FAQ

Please use this page to find answers to most commonly asked questions. You can find all the forms you need on the forms page.

When is the rent due?
How do I rent a house?
How do I sublet my room?
What do I do if something gets broken?
Emergency numbers
Utilities numbers
Are there any items that are not allowed in or around the house?
During what hours must the noise level be kept at a minimum out of courtesy to other tenants and neighbors?
What are the bus routes for Metro Seattle & UW Commuter Services?
How to sublease my room if one of the renters has moved out?
How many people may live in each unit?
Can we paint rooms or common areas?
Can I have a deadbolt lock for my room door?
We have locked ourselves out, what do we do?
The weather is freezing, what do we need to do?
We think we have mold in our unit. What do we do?
What do I do with overfilled garbage containers?
Who is responsible to maintain the yard?
How do I get rid of large or bulky items (appliances, mattresses)?
Our whole group or partial group wants to re-rent the same unit for the next year. What to do?
What do we need to know when we move out?

When is the rent due?

Rent is due on the first of the month. Rent received on or after the 5th day of each month shall result in assessment against Resident as a $100 late payment charge plus $20 each additional day thereafter rent that rent has not been paid in full, which shall be considered to be additional rent and must be paid at the time the delinquent rent is paid.

Non sufficient funds: Any check which fails to clear the bank shall be treated as unpaid rent and shall be subject to the aforementioned late payment charge, plus a $100 returned check fee.

All rent is to be deposited directly into the Key Bank Account.

How do I rent a house?

Select a leader
Form a group of at least 7+ people.
View the pictures of the house. See the houses. Make an appointment and try to have all of your group members there because the houses go fast.
Collect the deposit. Your first month’s rent for September is due August 1.
Download the Application. Have one filled out completely by each of your group members. There is no application/credit check fee.
Download the Lease. The lease is the same for each house and only one lease is signed by all in your group. Leases are for one year, from September 15 through August 31.

Checklist

Security Deposit
Signed application by EACH renter, and
ONE lease signed by each renter is required to rent a house.

How do I sublet my room?

Print the Sublease Agreement handout on the Forms page.

What do I do if something gets broken?

If anything is broken please email winedivadeb@hotmail.com or by calling 206-617-6160. If it is a plumbing, leaking roof or water issue please call ASAP 206-617-6160.

Emergency Numbers

Fire-Medical-Police-Sheriff (Emergency ONLY): 911
Ambulance-American Medical Response: 206-444-4444
Crisis Clinic: 206-461-3222
Dominion Pest Control Services, INC: 206 306-2327
Fire Department Non-Emergency: 206-386-1400
Hall Health: 206-685-1011
Harborview Emergency Room: 206-731-3074
King County Sexual Assault Resource Center: 800-825-7273
METRO: 206-553-3000
Poison Center: 206-526-2121
Police, Non-Emergency: 206-625-5011
Swedish Hospital Emergency Room: 206-386-2573
University of Washington Hospital: 206-548-3300
UW Police: 206-543-9331

Utilities numbers – Tenants are responsible for all Utility bills.

Seattle City Light for the electric service: 206- 684-3000
Seattle Public Utilities for the water, sewer, and garbage: 206- 684-3000 same #.
Puget Sound Energy for gas: 1-888-225-5773
Oil for furnace call Cascade Oil Company: 206-323-6050. You should only have to fill up once for the year – there is a big upfront cost but over the whole year you will save $$.
Optional: Comcast for cable and internet: 1- 877-824-2288 (if you want to add this.)

Are there any items that are not allowed in or around the house?

Please enjoy the house and be respectful. However the following items are forbidden:

Trampolines
Pool tables
Ping Pong tables
Candles

During what hours must the noise level be kept at a minimum out of courtesy to other tenants and neighbors?

10:00 PM to 8:00 AM

If the police are called you will be fined $200. If the neighbors call us you will be fined $200. It is your responsibility to be respectful of your place.

What are the bus routes for Metro Seattle & UW Commuter Services?

University Metro bus lines – http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/neighborhoods/university_district.html
UW transportation – http://www.washington.edu/facilities/transportation/

How to sublease my room if one of the renters has moved out?

