Renters Frequently Asked Questions

What is a lease and what does signing it entail?
A lease is an agreement between a landlord and the tenant. All leases are different, but most of them state that the tenant will occupy the unit for a set period of time, usually one year, and will maintain a certain level of cleanliness and order for the duration. In addition, leases can restrict the number of guests that can stay in the apartment, and whether the tenant has to give notification if they plan to be absent for a long period of time.

In most cases there is a penalty for vacating the property before the lease has expired; usually the tenant will be required to pay the total remaining amount on the lease, or else legal action can be taken. A lease is a legally binding contract, and is also reflected upon a your credit report, so you should make sure that you are capable of handling an apartment financially before entering into a lease, just to end up breaking it 5 months in. A broken lese on your record can permanently impair your ability to rent in the future, so be careful and examine your options very closely before you commit.

Can I use your services just by accessing the website? Can I contact you if I need help?
Although all our listings are listed right on the website along with the landlords contact information, you are more then welcome to contact our office with any questions you may have. We can be reached by email, or by calling the office at (951) 532-1943.

How does my credit rating affect the way that landlords will see me as a potential tenant?
Your credit rating is very important in the decision process of a landlord. Your credit rating is like a financial road map. It shows where you been in the past, where your headed and how you handled your credit obligations. Landlords use credit reports as a way to determine if you're financially responsible enough to sign a lease. However, some landlords will work with you, by allowing you to utilize a co-signer if your credit is bad, low or if no credit has been established as most first time renters.

While your credit rating plays a huge role in the decision process, the final say comes from the landlord.

What is a credit report?
A credit report is like a road map of your financial obligations. A credit report list your accounts, such as credit cards, auto loans, and any payment-term contracts that you have entered into, such as apartment leases, utility contracts, and any other obligation you have agreed to.

If you have had good credit your report will reflect a higher FICO rating, but if you have had credit problems in the past, your FICO scores will be low and it will make it difficult for you to find a landlord who will allow you to sign a lease.

If I need to find an apartment or house that will permit pets, can I find that on your site?
All our listings reflect if pets are allowed or not. Do keep in mind a large percentage of landlords do not claim that they will admit pets, but that decision is entirely up to the landlord. Some landlords may permit pets, but may require a pet deposit or monthly fee to keep the pets on the property.