Stay ahead of the basics
Pay rent by the first, replace the furnace filter every 60 days or on the property-specific schedule, and test every smoke detector.
Applicant & Resident Guide
Caring for your Elite rental home.
A well-cared-for home is safer, more comfortable, and easier to enjoy. Use this guide to understand the everyday habits and responsibilities expected in every Elite Rental Homes property.
At a Glance
The habits that matter most
Use these four reminders to stay ahead of the most common home-care responsibilities.
Small problems can grow quickly
Report leaks, standing water, sewer backups, unsafe electrical conditions, gas odors, or failed heating and cooling immediately.
Get written approval
Ask before changing locks, adding occupants or pets, altering the home, installing equipment, or hiring a repair company.
Protect the home outside and in
Keep up with the lawn, remove snow and ice promptly, clear exterior debris, and maintain safe indoor temperatures.
A practical guide, not a replacement for your lease
These are Elite's standard expectations for every home. This page explains them in plain language, while your signed lease remains the controlling agreement.
Complete Guide
How to care for the home
Choose a category for a quick answer, or read through the guide from top to bottom.
Rent, insurance, and utilities
Protect your tenancy and your household by keeping the financial basics current.
- Pay the full rent through the designated payment method by 5 PM on the first day of each month.
- Keep renter's insurance active for the entire tenancy with at least $300,000 in liability coverage and Elite Rental Homes, LLC named as Additionally Insured.
- Keep gas, electric, water, sewer, and other required utilities active in your name for the entire lease term.
- Keep your phone number and email address current so management can reach you when needed.
- Tell management early if a job change or income disruption could affect your ability to pay on time. Early communication gives everyone more time to understand the situation.
Heating, cooling, filters, and safety
A few regular checks protect the home's most important systems.
- Keep the indoor temperature between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.
- Do not cool the home below 65 degrees or heat it above 85 degrees. Extreme settings can strain and damage the equipment.
- Replace the furnace or HVAC filter every 60 days, or more often when management provides a property-specific schedule, even when the system appears to be working normally.
- Test every smoke detector monthly, replace its battery or other energy source when needed, and report a detector that does not work immediately.
- Do not use candles, fireplaces, wood stoves, or other open flames in the home.
- Keep grills and other outdoor cooking equipment at least 15 feet from every structure and never use them beneath an overhang.
Make it a habit
Choose one day each month for the smoke detector test and follow the property-specific email schedule for furnace filter replacement.
Water, drains, and mold prevention
Water damage becomes more serious with time, so quick action matters.
- Report every leak, overflow, backup, or unexplained moisture problem immediately through the secure resident dashboard.
- When it is safe, stop or contain the water and clean up standing water immediately while you wait for help.
- Keep bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and other damp areas clean, dry, and well ventilated.
- Run a dehumidifier in the basement and store belongings off the floor.
- Flush only human waste and toilet paper. Do not flush wipes, feminine products, or other objects, even when packaging says flushable.
- Never pour grease or cooking oil into a sink or drain.
- Use a lint trap on a washing machine drain line and make sure a clothes dryer vents outdoors.
Report immediately
A damp cabinet, ceiling stain, soft flooring, musty smell, or unexpectedly high water use can be an early sign of a leak. Do not wait for visible standing water.
Lawn, snow, trash, and exterior care
Exterior care is a year-round responsibility, not only a summer chore.
- Mow the grass, trim weeds and hedges, edge sidewalks, and remove fallen branches, litter, and other debris as needed.
- Promptly clear snow and ice from front and back entrances, walkways, driveways, and public sidewalks so people can enter safely.
- Provide and use an approved garbage container. Do not allow trash or refuse to accumulate anywhere on the property.
- Do not remove or alter trees, shrubs, flowers, or other landscaping without written approval.
- Park vehicles only in approved driveway or street locations, never on the lawn.
- Secure doors and windows during rain, snow, hail, or strong wind to prevent weather damage.
Cleaning, pests, and respectful living
Routine housekeeping protects the property and makes problems easier to spot.
- Keep the home clean, sanitary, uncluttered, and free from conditions that can cause damage or attract pests.
- Store food securely, seal trash, clean crumbs and spills, and respond promptly if you notice insects or rodents.
- Do not smoke or allow guests to smoke in, on, around, or near the property.
- Keep noise, guests, vehicles, children, and pets from disturbing neighbors or damaging the property.
- Use the home only as a residence and take responsibility for the conduct of occupants and visitors.
- Treat floors, walls, fixtures, doors, windows, screens, and appliances with regular care and report damage before it worsens.
Changes, pets, and occupants
When a change affects the property or who lives there, ask management before acting.
- Get written approval before painting, adding shelving or hardware, changing locks, mounting equipment, or making another alteration.
- Contact management if locks need to be changed. Do not change or add locks yourself.
- Obtain written approval before bringing in a pet or animal that is not already covered by a signed agreement.
- Obtain approval before another person begins living in the home. Adult occupants must complete the required application and paperwork first.
- Do not sublet the home or allow anyone to take over your lease without written approval.
- Ask before installing satellite, cable, internet, or other exterior equipment, or before disposing of an appliance that was in the home at move-in.
A good rule
If an action could leave a hole, mark, wire, lock, permanent attachment, or new resident behind, contact management first.
Maintenance, emergencies, and access
Prompt, documented reporting helps protect the home and gets the right information to management.
- Submit every routine or emergency property issue through the maintenance form in the secure resident dashboard as soon as you discover it.
- Include a clear description, the property address, and useful photos. Keep the emailed confirmation and reference number as your receipt.
- If anyone is in immediate danger, get to safety and call 911 before submitting the property report.
- Treat uncontrollable running water, sparking electricity, a gas odor, fire, a sewer backup, or loss of essential heating or cooling as an emergency property issue.
- Do not independently hire a plumber, electrician, HVAC company, or other repair provider unless management has authorized it.
- Cooperate with repair appointments and properly noticed inspections, and make sure management can safely access the affected area.
Confirmation matters
A request is successfully received when the website displays a reference number and sends a confirmation email. Contact management if you do not receive confirmation.
Renewal and moving out
Planning ahead makes the end of a lease smoother for everyone.
- Give management written notice of your renewal intentions at least 60 days before the lease end date.
- If you are moving, remove all belongings and return every key by the possession deadline stated in your lease.
- Leave the home, fixtures, grounds, and appliances clean and in the same general condition in which they were received, apart from normal wear.
- Repair or report resident-caused damage before move-out rather than leaving it undisclosed.
- Keep utilities active through the day after the lease ends so the home can be inspected and services can transfer without interruption.
Protect the Home
Report property problems before they become bigger repairs.
Use the secure resident dashboard for every routine or emergency property issue. For immediate danger, get to safety and call 911 first.