Renters Frequently Asked Questions

Most of our rental house owners accept pets with an additional refundable deposit (on average they are $300). Please check with the city to see if your breed is accepted before signing a lease.

Pets must be authorized by the owner through Key Partners PM. You will need to contact us and obtain written permission for a pet. There is a refundable pet deposit required, and the size and type of pet is subject to owner approval. Breed restrictions are per city. We also do not allow PUPPIES AND KITTENS LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD. Other pet restrictions may apply and are subject to change at any time.

It can take as little as two days to several more. We verify employment, rental history, and credit. If you are starting a new position, it will help speed your application along if you furnish us a copy of your employment offer letter. PLEASE make sure the rental house application is complete. Include the following:

• Your COMPLETE address with city, state and zip code
• daytime telephone number for your landlord
• copies of payroll check stubs or letter of commitment for a new job.

Whether the application is approved or not, the application fees are non-refundable. We do not approve applications on a first come, first serve basis. Approved applications are valid for 30 days. The entire first month’s rent is due in certified funds on your move in date.

We want our houses to be clean and to generally look freshly painted. However, our properties are not painted between every renter. If you view a property where you would like to have specific things done, please be sure to include those in your lease offer. We do require the rental house owner to have the home and carpets professionally cleaned prior to move in.

Our leases are typically one year. During winter months we structure our leases to expire during the spring.

In most properties, the renter pays the utilities. About 30% of the time the trash pickup is included in the rent.

The minimum security deposit is the equivalent of one month’s rent. Deposits for pets can be up to one-half of one month’s rent. All are refundable.

One month of rent, the security deposit, deposit for pet and any short-term lease fees will all have to be paid in full prior to you receiving keys for the rental house.

If you have good rental history and good credit, a lot of owners will be flexible, depending on lease terms. We will work with you to obtain the best possible price for your rental house.

Once all parties sign the lease you are legally bound to the terms. If you want to leave the lease early, most owners will allow us and/or you to re-market the home. Once the owner approves another qualified renter you will be released from the rental payments. You will be responsible for any marketing charges the owner has incurred promoting the rental house.

Usually yes. If there is no pre-existing cable or satellite equipment at the property you must first obtain permission from the owner through Key Partners PM. At some condos/town homes/duplexes you may be prohibited from installing a satellite dish in any location where the dish is visible from the ground or from any other unit in the area. (per HOA restrictions). Installations shall be done by a professional, and the cost of installation or damages to the property caused by installation is the responsibility of the tenant.

Rent payments are due on the first of the month. If your rent is returned or your rent payment is not otherwise received in our office by the first day of the month, your rent will be considered “Late”. Late fees will apply for rents not received by the 1st of the month. It takes 72 hours to clear making the payment “posted” on the third. For returns, a late/collections fee will be applied to your account. Without prompt communication after a “Late” payment, the eviction process could begin at any time. The tenant will be held responsible for all eviction, court filing, attorney, and collection costs resulting from late payments as allowed by law.

Key Partners PM cannot waive late charges. Fair Housing laws and good business ethics require that we treat all of our residents equally. Key Partners PM does not decide if one resident is more deserving than another of paying late charges. We enforce late charges equally to all tenants across the board.

Your lease will require a minimum 60 day notice. Notices received during a month, will be considered received at the end of a calendar month.

Yes. If you are interested in painting or changing colors, or installing any interior or exterior fixtures, per your Lease agreement you must first obtain written authorization from the owner through Key Partners PM before making any changes.

Key Partners PM charges a $5 per month accounting fee that shall be applied and collected with each month’s rent to cover the administrative costs of accounting. $2 will be paid directly to payplease.com as you pay rent and $3 will be added to rent and paid directly to Key Partners PM with rent.

If you are transferred, you may want to ask your company what assistance they will provide if you need to “break a lease”. Let us know what is happening as soon as possible so Key Partners PM can begin marketing the property for new tenants. Normally, the tenant breaking the lease will be responsible for re-leasing fees, advertising, admin costs, and any rent differences between the existing and new rent for the remainder of the original lease.

