Heat: In our advertisements, we specify whether the apartment is heated by natural gas or oil.  We’ll also remind you in our Move-In Packet on your move-in day.

• Natural Gas is provided by Eversource.  On the first weekday of your lease, please call Eversource (800-592-2000) or register online (www.eversource.com) to begin your service as of the first day of your lease.
• You are welcome to call any oil providing company to provide you with oil.  We have found Peterson Oil to be very competitive (508-368-1000 ).  Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your oil tank is filled before it goes completely empty.  When an oil tank goes empty, the heating system may need to be cleaned and primed.  If this is required, it will be your financial responsibility. 
• For units with Heat included specified in their lease, the city of Worcester regulations require temperatures of at least 64 degrees at night and 68 degrees during the day from September 15th to June 15th. Cooling is not provided in any units. Tenants may purchase window a/c units but they are solely responsible for any damages due to improper installation.

Electricity:  Electricity is provided by National Grid.  On the first week day of your lease, please call them (800-322-3223) or register online (https://www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Home/Default) to begin your service as of the first day of your lease. 

Trash:

• Worcester collects trash and recycling once per week.  They have a Yellow Trash Bag program, where you are required to dispose of your waste via a yellow trash bag that is purchased at local retailers (i.e. grocery stores) listed on their website (http://www.worcesterma.gov/dpw/trash-recycling).  The trash and recycling both should be left on the sidewalk as close to the house as possible.  If trash is left out without a bag, or if recycling isn’t nicely contained, the city will give a fine, so it is important to keep the area as clean as possible.  All other information about trash and recycling can be found on their website, including the day in which your house is serviced (please note - in case of a holiday, trash collection will be on the following day that week).
• Rutland trash is serviced through Republic Services at our expense.  Please use the trash bins provided in your driveway.

Water/Sewer:  We pay for cold water and sewer.  If the water ever turns a brownish tint, it is very likely an issue with the city and will likely clear up shortly.  This tends to happen about once a year.

Water shut-offs:  In your basement towards the front of your house (closest to the street) there is the main water shut-off.  We provide a visual on how to turn it off in the case of a leak.  Please turn this off as soon as you notice a leak and call us immediately. Upon move-in, we’ll provide further guidance and show you where other shut-offs specific to your apartment are.

Circuit Breakers:  If the electricity to your entire apartment or to a sub-set of your outlets and/or lights goes out, please see if a Circuit Breaker has tripped. Upon move-in, we’ll show you where your circuit breakers are and teach you how to reset them.  If the electricity to the entire building goes out, it is very likely an issue with National Grid’s public lines.  If this occurs, please call National Grid to report the outage (there is a good chance that it will have already been reported, which they will inform you about during the call).  This tends to happen about once a year.

Quality of Service:  Please note that we do work with many vendors (including plumbers, electricians, maintenance companies, plow companies, landscapers, etc.)  If you ever feel like the level of service does not meet your expectations, please contact us.  We hold ourselves to the highest of standards, and we would like to hold our vendors to that same level.?

Parking/Snow Removal:  For apartments with off-street parking provided, details about whether there are assigned parking spots or if parking is provided on a first-come, first-served basis will be provided in your lease and explained again upon move-in.  We provide plowing; however, it often requires everyone’s cooperation for the plow company to adequately clear the parking lot.  We will ask you for your vehicle’s year, Make and Model upon move-in to provide to our plow company in case they need your vehicle moved.  Our plow company will also shovel the walk ways; however, it is the responsibility of the residents to shovel the area directly surrounding their vehicles (we ask that the plow company does not shovel between vehicles or directly in front or behind vehicles in order to ensure that they do not accidentally damage your vehicles).  Lastly, please keep in mind that the plow company has many driveways to service during a storm and therefore cannot get to each driveway first thing after the storm.  Per the city of Worcester, property owners have 10 hours from when the snow ceases to remove snow from sidewalks.  We adhere to this same policy for any provided off street Parking.  We understand that everyone has different schedules and needs.  Often times it will be completed far ahead of these time lines. However, we cannot provide exact times that this will take place other than it will be done in time to adhere to these policies.  If a tenant needs special accommodations, it is there sole responsibility.

Landscaping: We provide landscaping through a third party service.  This includes lawn care and clean up.

Common Areas: The common areas are shared by all residents.  Out of respect for all the residents, we ask that you please keep them clear of any personal items besides floor mats.

Renters Insurance:  We highly recommend that all residents obtain Renters Insurance for the following reasons:

• If your property is stolen, catches fire, or suffers water damage, it will not be covered under a landlord’s insurance policy
• If you accidentally cause your neighbors to suffer a loss, through bodily injury or property damage, their Renters Insurance will provide protection that would compensate the injured party
• If someone sues you for monetary damages for some other reason, your Renters Insurance policy may provide coverage

Please note that many insurance companies offer cross line discounts on auto insurance, which can make Renters Insurance very inexpensive and in some cases free.  We also offer Renters Insurance through our Property Management Software (Buildium).  The following information is provided on their website: “Assurant’s Point of Lease Insurance Program provides $100,000 in liability insurance and $10,000 in personal property coverage for up to four unrelated roommates, all for $14.50 per month.”

LOCKOUT POLICY: Residents are solely responsible for lockouts that are a result of the resident leaving their keys inside or misplacing their keys. In the event of one of these occurrences, you can contact a locksmith of your choice to properly get inside the unit without damaging property. You may also contact our property management for this service; however, the management company will charge you a fee of $100.00 and provide you with the estimated time of arrival. We do not guaranty a timeframe for this service and the fee amount is subject to change at any time. Residents will be responsible for any damage incurred as a result of trying to break into unit or building. Residents will be given a set of keys for all necessary locks. Residents will be provided keys for all necessary locks and is free to make copies of these keys. Residents are not allowed to install or their own or replace physical locks. Locks are swapped or re-keyed prior to a new tenant moving in. Residents and management are only parties with keys.