More of the Townside Resident Handbook
(5) PARKING - Some of our communities provide restricted, hang tag, and/or designated parking. If you are parked in an unauthorized area, your vehicle may be towed at your expense. If you live in a community that requires decals or hang tags, they must be properly displayed at all times. If the parking spaces are numbered or lettered, you may also be towed if you are parked in the wrong one. Please contact our office first before parking where you may be towed. Parking is not permitted in fire lanes, on the grass, in mulch or shrubbery beds, in unmarked spaces, or where cars block other cars or dumpsters. Please inform your guests. This is also applicable at moveout. Unlicensed or inoperable vehicles, boats, trailers, or abandoned vehicles will be towed at the owner's expense. Bringing motorized vehicles inside/on balconies/patios/in hallways and/or having commercial vehicles on the property is prohibited.
(6) TRASH - Please place your trash in the receptacles provided or secure it in your own trash bins. If you live in a multi-family dwelling, do not leave your trash or recycling in the hallway, on decks, patios, front yards, or front porches. Violations are subject to fines. Store your trash containers properly.
(7) DECKS/BALCONIES/PATIOS/PORCHES - Decks/balconies were not designed to hold large groups of people. You will be responsible for any misuse. Rugs, clothing, flags, towels, etc. are not permitted to be hung over the railings nor are clotheslines permitted. In most cases, shades, curtains, and drapes visible from the exterior must be white or off white. Two or three story apt/condo buildings are prohibited from having charcoal or propane grills on decks/balconies or closer than 10 feet from any building per Virginia’s fire code. You are responsible for any deck/patio/balcony damage to include melted vinyl siding. Furniture, which was designed for inside use, is not allowed outside. Unauthorized items, such as but not limited to furniture, grills, children’s toys/playsets, swing sets, storage facilities, etc. may be hauled at your expense.
SATELLITE DISHES: No satellite dishes can be installed on any property without the prior written permission of the Realtor. Any dish must be less than 1 meter in diameter. In condominiums and apartments, dishes can not be installed in common areas and can not extend past the plane of the deck or balcony. Various homeowner associations have different rules for townhouses and houses. In no instance is the installation permitted to damage the siding or roof of the unit. At lease end, the antenna/dish must be removed and the property restored to its original condition. Check first before you sign a contract because installation rules might not permit the type of coverage that you will need.
(8) EXTERMINATION - If your community is on a regular unit extermination schedule provided by Townside, please cooperate as this assists in preventing pest problems. If you refuse extermination and a pest problem arises in your residence and/or in other units, you will be held responsible. After move in, you received an extermination schedule in your welcome letter. This constitutes your 48-hour notice requirement in the Virginia statute. If your community or residence does not offer regular extermination, you are responsible for first trying to eliminate the problem with over-the-counter products. If after two weeks, the problem has not improved, please make a written extermination request to our office explaining the problem. If field mice problems occur (and they usually will when the weather gets colder), we ask that you try standard trapping procedures first. Most problems can be easily eliminated without the expense of a professional exterminator. Realtor reserves the right to charge professional extermination to Lessees where applicable.
(9) COVENANTS - Please familiarize yourself with the restrictive covenants for your condo/townhome community or single family subdivision to insure compliance with the Association rules and regulations. Fines may be imposed for violations and failure to correct the breach may result in eviction. Please note that eviction does not terminate your monetary responsibility with regard to rental payment. A Townside newsletter is published for better communication. Please read it carefully, as it contains a lot of helpful information and reminders regarding your residency.
(10) PETS - Please refer to the section on pets in your Lease Addendum A. Lease Addendum C is required to outline the policy on pets whether you have one or not. Some owners do not allow pets in their units and certain breeds of dogs are not allowed. Please do not obtain a pet without first checking to see if your owner allows one. Also, most restrictive covenants provide for a maximum weight limit on dogs as well as a maximum number of pets per unit; please check this information first before obtaining a pet. If you already have a registered pet, you have additional responsibilities with regard to leash laws, licensing, required vaccinations, damage to landscaping or interior property, consideration for your neighbors, and adherence to any local ordinances with regard to pets. Do not feed stray animals in the common areas. You are responsible for cleaning up pet wastes and a fine will be assessed against your account for failure to do so. Once the additional rent has been charged to a lease, it becomes a contractual agreement, and the extra rent will not be removed until the next renewal term (provided there is not another pet added) even if the pet is removed from the property. Guest pets are not allowed. There is also a special ordinance in the Town of Blacksburg with regard to dangerous animals; this ordinance does apply to but is not limited to snakes. No offspring, dangerous, harmful, or poisonous pets will be allowed. Ferrets, reptiles, amphibians, and rabbits are not permitted. Birds/fish/gerbils/hamsters will be considered on a case by case basis and must be caged at all times. Aquariums are limited to 20 gallons.
