Property Management Services Tenants FAQs

What homes are currently available for rent? Some of VPM's managed properties can be visited by calling the property owner directly, others may be seen by calling VPM, and still others can be viewed by contacting one of VPM's many Realtor partners. For a complete list of all VPM properties which are currently available, click on Property Currently For Rent. FAQs Index5

Do I rent the home from the owner or from VPM? Some of VPM's property owners elect to take care of the advertising and showing of their properties to prospective tenants, other owners have VPM take care of this for them, and still others employ real estate agents to arrange for you to see the property. In any event, once you have seen the property and make the decision to rent it, the owner and the real estate agent step out of the process.

You will then make an appointment to meet a VPM representative at our offices. VPM will assist you through the complete application and leasing process. FAQs Index5

What is the procedure for applying to lease a VPM property? The lease application and approval process can usually be completed in a one-step process at VPM's office. You simply need to call VPM to schedule an appointment. We do not accept lease applications without an appointment.

You will want to schedule the appointment as soon as possible, as our properties are leased on a first-come, first-served basis. The entire application, credit review and lease signing process only takes about forty minutes. FAQs Index5

What are the financial qualifications needed to rent a VPM property? Naturally it will be necessary that you can show a steady monthly positive cash flow from employment income, investments, etc. However, the most important part of VPM's decision to rent a property will be based on information which can be obtained from a tenant credit report.

At the time of the rental application a consumer credit report will be obtained for all adult persons who will be occupying the property. These credit reports are instantaneously available for VPM's review at the time of the rental application. Poor credit history will be cause to deny the rental application. We do not accept cosigners as a remedy for poor credit. FAQs Index5

Will I need to have a security deposit? All VPM leases will require a security deposit from the tenant. This security deposit will be collected from the tenant at the time the lease is signed. Security deposits are usually an amount equal to one month's rent. For those properties in which pets are allowed, an additional pet deposit of $300.00 to $500.00 is usually required.

At the end of the lease the security deposit will be returned to the tenants, plus interest, less any deductions for lease violations or damage to the property. FAQs Index5

How long is the term of the lease? Most VPM leases are for one year or more. At the end of the initial lease term, the lease will usually continue on a "month to month" basis. Should the tenant wish to continue the lease for an additional year or more, VPM will attempt to arrange for this on the tenant's behalf. FAQs Index5

Will I be allowed to have pets? Every property owner seems to have different thoughts concerning pets. It is a part of VPM's duties to see that the owner's instructions are carried out in this area. For those properties which do allow for the keeping of pets, there will usually be some restrictions as to the number, size and type of pets which will be allowed. An additional pet deposit of $300.00 to $500.00 will usually be required. FAQs Index5

If I am a member of the Armed Forces and the military transfers me, what happens? All VPM leases provide that if a tenant is an active-duty member of the Armed Forces and receives official military orders to proceed to a new permanent duty station which is fifty miles or more distant from the tenant's present duty station, then the tenant, upon giving VPM thirty days' prior written notice, may terminate the lease.

The military tenant's thirty-day prior written notice must be accompanied by a complete copy of the tenant's permanent change of duty station orders, and the new reporting date must reasonably coincide with the requested ending date of the lease. FAQs Index5

How, when and where do I pay the rent? All monthly rents are due in advance at the offices of VPM on the first day of each month. However, tenants will be given a five-day grace period in which to pay the rent. This five-day period includes weekends and holidays. Rents not received at VPM's office during the first five days of the month will be considered late and thereby incur late charges and be subject to collection action.

Rents can be mailed to VPM, hand delivered to our office drop box any time of the day or night, or paid by electronic checking. Additionally, members of the Armed Forces can arrange for the payment of rent directly to VPM by way of payroll allotments. FAQs Index5

What utilities will I be responsible for? All VPM-managed properties, be they single family, townhouse or condo apartments, will have separate metering for electricity, gas (when available) and in most cases water and waste water. VPM will assist you with all of these arrangements at the time of your lease application.

Arrangements for telephone, cable, DSL, etc. will be made directly between the tenant and the service provider. FAQs Index5

What upkeep and repairs will I be responsible for? Inside the property, it is the tenant's responsibility to keep things reasonably clean, so as not to cause damage to items such as carpeting and other flooring. Smoke detectors should be tested on a routine basis. Furnace filters are to be changed at a minimum of every 60 days. Care should be taken so that tubs, sinks and commodes do not overflow, as this can cause considerable damage to the property. All appliances should be used within their reasonable operating limits and never overloaded.

Outside the home, the tenant will need to keep lawn areas cut, weeds removed, shrubs trimmed, gutters clean of leaves. Snow removal from driveways and walks is also a responsibility of the tenant. In general, it is expected that the tenant maintain the property on a par with neighboring homes. VPM will arrange for any exterior maintenance such as painting, roofing and siding repair, deck staining, driveway capping, removal of dead trees, etc. These are items which should be pointed out to VPM's attention during routine property inspections. FAQs Index5

How do I go about notifying VPM when something needs fixing? There are several urgency levels concerning the time frame for repairs. Items which need attention, but are not a cause for any danger or major inconvenience to the tenant and will not cause any further damage to the property should be pointed out to the property inspector during a routine visit to the property.

Items which could become a danger or major inconvenience to the tenant or further damage the property may be reported to VPM, by several methods, the easiest of which is to use the TENANT REQUEST FOR MAINTENANCE form which can be completed right on this web site (See the menu at the top left side of this page).

Tenants will also be given calling instructions should a situation occur outside of normal business hours that could be a cause of danger to the tenant or further damage to the property. Examples of this would be a fire, burst water pipes, etc. FAQs Index5

Give us a "no obligation" call at 410-553-0404 to get more details.