Student FAQs

Answers to your frequently asked questions

• How much will gas and electricity cost?

  Natural gas and electricity are provided by Xcel Energy. Here is what Xcel Energy says you can do:

  If you're considering renting a new apartment in Wisconsin and want to get an estimate of electricity and natural gas costs from Xcel Energy, you can do so by contacting them directly through the following ways:

  By Phone: You can call Xcel Energy's Residential Customer Service at 1-800-895-4999. They can provide you with average billing information based on past usage of the unit you're interested in renting.

  By Email: You can also send an inquiry to their customer service via email at inquire@xcelenergy.com. In your email, specify the address of the property and ask for an estimate of average energy usage and billing for both electricity and natural gas.

  This will help you understand the typical energy costs for the unit, giving you a better idea of the total monthly expenses.

• What is escrow, and how does it work?

  Each month, you pay rent that may have some added fees like the escrow. An escrow account is managed by the property manager. This escrow money is used for property expenses that you as the tenant use like the utilities, trash/recycling, lawn care/snow removal, and heat/electricity. Even though the escrow account helps with these costs, you are still responsible for any amount you owe beyond what’s covered. At the end of your lease, the property manager tallies up the expenses and refunds any leftover money from the escrow account to you. Essentially, the escrow account functions as a savings jar for covering certain costs, with any unspent funds returned within 21 days after move out.

• What are some things to not hang on the walls when renting?

  Avoid hanging heavy items that might require drilling large holes or using anchors that could damage the wall. Stick to lighter pieces that can be hung with removable adhesive hooks or picture hanging strips. Be cautious with items that could cause damage. Avoid using nails or screws unless you have explicit permission from your landlord.If you're unsure contact your property manager.

• How do I request maintenance service to my apartment?

  Residents can login through their personal resident portal and submit a maintenance service request 24/7. The appropriate personnel will respond and make the needed repairs. Maintenance emergency service requests can be made to 715-832-1200.

• What if this is my first time renting an apartment?

  We have many tenants in the Eau Claire area that rent their first apartment with us. We are available to assist with questions and finding the right rental property for you. Please give us a call, we're happy to help.

• When is my rent due, is there a grace period, and is there a late fee if I should happen to pay late?

  Rent is due on or before the first day of the month. There is a grace period through the 5th day of the month. The 6th day the late payment fee is $50.00 plus $10 per day until paid in full. We have a financial institution returns the tenants payment for any reason, there is a $40.00 NSF Fee.

• Can you waive my late fee?

  We will grant a one-time waiver of a late payment fee.

• Do you offer direct debit for rent payment?

  Yes, you can set up a savings or checking account online through your tenant portal and make a one-time e-payment or you may also set up automatically recurring monthly e-payments.

• Can you accept multiple rent payments from multiple banking accounts for one month? For example, my roommate wants to pay her portion of the monthly rent from her account while I pay my portion from my account.

  Yes, each roommate can set up a bank account or each roommate me set up multiple bank accounts

• Can I make a cash rent payment?

  Yes, with our PayNearMe feature. Our office does not accept cash for our personal safety because we are a very soft target for a criminal. However, from your tenant portal you can select the option to pay with cash. The software will give you a barcode and a list of merchants that accept "PayNearMe". Using the barcode, pay the cash to the merchant for your rent payment.

• Can I be charged for maintenance and repairs?

  If the repair is from damage caused by tenant waste or neglect, then yes, you could be charged for that sort of repair. Normal wear and tear repairs are paid for by the landlord.

• What if my roommate doesn’t pay rent?

  According to pg. 1 on the residential lease agreement. All tenants if more than one shall be jointly and severally liable for the full amount of all payments due under this lease. Therefore if your roommate doesn’t pay rent it is YOUR responsibility to cover their portion. Choose your roomates wisely

• Can I install and key pad or lock on my bedroom door?

  Tenants are prohibited from installing keyed door knobs, combination locks, padlocks or any other type of locks on bedroom doors. Removal of these locks will be conducted at tenants expense, in addition to a $50 admin fee.

• How do I pay my xcel energy bill?

  If your lease states that electric is paid separately from escrow we automatically give xcel your information and you will get bills sent in the mail. If electricity is included in escrow we pay your bill through your monthly escrow.

• How much notice does my landlord need to give me before entering the property?

  12 hour notice unless, or with consent from the tenant when a health or safety emergency exists or maintenance request.

• What factors impact maintenance repairs?

  We use multiple outside contractors to do our maintenance repairs and we rely on their general availability and available supplies for repair.

• What safety features are going to be in my apartment?

  Every apartment has:

  • One smoke detector per bedroom and one per floor, minimum
  • One CO detector per floor (in our buildings that use natural gas) minimum
  • Deadbolt locks on the entry doors
  • Fire extinguishers (in buildings of 3+ units, as required)
  • Lighted entryways

• What if my friends and I rented an apartment and we no longer want to live there?

  Contracts carry with them obligations. If you are not moving into the apartment, you should contact the management company immediately and request a break lease agreement so that we may begin immediately making attempts to re-rent the apartment to mitigate the losses. The landlord will hold you responsible for the rent and utilities until the apartment has been rented to someone else. If the landlord is not able to rent the apartment for the same rent that you have agreed to pay, you will have to pay the difference. The costs of re-renting the apartment are paid by the tenant. Additionally, the management company is under no obligation to re-rent your apartment a second time before the management company rents it's other apartments. Please do not sign any lease that you do not intend to take possession of the apartment because it could be very expensive to remedy the situation for everyone involved.

• Can I paint the walls a different color?

  No, you can't paint the walls another color because of liability reasons. However, if there's something you want painted there's a very good chance we'll just up and paint it for you, so please ask.

• When do I get my security deposit back?

  Security deposits are returned within 21 days. If for some reason it is not a full refund, you will get an itemization of charges being withheld from the deposit. If the deposit return amount is in dispute, please contact the office to request a Security Deposit Dispute form