Yes, if tenant damage or negligence causes the maintenance problem, you will be charged for it. Also, you can be billed for a service call if you miss a scheduled appointment with one of our contractors.

No. The lease agreement does not allow for any type of sublease. You may not operate a business out of your rental home (including but not limited to providing daycare services, sales, business storage, or other non-residential business activities) without prior authorization from the owner through Key Partners PM.

No. Your lease agreement and provides that all carpets must be professionally cleaned and receipt provided.

If a roommate moves out, a written notice needs to be submitted to Key Partners PM. Remember that tenants are jointly and singularly liable to ensure that the full rent is paid. You must have written permission to substitute a roommate. Only approved tenants can occupy the property as a resident. A departing roommate will still be responsible under the lease unless released from this obligation in writing by the owner Key Partners PM. If you want to add someone to the lease, the individual must complete a rental application and be fully screened before moving into the property. There is an application fee of $30 per adult, and a lease amendment fee of $100 for coordinating and administratively amending the lease to add a roommate.

Reimbursements to departing tenants are handled by the remaining tenants. No part of the security deposit will be refunded individually by Key Partners PM. All security deposits will be dispersed only at the end of the tenancy.

Key Partners PM cannot waive late charges. Fair Housing laws and good business ethics require that we treat all of our residents equally. Key Partners PM does not decide if one resident is more deserving than another of paying late charges. We enforce late charges equally to all tenants across the board.

Your lease will require a minimum 60 day notice. Notices received during a month, will be considered received at the end of a calendar month.

Rental house insurance is one of the last things most renters think about when moving. However, it is very important. Most renters do not realize if there is a problem in their home, they are not covered by the landlord’s insurance. Fire, theft, roof and plumbing leaks and many other occurrences can damage your personal property. To protect yourself and your valuables, renters are encouraged to obtain renter’s insurance. Most policies are very affordable and cover the following losses:

• Windstorm or hail
• Fire or lightening
• Explosion
• Vehicles
• Smoke
• Vandalism or malicious mischief
• Theft
• Falling objects
• Weight of ice, snow, or sleet
• Water-related damage from home utilities
• Electrical surge damage

To begin, decide how much coverage you need. This varies and will depend on your location. Typically, you can purchase a policy that covers at least $15,000 in personal belongings and several hundred thousand dollars in liability for only a couple hundred dollars a year. Speak with your insurance company to determine the best amount for you.

After you move in, take inventory of all the items in your home. Insurers state that most people underestimate the value of their possessions and therefore don’t have enough personal property coverage. Experts recommend making an inventory of each item including its value and serial number. You should also photograph or videotape each room and be sure all the items of value are clearly visible. If you make any major purchases, keep the receipts. Be sure to store all the documentation in a fireproof box, on a digital file with online access or in a bank safety deposit box so that your proof is not destroyed in the event of a fire or natural disaster. If you own a dog, be careful—some breeds are often not covered by insurers.

The next major consideration is the type of policy you are being offered: ACV (actual cash value) or replacement cost. ACV coverage will only pay you for what your belongings were worth at the time they were stolen or damaged. If you purchased a new television for $1,500 when you moved in and it was stolen a year later, you would only receive what the television was worth at the time it was stolen (not the purchase price.) You will pay higher premiums with replacement cost coverage; however, if something happens, you will be paid the amount that it will actually cost to replace them.

You’ll also need to let your insurer know of any particularly valuable items you own, like a piece of jewelry or expensive electronic equipment. If you purchase a separate rider for these items, they will be covered individually. Most policies do include liability coverage that will cover the costs for any injury to yourself or visitors to your home. Policies can also include special provisions (i.e. waterbed liability that cover any water damage resulting from a broken bed.) If you have something like this in your home, double check your policy to make sure it is detailed within.

If you or your homeowner installed smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or burglar alarms, you may be eligible for a discount. If so make sure to mention these when you are purchasing a policy.

Remember, that like other types of insurance, your premium depends on factors like where you live, your company, your deductible and any additional coverage you purchase. If you want to pay less for your policy, consider choosing a higher deductible. This is the amount you have to pay if you do have to use your policy. For example, if you have a kitchen fire, you may have to pay a $1,000 deductible before your insurance company will pay for additional damages.