No more than approximately one-third of the tenants may sublet at any one time. The process to sublet is as follows:

Applicant subleter must complete application in full, plus pay a $50 application fee, which will be retained regardless of whether or not applicant is approved.
You will pay a $50 sublet fee.
Old renter, new renter and landlord will sign sublease application to make it official.

Please note that you will remain responsible under the original Lease Agreement, and that we will retain the original security deposit on the property. It is old tenant’s responsibility to collect their own security deposit if you choose to.

How many people may live in each unit?

Only one tenant per bedroom is permitted. However, we may permit an additional tenant in large rooms for $200 per month additional rent. The permitted number of tenants in each unit will be expressly stated in the Lease Agreement.

Can we paint rooms or common areas?

Yes but if the landlord does not like the color it must be painted white upon move out. Use eggshell finish except for bathroom and trim use semi-gloss.

Can I have a deadbolt lock for my room door?

Your bedroom may have a lock and key already. If it does not have one you can install your own deadbolt at your own expense. We do not supply locked bedroom doors. You need a non-keyed turnlock on the inside of the door (single cylinder deadbolt). We do not want locks in the door knob as they can be accidently be locked when leaving. We need a copy of the key, labelled clearly and mailed to us. If there is a deadbolt in the door already, you may get it rekeyed, as long as you use a single cylinder.

We have locked ourselves out, what do we do?

It is your responsibility to have your key. If you have locked yourself out you can call a Locksmith–Bulgar Key 11502 Lake City Wy at 206-363-8797. If you damage the door or lock you will be responsible for the replacement.

The weather is freezing, what do we need to do?

Make sure the thermostat is always at 60 degrees or higher. Watch for leaks in the pipes especially in the basements.

We think we have mold in our unit. What do we do?

Print and read the Got Mold handout on the Forms page.

Preventing Mold in the bathroom

By far the most important mildew control remedy is to increase the ventilation in the bathroom

Keeping the bathroom vent ON when you are taking a shower and leaving it running for a minimum of five minutes after you get out of the shower will reduce moisture, also lift a window slightly, so that you can get a cross ventilation to let the steam out!!!

Keeping the bathroom clean is important. “You should wipe down the bathroom with some type of antifungal spray once a month, which will keep the molds from growing. It’s also important to clean the ceiling in the same way. If you have mold growing in your tub or shower, scour it away with a solution of bleach and water. Use a squeegee or towels to wipe down the glass and tiles after each shower. Do not let moisture stay on the walls, mirrors or windows.

USE a bath mat when you shower and AFTER each shower dry off the floor and hang the mat to dry.

Preventing mold in the house

Keep the Temp of the house at 68 degrees all year round
Clean windows sills in the bedrooms once a month.
Keep bedroom door open for several hours each day to circulate the air.
Replace shower curtains when mold begins to become visible.

What do I do with overfilled garbage containers?

You will be charged extra for excess garbage put out at the curb.

All extra garbage must be properly contained in cans, bags, or bundles. If city inspectors find extra garbage in, on, or around your container on non-collection days, it will be collected and you will be charged appropriately.

Who is responsible to maintain the yard?

The tenant must maintain the yard at all houses.

How do I get rid of large or bulky items (appliances, mattresses)?

DO NOT dump anything on the neighbor’s yard. Especially when moving out. All mattresses and TVs need to be disposed of properly or you will be charged. Your garbage collector will not pick up appliances, furniture, or mattresses.

Seattle Public Utilities will arrange for electronic and bulky items to be picked up for a fee call at 206-684-3000 for arrangements.

Donate to a local charity if at all reusable.

Please be mindful that improper disposal of garbage can result in penalties, which may include large fines, citations, and/or arrest.

Our whole group or partial group wants to re-rent the same unit for the next year. What to do?

Landlord will email renters around the end of January to see if a majority of the group would like to stay another year. If most of the renters stay there will be a lease extension signed with a new end lease date. Security deposits will be returned after the end of the new lease date.

What do we need to know when we move out?

Print and read the Move out Checklist on the Forms page.