Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: Can you hold a place before I apply?

  A: Long story short, no. All of our properties are first-come, first-serve.

• Q: What is a security deposit and how much is it?

  • A security deposit is a monetary deposit given to a lender, seller or landlord as proof of intent. 
  • A security deposit is a deposit of money to the landlord that rent will be paid, and other responsibilities will be performed (e.g. paying for damage caused by the tenant or any late fees that accrue).
  • The security deposit for all of our rentals is $400 per person and is paid on the date of the lease signing.

• Q: Is the deposit refundable?

  A: We issue a check-out sheet to each of our units. Please follow this check out sheet very thoroughly. Security deposits will be refunded 21 days after the last day of your lease. The “Deep Cleaning Guide” below is the same guide our professional cleaning crews follow. Please read through the list carefully, and let us know if you have any questions regarding the guide. Our best day is when we refund your entire deposit because this shows that everything was taken care of! Deep Cleaning Guide

• Q: I am moving out. What is the check-out process?

  • Make sure all rent is paid. Any unpaid rent will be taken out of the entire lease’s security deposit, including your roommates. Please login to your portal to double-check that you paid all of your rent before moving out.
  • Collect ALL of your belongings. This includes everything that you have. Do not leave any of your belongings behind. Any items left behind will result in a disposal charge to your security deposit.
    • You are responsible for all of the belongings in the entire unit. If your roommate failed to move all of his stuff out, you are responsible for disposing them.
  • CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! Beyond just normal cleaning, deep clean the entire unit.
    • Please see the “Deep Cleaning Guide” PDF document to see what we expect for “deep cleaning”. Failure to clean to these standards will result in a cleaning charge to your security deposit of $30 per hour over and above assumed cleaning charges.
    • We assume normal wear and tear will happen in your unit.

• Q: I am a freshman/sophomore and am looking at getting a housing exemption. How does that work?

  • As stated on the UWW website, “UW Board of Regents Residency Requirement states - “Those freshman and sophomore students who are not veterans, married, or living with parents or legal guardians, shall be required to live in a university-operated residence hall when such accommodations are available.” (Policy 173, May 5, 1972).”
  • If your permanent home where your parent(s) or guardian(s) reside is located within this radius, you are qualified for commuter status, which means you can apply for a housing exemption for off-campus housing.
    • Follow the link below to be taken to the university’s housing exemption page.
    • Once you follow all of the prerequisites to receive an exemption and get approved, bring the proof of housing exemption to the lease signing.
    Housing Exemption

• Q: You have a property I want to rent. How do I apply?

  •  Pick out the property that you would like to rent. We will do our best to show you the unit you are interested in, but please be flexible because our inventory is known to go quickly.
  • Find your roommates that you would like to rent with. Make sure they are people that you do not mind spending a lot of time with.
    • Since our leases are joint and sever liable, you are responsible for your roommate’s payment and all damage they create. Choose wisely!
    • Meeting new people is a part of the college experience. If you meet a new roommate that you haven’t met before, take them out to dinner or invite them to a few events. Get to know them.
  • It is best that you all are comfortable with living together in a home that you all feel comfortable in. We recommend that you all schedule an appointment for a showing for your unit.
    • Pick a time that works for everyone, and one person go to the “schedule an appointment” button below to pick a time for a showing.
  • Once you all see the home you are interested, it is recommended to double-check with all of your roommates to see if they are comfortable with the terms before signing a lease.
  • Once you all are comfortable with the terms, please navigate to the “apply now” button below where you will be taken to the online application. Please do this on a mobile device with a camera, as you will be taking a picture of your valid I.D. Follow the directions carefully.
  • Once you apply, are comfortable with the terms, and saw the home you chose, you can schedule a time to sign the lease. Please use the same “schedule an appointment” button below to pick a time.
    • Be sure to have everyone bring $400 for their security deposit. It is due on the lease signing date.

  Schedule An Appointment Apply Now

• Q: How do I pay rent?

  Rent can be paid in three different methods:

  • Your resident portal: This is the easiest method of payment. Please log in to your portal by clicking on the button below and log in. If you have any issues logging in, please call 262-949-2390. Once you are logged in, click on the “payments” tab. This is your lease ledger of your entire unit. You will see all transactions of all of your roommates here. The picture below explains how your lease ledger is broken down. Click “Make payment” to submit a payment. Click the field, “Other amount” and enter in your amount of rent from the lease ledger in the previous page. Select which payment method you want to use. Note that credit cards use a 2.95% transaction fee, and bank accounts only cost $1 per transaction. You can pick a date to have the payment to process. This can be on the due date, or the day of. Please make sure to follow the respective due dates to avoid any late fees of $100. 

    Resident Portal

  • Drop box: You can request/purchase cashiers checks or checks from your bank. NO CASH PLEASE! Place the check in an envelope with your name and the unit you live in. Checks can be deposited in our “Drop-Box” outside our office to the right of the front door at 212 S. Second St. Whitewater, WI 53190. There is a $50 fee for returned checks or insufficient funds.
  • Mail: Checks can be mailed to P.O. Box 126, Whitewater, WI 53190, or to our office at 212 S. Second St. Whitewater, WI 53190. Please note your name and unit number in the memo or on a separate sheet of paper. There is a $50 fee for returned checks or insufficient funds.

  Once we receive your payment, you will get a digital receipt stating that you have made your payment. If you have any questions on paying your rent, please give us a call or send us an email.