PETS, PARTICULARLY DOGS, WILL IMPEDE THE COMPLETION OF WORK ORDERS. REALTOR WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYS IN SERVICE DUE TO CONTRACTOR’S DIFFICULTY IN DEALING WITH PETS.
PENALTIES FOR AN UNAUTHORIZED PET ARE OUTLINED IN LEASE ADDENDUM A. AND INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO A $200 PER MONTH PER PET PENALTY FEE. This also pertains to guest pets, rabbits, ferrets, snakes, and large birds. TERMINATION OF PET AUTHORIZATION – IF A PET BECOMES A NUISANCE, TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BARKING, DAMAGE, COMPLETION OF MAINTENANCE WORK, SHOWINGS, ETC., AUTHORIZATION TO KEEP A PET IN THE PROPERTY WILL BE TERMINATED, AND THE PET MUST BE REMOVED WITHIN SEVENTY-TWO HOURS (72) HOURS AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN NOTICE.
(11) RESIDENT CHANGES - Any resident changes made to the lease require advance permission of the Realtor and a fee. The Realtor will not reduce the number of responsible parties on the original lease. A resident change on a lease is not intended to be used to change all names on the lease; therefore, if this happens, the transaction will be considered a rerental, and a rerental fee equal to one half month’s rent will be charged.
All changes must comply with the occupancy and pet regulations for the unit. To add a new Lessee, the following are required - a rental application, the name of a guarantor if needed, an application fee, a form signed by all current parties to the lease authorizing the addition along with the resident change fee, and a new security deposit. To release the current Lessee, the following are required - a form signed by all current parties to the lease releasing the Lessee along with the resident change fee, a forwarding address, and a review of the account status which will determine charges against the deposit(s) of the outgoing Lessees. The outgoing Lessee's portion will be refunded less any outstanding charges. If there is a pet deposit, it will remain until the last lease along with the requirement of fumigation by Townside and charged to the pet deposit even if the pet is leaving with the resident change. THERE CANNOT BE ANY TRANSFER OF DEPOSIT AMONG LESSEES. There is an application fee required per person. The REALTOR in its sole and absolute discretion can limit the number of resident changes allowed on a lease. The full amount of rent is due on the 1st and late after the 5th regardless of when the roommate changes are done.
(12) SUBLEASES - Subleases are not allowed for more than six months and without prior written agreement from Realtor. Sublessee must comply with the occupancy and pet regulations for the unit. Realtor requires written permission from all parties to the lease that the sublessee may reside in the property and for what period of time along with a sublease fee. A rental application on the sublessee along with an application fee should be attached to the sublease documents. A written sublease agreement is required. Original lessees remain responsible for all rent, complaints, and damages. Some owners do not allow subleasing; this would require a full rerental.
(13) RERENTALS - If Lessees find it necessary to negotiate the remainder of their lease term, a rerental agreement provides another alternative. For a non-refundable fee equal to one-half of one month's rent and a signed rerental agreement, Realtor will attempt to re-lease the premises for the remainder of the lease term. New lessees must comply with the occupancy regulations for the unit to include but not limited to pets, occupational limitations, etc. Details are available at Townside. Original lessees remain responsible for the rent, utilities, and condition of the unit until a new lease is signed and applicable rent/security deposit is paid. There must be at least three business days of vacancy excluding weekends, holidays, and already-scheduled work for other units to determine the new move in date (Realtor’s discretion with regard to turnover work schedule). The original lessee is responsible to pay rent up through the day before the new lease starts. Even if the lessees find someone to re-rent the unit, the fee is still applicable.
(14) RENEWAL OR NON-RENEWAL OF THE LEASE- Under Article #15 of the Lease, your Lease may not be renewed. This non-renewal does not require any explanation. If your lease is renewed, rental increases and dates are based on the market and the owner’s requirements. If you rented well below the market rent or received a rent subsidy on a rerental, your rent may be brought to the new market rent on a renewal term. At the time of renewal, such things as rental payment history, work order requests/expense, and owner’s status of the rental property are reviewed. An application for a renewal lease can be rescinded prior to lease execution if the status of the unit changes (unit is sold or owner decides to move in, etc.). The resident change procedures are required on any lessee changes on a renewal lease. Yearly renewal inspections are done and any cleaning/damages above normal wear and tear are assessed as tenant charges to the account.
