Drywall cracks from settling | Holes in walls, doors, screens or windows from misuse, negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse | |
| 12. Faded, chipped or cracked paint | Unapproved or poor tenant paint job | |
| 13. Loose wallpaper | Ripped or marked-up wallpaper | |
| 14. Worn drapery rod | Broken drapery rod or drapery rod pulled loose from the wall | |
| 15. Faded curtains and drapes | Torn or missing curtains and drapes | |
| 16. Heat blistered blinds | Broken, bent, cracked or missing slats, wands or hardware. Broken strings | |
| 17. Screens dirty need to be cleaned | Torn or missing screens | |
| 18. Sticky window | Broken window | |
| 19. Musty odor | Urine or pet odor | |
| 20. Running toilet or wobbles | Broken toilet seat, tank top or chipped or cracked toilet bowl | |
| 21. Closet bi-fold door off track | Damaged or missing bi-fold door | |
| 22. Loose hinges or handles on doors | Damage from a door from forced entry, or damage from using feet | |
| to open doors. | ||
| 23. Worn carpet traffic patterns | Torn, burned, stained, missing, ripped, scratched, or snagged carpet, pet damage | |
| 24. Faded finish on wood floors | Scratched, gouged, warped or water damaged wood floors | |
| 25.Linoleum worn thin | Linoleum with tears, warped, or water damaged wood floors | |
| 26. Non-Functioning smoke or CO detector | Missing or detached smoke detector or CO detector or missing batteries | |
| 27. Dry Lawn | Lawn with pet urine spots, dead areas, excessive weeds | |
| 25.Linoleum worn thin | Linoleum with tears, warped, or water damaged wood floors |
At times, due to low scores on parts of the application, we require an extra deposit from tenants. The typical deposit is equal to one month’s rent. We may charge up to 2 months of rent for low credit scores, or lower-income, etc. At the lease renewal time, we may be able to refund the extra portion of the deposit if all adults average credit is over 650 and no adults are under 600. There is a $40 fee to rerun the credit and re-verify income levels, and a $100 charge to process the refund and update the tenant portal.
Other
If you have been consistent with making your rent payments on time, these can only have a positive effect on your credit.
House Match has partnered with Experian RentBureau to include positive rental payment data in Experian credit reports. When you make your rent payments on time, positive rental payment history is added to your Experian credit report, allowing you the possibility to improve your credit, and better credit means qualifying for credit products you deserve!
We highly value our tenants and want to make sure we benefit them for paying their rent on time! For more information, contact us at [email protected]