  Failure to make payment on-time will result in a $100 late fee per payment, as you agreed upon in our rental agreement.

  

• Q: How do I pay rent with financial aid?

  If you are paying with financial aid for rent, please follow this process.

  • Otherwise, your full amount of rent is due on the respective due dates listed on your lease.
  • If you are using financial aid, this process only applies to one payment. For example, if you are using financial aid for the entire year, you must follow this process for each rent charge (twice per year). If you are only using financial aid for one semester, you would only need to follow this process for that respective semester. 

  Please follow these steps:

  1. Take a screenshot of your financial aid section in your WINS portal. When you were applying for financial aid, you designated a portion of your financial aid to housing. It must state that this financial aid is designated/partially designated for housing in this screenshot.
  2. Submit this screenshot as a general inquiry in your resident portal/app, and state that you would like to use your financial aid for rent payment.
     • Failure to submit proof of your financial aid will result in a late fee.
  3. Your down payment for your rent is then due on the respective due dates listed on your lease. $900 will be due on the respective due date. $800 will go towards your rent balance, and $100 will be applied to interest accrued in the grace period between your rent due date and the time you submit the remainder of your rent payment. 
  4. The remainder of your rent payment will be due once financial aid is disbursed. If the paperwork was filed correctly and on time, your disbursement will be mid-September for the fall, and mid-January for the spring. 
     • We do not collect money directly from any financial aid. Financial aid will be disbursed to your account, then paid to us via the rent payment methods stated in the section above. 

  If you have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling 262.607.0360, or texting us on the HSI Text Message line. 

  Click here to log in to WINS Resident Portal

• Q: I want to get a pet. What do I do?

  • We accept pets in all of our rentals. We do not charge extra for pets, but you assume all damages that it causes.
  • Having a pet is a massive responsibility for a student. Please think it over if it is the best decision for your current situation.
  • Once you decide, please confirm with all of your roommates that it is okay for you to get a pet. If they disagree, this does not give you grounds to still get a pet.
  • It is a requirement that you make sure that all vaccinations are up to date, and that the pet is spayed or neutered if applicable.
  • Please submit a request through your portal to let us know that you will be getting a pet.
  • WE DO NOT ALLOW yard leashes that are attached to trees/porches or ground anchors. Take your dog for a walk instead. It is a safety risk to our lawn mowers and the people operating them.
  • Limit 2 pets per unit.
  • Failure to notify landlord about a pets on premises will result in a $250 fine per animal.
    
  • All tenants are responsible for cleaning up after pet indoors and outdoors. Failure to clean up after pet will result in a $50 fee per occurrence 24 hrs after notice by landlord via text or email or announcement. 

• Q: The lease is ending soon, and I want to stay, but my roommates want to move out. What do I do?

  A: There a few options:

  • We can add you to another lease that has an open spot if they are willing to accept you.
  • You can find new roommates to fill the empty bedrooms in your unit.
  • Given the size of the apartment (two bedroom), you can rent the apartment yourself.

  Feel free to call/email/text us with any questions you have with the number above.

• Q: How do I sublease my spot?

  • You are responsible for finding a replacement for your spot in your lease.
  •  If you are breaking the lease (subleasing your spot), there is a $200 charge for breaking the lease. Really think it over before going forward with this decision.
  • Once you decide that you are subleasing your spot and have a replacement ready to sign, please make sure that there is a written contract (does not need to be super formal) on a sheet of paper.
    • List all of the roommates names.
    • List the name of the new person being added to the lease.
    • State that you all are okay with this person being added.
    • ALL sign and date the document and bring it to the lease signing.
    • It goes unsaid that all roommates know about this new person and the decision you are making by breaking the lease.
  • Please schedule a time for your replacement and yourself to come to the lease signing. You can pay the $200 charge here, and your replacement can sign the lease. Please make sure they apply before they come to the signing. You can apply by following the link below. 
  Schedule An Appointment Application

• Q: What is a rental certificate, and how do I qualify?

  • Renters who are over the age of 18 and ARE NOT claimed as a dependent on their parent(s) or guardian(s) tax returns are eligible to file for a rental certificate.
  • A rent certificate is used to verify the rent paid to occupy a Wisconsin rental property. Such rentals include, a room, apartment, mobile or manufactured home, house, etc. This certificate can be used for tax deduction reasons.
    • Who: This document is for tenants who rent property in the state of Wisconsin.
    • What: This is the Wisconsin Rent Certificate. The Rent Certificate form is for tenants who are going claim Homestead Credit on their Wisconsin taxes.
    • When: You may provide the Wisconsin Rent Certificate prior to the end of tax season. The landlord fills out the form based on rent received not owed.
  • If you qualify: Please Google “renters certificate Wisconsin” and a PDF document to the state of Wisconsin should pop up. It must be the current year for it to be valid.
  • Once you fill out the certificate, please schedule an appointment below to have us sign it for you and look it over to ensure all of the information is correct.

• Q: Who is responsible for paying for repairs & maintenance requests?

  • Since you are the only people who see the inside of your unit every day, it is all of your responsibility to ensure that everything is running well. Treat it as your own home. If you have any questions on how to monitor these things, let us know. We would rather have you learn the fundamentals of taking care of a home than to not know at all.
  • We highly recommend letting us know about anything that seems out of the ordinary. Please give us a call if you see anything that is not working or broken. We understand that stuff breaks. Do not withhold it from us.