Resident Policy Reference Guide

Thank you for choosing to make your home at a Schermerhorn community.  We hope your residency will be comfortable and pleasant.  We are committed to providing you with a professional, courteous experience in all aspects of the services we provide.  While you reside with us you may find it useful to refer to the information here.

Issuance of Keys

Keys to your apartment will be issued on the day you are entitled to occupancy during our normal business hours.  If the day you are entitled to occupancy falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, we will issue keys on the last business day before you are entitled to occupancy.  All deposits and rent due must be paid prior to issuance of keys.  Rent will be pro-rated from the date of occupancy through the end of the month on a per diem basis.

If you require keys to be issued at a time other than that outlined above, a lock box containing keys to the property can be placed at the property.  The fee for placing a lock box is $50.00, of which $25.00 is refundable upon return of the lock box to our office.  All deposits and rent due must be received in our office prior to providing you with the lock box combination.  You must contact our office during normal working hours to obtain the lock box combination.

Moving In

We have made every effort to have your home prepared for your arrival.  At the time you signed your rental agreement, you were provided with a Move-In Inspection form.  You should complete this document and return it to our office within seven days following the occupancy of your apartment.  The Move-In Inspection form is for your protection.  You should list any pre-existing conditions of wear or need for work orders for the apartment.  We will utilize this form when we conduct the move-out inspection when you vacate the property.  It is, therefore, in your best interest to carefully complete the form.

Payment of Rent

Your rent will be due on the first day of each month in our office.  Rent is paid based on receipt in our office, not the postmarked date.  For your convenience we offer the service of debiting your bank account with a debit card transaction on the first of the month for the rent amount.  This service guarantees that your rent will be timely paid and you will not be charged a late fee due to a post-office delivery delay or a lost check.  Late fees are incurred the day after your rent is due.  Our standard late fee is $35.00.

Late Fee Policy

If your rent is received one or more days late you will be charged the late fee as set forth in the rental agreement.  Your rental agreement states that rent, late charges, and other legitimate charges will be posted to the resident account.  Payments received are applied to the oldest outstanding charge first.  If there is an outstanding charge on your account when your rent is due, payments will be applied toward the outstanding charges first and then toward the current rent charge.  If the payment is not sufficient to cover past due charges as well as the current rent charge, your current rent will be short.  If the rent is short you will incur a late charge.  To avoid late charges be sure to pay all rent timely and any charges posted on your account by the time your current rent is due.

Returned Checks

Your rental agreement states the amount you will be charged for each returned check.  Our current fee is $35.00 for each check returned.  You will be charged this fee even if the check clears upon re-submission to the bank.  In addition, if the returned check is for payment of rent, you will be charged a late fee through the date the check clears the bank on re-submission or until you provide certified funds to pay for the returned check.  Depending upon the date the check is returned, you also may receive a three-day notice of non-compliance with your rental agreement. 

Deposits

When you signed your rental agreement, you gave us a deposit to cover any potential damage to the property, cost of cleaning at the end of your residency, or unpaid rent.  YOUR DEPOSIT MAY NOT BE USED AS YOUR LAST MONTH'S RENT.

Approximately two weeks prior to your scheduled move-out date, you will receive a letter from our office that outlines your responsibilities regarding the move-out.  Generally, we want to receive the property clean, and in substantially the same condition as on your move in, normal wear and tear excepted.  We do require that all carpets be professionally steam cleaned using a receipt for the service as proof of compliance.  Please contact our office if you require a reference for a qualified company to do this work.

Refund Policy

This Refund Policy covers any conditions not identified in the written lease which governs the rights and responsibilities of the tenant.  No other written or verbal commitment exists beyond the lease and this written policy.

All refund requests must be made in writing.  All refunds are made by check payable to the tenant regardless of the method of payment.  With processing costs estimated to exceed the value of the check, no refunds for $1.00 or less will be issued unless specifically requested.

We reserve the right to modify this Refund Policy at our discretion or against any customer believed to abuse this policy.  Any such revision or change will be binding and effective immediately after posting of the revised Refund Policy on this website.  You agree to periodically review this web site, including the current version of this Refund Policy.  Our refund policy is made available on this web site.  It is your obligation to review our refund policy for any such revisions.

Gas and Electric Service

For the large majority of our properties, National Grid provides gas and electric service.  When you signed your rental agreement, you may have also signed a form that informed National Grid of your intent to move into the property.

Telephone Service

It typically takes a few days to arrange for phone service.  Should you require additional telephone lines or phone jacks, it is your responsibility to pay for any changes made.

Maintenance

Maintenance and repairs are generally the items of most concern to our residents.  For maintenance emergencies during 8:30am-5pm, please call our office at 518-798-0674.  After 5pm all emergency maintenance calls are to be made to 518-832-1369 after hours answering service.

Minor maintenance issues should be reported to the leasing office during normal business hours.  We will attempt to complete minor repairs as quickly as possible, taking emergencies as our first priority, regardless of date or time received.

You will be billed for a service call under the following circumstances:

• You scheduled a service call appointment where you did not give permission to enter in your absence and failed to be present at the scheduled time.
  
• The problem was caused by improper use of the provided facilities.  The classic case is the child who flushes a toy or other item and which results in a clogged sewer line.

Specific Maintenance Issues

Please pay particular attention to the following maintenance items:

• Washing machine hoses.  Should a washing machine hose break on a washing machine provided by you, you will be responsible for the cost of returning the property to good condition.
  
  
• If you have an air-conditioner that is not working properly (i.e., not cooling when it is running), turn the air off.  This may prevent further damage or possibility of burning out the components.