Search results for 'tenant'
- Application: Interested tenants submit an application for the property.
- Pre-screen: Before moving any further, we make sure interested tenants meet our basic criteria.
- Showing: Applicants who pass our pre-screen are invited to attend a showing at …
Can I be involved in tenant selection?
Other than choosing whether or not to accept tenants with pets, property owners cannot be involved in the tenant selection process.
To comply with fair housing law, we have to implement a standard, non-discriminatory process for tenant placement at all properties under our management. As …
Do you charge anything to place a tenant?
We charge a flat tenant placement fee of $499. This fee is refunded in full if the tenant we place breaks their lease or is evicted.
How long does it take to find a tenant?
Assuming your property is rent-ready and priced appropriately, we can generally find a tenant within six weeks.
What happens to the back rent my evicted tenant owes?
Tenants evicted for nonpayment of rent will have a back balance when they leave. If you want to collect on the back balance, you'll have to hire a collections agency. Agencies typically take a 50% cut on any amount they recover.
Our debt collections partner is JJ Marshall.
Does Castle market units while a tenant is still living there?
Castle does not market units while a tenant is still living at the property, whether they're completing the lease term or in the process of an eviction.
In the handful of times when we have experimented with showing a unit with a tenant still occupying the home, we've experienced issues with …
Why didn't I receive full rent this month if my tenant moved in last month?
When a tenant moves in, we prorate rent based on the move-in date. For example, if a tenant moves in on September 16 and their rent is $1,000, they would be living in the property for half the month and would owe half the normal rent amount ($500).
To ensure incoming tenants have the …
What should I do if my tenant is not paying their water bills or has not transferred water?
The lease agreement will state whether the landlord or tenant is responsible for the utilities. Most cities allow tenants to start accounts in their name, but a few cities mandate that the landlord keep utilities in their own name.
Tenants who do not pay their utility bills pose a …
Why doesn't the lease last for an entire year?
Because it's much easier to find residents during the summer, we time our leases to end during warmer months. While we want our leases to be close to a year-long as possible, we adjust the duration in case we need to find a new tenant for your property. Ultimately, our goal is to provide a …
Does Castle work with Section 8?
Currently, none of Castle's properties qualify for Section 8, and Castle does not work with any Section 8 programs as part of our standard tenant placement process.
We do sometimes work with Section 8 agencies when taking over management of a property that is already home to a Section 8 …
What information is in a lease agreement?
Responsibilities of both parties:
According to the Truth in Renting Act, the lease is the source of truth for all other responsibilities for the landlord and tenant, such as who pays for utilities and maintenance responsibilities.
Type of tenancy:
Most of lease agreements are for fixed-term …
Why do utilities need to be on at my vacant unit?
We require vacant units to have utilities on for two reasons.
First, we need to make sure the utilities are in working order before a tenant tries to switch service into her name. If utilities are off when a tenant moves in, the utility providers may find issues like a faulty meter or a …
How much will my property rent for?
The only way to know for sure how much your property will rent for is to put it on the market and find out. However, we can generally make an estimate by looking at comps of other, similar properties in the area. Contact us and we’ll happily provide an estimate for your property.
When …
Where can I access Castle's standard lease agreement?
You can find a link to our standard lease agreement here.
Do I have to provide a lease?
Castle has a standard lease agreement for all properties at which we place a tenant, so you do not have to provide a lease. We've created this lease based on industry best practices, advice from our legal team, and our own experiences in the field.
Where do listings for my property appear?
Our listings are syndicated across a wide variety of sites, including (but not limited to): Zillow, Craigslist, Yahoo Homes, Trulia, Hotpads, Apartments.com, Lovely, and Zumper.
Additionally, applicants can view all our listings at listings.entercastle.com.
How can I reduce the risk of a break-in while my property is vacant?
When properties are vacant, they are prime targets for theft. The most common crime is to break into a home, and steal the furnace and water heater from the basement.
Regularly attending to lawn care in the summer and snow removal in the winter, which Castle does for all vacant properties, …
What criteria do you use to screen tenants?
Our tenant screening process is designed to ensure the placement of quality tenants who will treat our customer's properties well, and to treat all applicants justly, honestly, and in compliance with Fair Housing Laws.
We use the following criteria to screen tenants:
Criminal Report
We look …
What is Castle's pet policy?
It's your choice as the property owner whether or not to accept tenants with pets. If you do accept tenants with pets, we'll require the tenant to sign a Pet Agreement addendum to the lease outlining the additional responsibilities that come with a pet.
Please note that registered service …
Why isn't my vacant property renting?
There are several factors that drive demand for a property, but only two an owner has control over: quality and price.
For quality, there are often discretionary repairs or improvements an owner can make that will improve the appeal of the unit. For example, outdated kitchen decor and …
How does the application process work for tenants?
Our application process has five stages: