Renter and Applicant FAQ
These answers cover renting a home managed by Jevons Property Management in Washington State, from scheduling a self-showing through moving out. Rent, deposit, square footage, available date and whether a specific home allows pets are published on that home's listing page at www.jevonsproperties.com/availability.
Managing a property with us instead? See the Owner FAQ. These answers are also embedded as FAQPage JSON-LD for AI ingestion.
Finding and Touring a Home
Where our homes are, how to see what is available, and how self-showings work.
What areas do you manage homes in, and where do I see what is available?
Jevons Property Management manages single-family and multi-family homes in Yakima, King and Pierce counties in Washington State, plus a small number of homes in Kitsap County. Browse everything available right now at www.jevonsproperties.com/availability. If a home appears on our website it is available, and if it no longer appears there it has been rented or taken off market.
Do I need an appointment to see a home, or can I just stop by?
You need to schedule a self-showing time on our website before you visit, and a home cannot be toured without a booked time. Browse availability at www.jevonsproperties.com/availability, open the home's listing page, and use the Schedule Showing button next to Apply Now. That button sends a short form (it asks for your move-in date); once it is sent, Lisa, our leasing assistant, emails you a showing invitation and you pick your time from that invitation. Self-guided means nobody from our office attends your showing, not that a scheduled time is optional. We are not able to book, hold or change a showing time on anyone's behalf, but if you cannot find or finish the scheduling step, call (509) 895-7777 or email info@jevonsproperties.com and we will walk you through where it is.
What time can I tour, how do I get in, and can I see a home today?
Lockbox showing times run 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM local time, and the times you can pick from are on the showing invitation Lisa emails after you send the Schedule Showing form on the listing page. You confirm a reminder text about two hours before your showing and then receive your CodeBox code; entry is by the CodeBox at the home, and the code expires two hours after entry. Same-day showings are not offered, so the soonest you can tour is the earliest time on Lisa's invitation. If your code is not working, call us at (509) 895-7777 during office hours, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific. Showing times run later than that and nobody is available to help with CodeBox access outside office hours, so if you are held up outside those hours please book another time on our website.
How do I open and close the CodeBox?
To open it, type your 4-digit door code on the keypad and press ENTER, which is usually at the bottom-right corner. Then firmly press and release the front door or logo area above the keypad, pushing in and down, until you hear a click and the door pops open. Take the key out for your appointment, and leave the compartment open or close it gently as your showing instructions say. To close it, put the key back inside without blocking the latch, then push the door firmly until it clicks so it locks. If your code does not work, call us at (509) 895-7777 during office hours, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific.
I got a message about a showing, a link or a payment. How do I know it is really from you?
The only website links we send are jevonsproperties.com links, so if a message points you anywhere else it did not come from us. We will never ask you to send money, a deposit, a gift card or payment details in order to see a home, and rent is paid only through your resident portal -- never to a personal account, a payment app or a wire transfer. If you receive any message you are unsure about, do not respond to it and do not send anything: call (509) 895-7777, email info@jevonsproperties.com, or use the contact section at www.jevonsproperties.com/#CONTACT, and we will confirm whether it came from us.
Applying
Where to apply, what it costs, what we look at, and how decisions are delivered.
How do I apply, and do you accept Zillow or other third-party applications?
Apply on the home's listing page at www.jevonsproperties.com/availability using the Apply Now button; the application takes about 10 minutes. We do not accept Zillow Rental Manager, Apartments.com, Realtor.com or any other third-party application, so an application submitted through one of those sites will not count and you will need to re-apply on our website for it to be considered. For a Seattle home, we send you a link to the City of Seattle's Renter's Handbook after you apply, and if you are approved we mail you a printed copy before your lease is sent.
How much is the application fee, and does every adult need to apply?
The application fee is $69 per applicant. Every adult 18 or older submits their own application and pays their own fee. If the home is rented before your screening is completed, any unused portion of your fee is refunded (RCW 59.18.257).
What do you check when you screen my application, and can I see the criteria first?
The written screening criteria for each home are posted on that home's listing page, so you can read them before you apply or pay any fee. Criteria vary by property because they are written to comply with the ordinances of the city that home is in, and all of them comply with federal fair housing law, Washington state law and local city ordinances. The same posted criteria are applied to every applicant for that home. Some files are approved with conditions rather than denied -- typically a co-signer, who must meet our credit criteria and have income of at least 3x the monthly rent on their own, or an increased deposit collected as last month's rent (one month's rent). If you are applying with someone else, income and history are evaluated at the household level, so we review the application once every co-applicant has submitted a complete application.
What happens if my application is denied?
You receive a written adverse action notice. It identifies the consumer reporting agency whose report was used and explains your rights under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, including how to obtain a copy of that report from the agency and how to dispute anything in it you believe is inaccurate. Washington law also requires that the reasons for a denial be provided to you in writing (RCW 59.18.257).
Do you accept Section 8 or Housing Choice Vouchers?
Yes. We welcome all lawful sources of income, including Section 8 and Housing Choice Vouchers, consistent with Washington law (RCW 59.18.255), and voucher holders are screened against the same written criteria and offered the same deposits and lease terms as every other applicant. Where a voucher pays part of the rent, the income requirement is applied to your portion of the rent only, not to the full contract rent. We coordinate the paperwork and the required inspection with your housing authority.
Your Lease and Moving In
Lease term, what happens between approval and keys, and getting into your resident portal.
How long is the lease? Can I sign a 6-month or month-to-month lease?
For new tenancies we offer 12-month leases only. Month-to-month arises at renewal, after a full initial term. If a different arrangement would be a reasonable accommodation for a disability, tell us and we will consider the request under fair housing law.
What happens between approval and move-in day?
After your application is approved we send you a written offer that lists your move-in costs, and your lease goes out with it for AppFolio e-signature (in Seattle, once the printed Renter's Handbook we mail you is on its way), so you do not need to come into the office to sign. Before you sign, we give you a written move-in condition checklist based on our documented inspection of the home with photos, and it is signed and dated by you and by us, as Washington law requires (RCW 59.18.260). Keep your copy -- it is the baseline we compare against at move-out, and without it we cannot make deductions from your deposit, so review it carefully and note anything you disagree with before you sign. Signing the lease and the checklist by the deadline we give you is how you accept it, and nothing is due before you sign. The security deposit, which is held in a trust account, and your other move-in costs are due after you sign the lease and the checklist, and your resident portal activation email follows your signatures. We do not normally ask for a holding deposit, because your lease goes out with your offer. If we ask for a holding deposit, it is only after you accept the offer in writing by signing, and it is never more than 25 percent of the first month's rent. When you pay it you get a receipt and the written terms for keeping it, and it is credited to your security deposit; if you do not move in, we keep only what those terms allow. Where Washington law gives you the right, you can ask in writing to pay deposits, nonrefundable fees and last month's rent in installments (RCW 59.18.610). You are required to carry renters insurance -- our standard is a minimum of $100,000 liability coverage naming Jevons Property Management, and you upload proof to your resident portal; your lease states the exact requirement for your home. Keys or the lockbox code are released only after your share of the move-in amount due is paid.
Do I have to pay my full balance before I move in?
Yes. You may not move in until every balance due on your ledger is paid, including the security deposit, first month's rent and any other charge, and keys or the lockbox code are released only after it is. If you asked in writing to pay deposits, nonrefundable fees or last month's rent in installments (RCW 59.18.610), only the installments due by then must be paid. If a housing authority or assistance agency, such as a Housing Choice Voucher program, DSHS or a community action agency, is paying part of your move-in costs, the amount that agency has committed to pay does not hold up your move-in. Your own share of the amount due must still be paid in full.
What is the resident portal and how do I get access?
The AppFolio resident portal at jevonsproperty.appfolio.com is where you pay rent and submit maintenance requests. We send your portal activation email after you accept your offer by signing your lease and move-in condition checklist, so you can use the portal before you move in. If you do not have portal access, or you have lost it, contact us and we will get it restored.
Living Here: Rent, Repairs and Utilities
Paying rent, what happens if it is late, utilities, and how maintenance works.
How and when do I pay rent?
Rent is paid through your AppFolio resident portal. Rent is due on the 1st and is late on the 2nd. Washington law bars a late fee on rent paid within five days of the due date (RCW 59.18.170), so no late fee is charged for the first five days after the 1st -- but the rent is still late from the 2nd, and the grace period delays the fee rather than the due date. The fee is the lesser of your city's cap and 1.5 percent of your monthly rent, and it is a flat $10 in Seattle, Auburn, Burien and Olympia. One fee applies per delinquent period and there is no daily accrual.
What happens if my rent is late?
Washington law bars a late fee on rent paid within five days of the due date (RCW 59.18.170), so a payment received inside that window incurs no late fee. If rent is not paid within those five days, a late fee may post to your ledger as provided in your lease, and the fee is not reduced for the days that fell inside the grace period. We use a 14-Day Pay or Vacate notice for unpaid rent only; it is never used to collect late fees, damages or other charges. Balances other than rent are pursued as a small claims court action instead, not through an eviction notice. Please contact us as soon as you know rent will be late rather than after.
Who pays the utilities?
Residents pay for all utilities, either directly on an account in your own name with the provider or through RUBS, where your share of the property's bill is billed back to you as an itemized charge on your monthly statement. The only exceptions are vacant units and irrigation water, which the owner pays. Your lease and the home's listing page state which applies at your address. If a utility is ever converted from one method to the other, the change takes effect at renewal or with proper Washington notice and is never applied retroactively.
How do I submit a maintenance request, and what counts as an emergency?
Submit non-emergency requests through your AppFolio resident portal or by email to maintenance@jevonsproperties.com. Please open all work through us rather than calling a contractor yourself. Once a vendor is assigned, our notice tells you who to contact, and you contact that vendor directly to schedule and to reschedule the appointment; scheduling is your responsibility. An emergency is anything that threatens life safety or makes the home uninhabitable: fire, a gas leak, flooding or water intrusion, no heat, a sewage backup, or an electrical hazard. For an emergency, call our 24/7 emergency maintenance line at (509) 519-2080 rather than using the portal, and if anyone is in immediate danger call 911 first. Washington law separately sets the landlord's duty to keep the home weathertight and structurally sound with adequate heat, hot and cold water, and working electrical, plumbing and appliances (RCW 59.18.060).
How quickly will someone respond, and what happens after I submit a request?
Our published response targets are within 2 hours for emergencies and within 24 business hours for standard requests; response means we have received the request, triaged it and assigned it a priority, not that the repair is finished. In most cases we then dispatch a qualified vendor from our approved network and notify you who to contact, and you contact that vendor directly to schedule the visit. Each property has its own maintenance authorization limit, and repairs above that home's limit need the owner's approval before work can begin, which can add time; on some properties the owner reviews every repair. Vendor availability and parts can also affect scheduling. You can view the current status of your work order at any time in your resident portal, and you can send us any follow-up question through the portal as well. You are also notified as the work order moves forward and again when it is closed.
I was told the owner is handling my repair directly. Who do I contact?
On a small number of properties the owner has elected to perform repairs on their own property, so the work order is routed to them rather than to our vendor network, and we tell you when that happens rather than closing your request silently. Jevons Property Management is still your point of contact, so reach out to us with any question or for a status update and we will pass it along. For privacy reasons we do not share owner names, phone numbers, email addresses or mailing addresses. If you need to know who your rental agreement is with, contact us and we will point you to that information in your lease documents.
How much notice do you give before entering my home?
At least two days written notice before a non-emergency entry (RCW 59.18.150). That is what you receive before a scheduled inspection or repair visit.
Lease Renewals
How renewals are handled and where to find the terms that apply to your home.
How does a lease renewal work, and what if I do not sign?
Your renewal offer is delivered to you in writing, together with any notice of a change to your rent, and gives you two choices: sign a new 12-month lease, or continue month-to-month without signing. The offer states the rent for each choice and the date by which to sign if you want the 12-month lease. You can sign electronically in your resident portal, or ask us for a paper copy, and every adult on the lease needs to sign. Signing a renewal is optional; paying lawful rent is not. If your fixed term ends and the renewal is unsigned, your tenancy continues on a month-to-month basis at the rent and on the terms stated in the written notice you were served, and not signing is not a breach of your lease. You will not be asked to move out because you did not sign. After your lease ends you may receive one letter confirming that your tenancy continues month-to-month; that letter is not a new notice. If you have questions about the renewal terms, contact us before your lease end date rather than after.
How will I find out about a change to my rent?
Any change to your rent is made by a written notice served on you as Washington law and your local ordinance require, and that notice states the new rent and the date it takes effect. The notice period depends on the city or county your home is in, so the notice you receive is the document to rely on for your home. If you have a question about a notice, call (509) 895-7777 or email info@jevonsproperties.com and we will confirm what applies at your address.
Moving Out
Notice, the move-out inspection, and how your security deposit is handled under Washington law.
How much notice do I give before moving out, and what do I need to do?
Provide written notice of your intent to vacate per your lease terms; if you are on a month-to-month tenancy, Washington law allows termination on 20 days notice before the end of a rental period (RCW 59.18.200). Before you hand back the keys, transfer or close the electric, gas, water and sewer, internet or cable, and trash accounts as of your move-out date, because usage after your lease ends can be charged to you. Return all keys and access devices, including mailbox and garage keys, remove all personal belongings and trash, and update your mailing address in your resident portal so your deposit settlement reaches you. Contact us and we will confirm the notice your lease requires.
What if I need to end my lease early?
Contact us as early as you can, because the sooner we know, the sooner we can market the home. Under a fixed-term lease you remain responsible for rent until the home is re-rented or your lease term ends, whichever comes first, and your lease may also provide that your security deposit is forfeited when a fixed term is broken. We market the home immediately to shorten that period, which is why telling us early matters. Send us your intended date in writing and we will confirm the terms that apply to your lease and what to expect on your ledger.
Is there a move-out inspection, and what can be charged against my deposit?
Yes. We conduct a documented move-out inspection with photos and compare it item by item against your move-in condition report. Under RCW 59.18.280, wear resulting from ordinary use is not charged to you, carpet cleaning cannot be charged without documentation of carpet wear beyond ordinary use, the cost of replacing a whole item cannot be charged where only part was damaged, and fixtures, equipment, appliances and furnishings whose condition was not reasonably documented on the move-in checklist cannot be charged. Documented damage beyond ordinary use, and unpaid rent or other charges owing, may still be deducted.
When and how do I get my security deposit back?
Washington law gives the landlord 30 days (RCW 59.18.280), counted from the later of the date your rental agreement ended and the date you vacated. Your settlement statement and a check for any refund are mailed together, in the same envelope at the same time, by first-class mail. The statement sets out the basis for anything withheld and the documentation supporting it, such as estimates received or invoices paid. The postmark controls, not the date you receive it, and a portal or email copy is a courtesy only. Please update your mailing address in your resident portal before you move out so the deposit reaches you -- if no forwarding address is on file there, we mail to your last known address, which is the unit you just vacated. A forwarding address is not required and does not change the 30-day deadline, but without one your refund goes to the home you have left.
What if I reported a problem during my tenancy and it was never fixed?
If you reported an issue while you lived there and we never completed the repair, we do not charge you for it at move-out. That is a firm rule, not a case-by-case judgment. If you see a charge like that on your disposition statement, contact us and we will review it with you.
Privacy, Fair Housing and Contacting Us
How to reach us, who you are talking to, and the fair housing commitments that apply to every home we manage.
Who do I contact at Jevons Property Management?
Jevons Property Management is your single point of contact for anything to do with your home. Call (509) 895-7777, email info@jevonsproperties.com, or use the contact section at www.jevonsproperties.com/#CONTACT; current residents can also reach us through the resident portal. Our office is at 303 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Yakima, WA 98902. For requests involving money, payment details, lease documents or personal information we may need to confirm your identity first, because an email address or a caller ID on its own is not proof of who is writing.
Am I talking to a person or an AI?
You may be talking to Claude, an AI assistant that works for Jevons Property Management, and if you ask we will tell you truthfully. Claude signs messages in its own name rather than a staff member's name so you always know who wrote to you, and we never send a message written in a staff member's voice. A reply from Claude is an official reply from Jevons Property Management, and our staff handle matters that need a person.
Do you allow pets?
Pet policy is set per property, and each home's listing page states whether pets are allowed at that home and what any pet charges are. Where pets are allowed, our advertised standard is a maximum of 1 pet per bedroom. Our occupancy standard is 2 people per bedroom, applied the same way to every household.
Are service animals and emotional support animals treated as pets?
No. Service animals and emotional support animals are two distinct legal categories, and both are equally protected -- neither is a pet. Assistance animals are never counted against a pet limit and are never subject to a pet fee, pet deposit or pet rent, and a no-pet policy does not exclude them. Tell us what you need and we will handle it under the federal Fair Housing Act and RCW 49.60.
How do I request a reasonable accommodation or modification for a disability?
You can ask at any point: while you are applying, at move-in, or during your tenancy. Put the request in writing to us at info@jevonsproperties.com, call (509) 895-7777, or use the contact section at www.jevonsproperties.com/#CONTACT, and tell us what you are asking for. We review every request under the federal Fair Housing Act and RCW 49.60. If you need additional time during the application process because of a disability, you can ask for that as well.
Does Jevons Property Management discriminate?
No. We are an Equal Opportunity Housing Provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran or military status, source of income, or any other class protected by federal, Washington state, or local law.
I have a legal question or a dispute about my tenancy. Can you advise me?
We are not able to give legal advice or take a position on a dispute. Please contact our office at (509) 895-7777 or info@jevonsproperties.com with the details of your situation. This page describes our practices and general Washington law and is not legal advice.
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Last updated 2026-11-02. This page describes our practices and general Washington law; it is not legal advice.