Some renter’s insurance policies will cover additional living expenses. This means that your insurer will cover your living expenses in another location if your home becomes unlivable. The typical limit is 30 to 50 percent of the total value of the policy. You will be limited to what your company considers a reasonable length of time for rebuilding or relocating, often twelve months.

Renters insurance is one of the most overlooked types of policies. However, those who have had to use it know its value. Buying a policy not only insures your belongings, but it also gives you peace of mind.

Rental House Question Not Answered? Call (913) 766-2191 today!

Unfortunately, there is no set formula to determine the rental value of your home. The best way to get the answer to “How much rent can I get for my property?” is to talk with a listing agent about your specific property. We will do comparisons based on area, size, age, value, etc. for your home. Please contact us for a no-cost, no-obligation estimate on your home’s rental value.

Are you a property owner looking to lease? Contact us today!

Average days on market vary according to several factors:
• time of year
• price range
• location
• cosmetic appeal
• cleanliness

We enjoy discussing the current market trends with our property owners. Contact us today!

Property owners can and should be protective of their home. We are personally on hand to show your home, seven days a week. We start the process of taking extra care of your property right from the start. We pre-qualify prospective tenants before we ever show them your home.

Because we focus on mid-to-high level homes, a lot of the lessees have been property owners so there is a higher commitment to maintaining your property. One of the keys to success in this area is professional screening. We use a professional screening company to verify the information on the application. We screen applicants by:

• Securing a national credit report on each adult resident
• Checking with current and previous landlords and asking specific questions regarding payment history, number of tenants, status of pets, condition of the home, if there were complaints from neighbors, and if the landlord would rent to the applicant again.
• Reviewing their employment history
• Requesting a background and criminal check

Contact Us today to learn how we screen potential applicants!

No, you can use just our “Lease Only” services. Our Lease Only Program is for property owners who only need a qualified tenant and not our realty property management services. We find the tenant and you do the rest.

Learn more about our leasing services.

We believe so! There are different ways to price realty property management. For example, one company may charge you for all advertising including websites and newspapers but have a lower leasing commission charged to the owner. Another company might charge a lower management fee but not offer the same services that another company offers. We believe we are able to give you the best price by maintaining a low overhead but without sacrificing exceptional service and professionalism. We also believe we can offer years of knowledge and expertise that will get your home rented for the highest rent possible along with the best quality renter. We know that every week your home sits vacant; it is money out of your pocket. We feel that we offer a great service package while offering the best rates possible. See our rates.

This story illustrates the main reason: A client whose insurance company would not add the Realty Property Management company as an additional insured had a tenant bring a lawsuit related to mold. The Realty Property Management’s insurance company defended them and the property owners insurance company defended the owner. The case was settled for a token amount but the Realty Property Management insurance company’s cost of defense was about $20,000. The Realty Property Management’s insurance company is now going after the owner to get reimbursed. This owner is still a client with the Property Management company, but he is mad at his insurance company for refusing to protect him in this case. If his insurance company had added the Realty Property Management Company as an additional insured then they would have defended both of them at the same time and the owner would not have to pay the insurance company’s legal fees to defend what was a frivolous claim.

Our website, professional yard signs, relationships with relocation companies, insurance companies, large and small corporations and real estate agents all over the metro can all bring potential renters to you.

Your home will be shown to corporate relocation clients, people just moving into KC for work, young families who are saving for a down payment and working singles and couples that aren’t ready to buy yet.

We work with lots of Realtors and one of the reasons is because although we are licensed real estate agents, their clients are safe with us because we don’t sell homes. We also pay referral fees!

Our network of sites allow you distribution to more than 30 other sites like RentalHouses, Vast, MyNewPlace, rentalhouses.com, allhomes.com, www.newhomeguide.com, Google , Bing, RentList.com, ApartmentGuide.com, Zillow, Trulia, Oodle, HotPads, Craigslist, Google Base, MySpace, eBay Classifieds, OLX, Yahoo!and many more…

Ready to have Key Partners Property Management lease your home? Call (913) 766-2302.

Contact Us today!