Frequently Asked Questions - Applicants & Tenants

Q:  How do I schedule a showing?

Answer: Showings or viewings of the property will only be scheduled for those who have met the initial tenant selection qualifications or have completed an application.  Because of the volume of homes we show every day, we can only start your process this way.  

Go to https://www.brickroadrentals.com/vacancies and find the property you are interested in.  Select the Contact Us button on that page.  Once you have completed that you will receive an email with the prequalifcation questions which must be received before a showing can be arranged.

Q:  What are your baseline qualifying criteria to rent a home managed by Brick Road Rentals?

Answer:

• FICO Credit Score 600+
• No active collections, judgements/bankruptcy, or judged/filed evictions
• Positive rental history
• Applicant(s) must make a minimum of 3x the monthly rent in verifiable income per month.

Q: How Does a Prospect Get Approved?

Answer: All prospects must tour the property before signing a lease. If you are not local or unable to make it to an in person tour, please have a parent, friend or acquaintance tour on your behalf. We will not sign a lease with someone who has not toured first hand or had someone tour on their behalf. 

Prospects must submit their applications after touring the property and applications are reviewed in the order that they are received. If you submit an application before you have toured, the leasing specialist will reach out to you to schedule a tour before the application is ran. 

Prospects must submit all required documentation i.e: verfiied paystubs, offer letter(s), ESA documentation, and photo ID. We do not ask for prospects to upload bank statements when completing an application. 

Once approved, prospects will have 48 hours to pay the security deposit. The first month's rent and any move in fees must be due by your lease start date. 

Q:  Must everyone submit an application?

Answer:  All occupants 18+ years of age must submit an application, no exceptions.

Q:  How do you select a tenant if many applications are sent in:

Answer:  Applications are reviewed in the order they are received.  

Q: Does having a co-signer help my application? 

Answer: Co-signers are only useful for tenants who do not make the minimum income requirement (3x the monthly rent). If you do not meet the credit requirement or have open judgements or collections, a co-signer will not benefit the application.

If you know that you do not make the monthly requirement alone, it will be beneficial to have a co-signer apply with your application.  

Q: How long does the application process take? 

Answer: The application approval process for a rental typically takes **24-72 hours**, but it can vary depending on several factors, such as:

**Background and Credit Checks**: Third-party services used for background and credit checks can influence how fast the process moves. These checks are usually completed within 1-2 business days.

 **References and Documentation**: The  landlord needs to verify employment, income, or previous rental history, delays can occur if responses from references take time.

**Application Volume**: High-demand properties may experience longer processing times due to the volume of applications.

Q: Do we Require a Double Security if Prospects Do Not Meet the Application Criteria?

Answer: No, we do not require a double security deposit for any of our properties. If you do not meet the criteria set forth by the landlord, your application will be denied. 

Q:  How do I collect my keys?

The property will be ready no sooner than 4 pm, but no later than 5 PM on your lease start date. Once the cleaning and move-in inspection are complete, you will be contacted on how to access your property.

Important: Do not schedule movers until we confirm your move-in time.

Q:  How do I pay the First Month’s Rent:

Please bring a cashier’s check for the first month’s rent payable to “Brick Road Rentals” before your move-in.  Your amount due will be listed in your tenant portal. We will not be able to accept online payments for your first month’s rent. We do NOT accept money orders and your payment will be rejected if you ever pay with a money order.

Q:  Do I have to setup my Utilities before I get my keys?

Yes.  You must provide your utility account numbers before move-in.  We will not provide you keys to your rental until you have sent your utility information (e.g., Dominion, city/county accounts for water/sewer/trash). Please note that setting up service can take 3–5 days so please arrange this appropriately. Account numbers are kept in the tenant file for emergency use only.

Q:  How do I complete the Renter’s Insurance requirement?

You must upload your tenant liability insurance policy to your tenant portal before move-in.  We will not provide keys to your rental until you have uploaded your insurance information to your tenant portal and received a confirmation that it is valid. Please note that you must list “Brick Road Rentals” as an additional interest per your lease requirements.

Q: Is a move-in inspection completed before tenants move in? 

Answer: Brick Road Rentals will complete a move-in inspection prior to tenants taking posession. This is used for future inspections and the move-out inspection when tenants vacate. 

When you move in, tenants are encouraged to take pictures of any normal wear and tear that was present during their move-in to document the condition of the property. If you have maintenance concerns, please log into your portal and submit a maintenance request with appropriate photos. 

Q:  How do I log into my tenant portal?

Go here to log into your tenant portal:  https://www.brickroadrentals.com/tenant-portal

If you are a registered tenant with us, please use the email address on file to access your portal.  

Q:  How do I pay my rent?

Using your online portal is easy.  There are several options to pay your rent.  Either by bank draft or by credit card (fees pay apply).  

Q:  How do I make a maintenance request?

Use your Tenant Portal to make a maintenance request.  Please try to include pictures, videos, or any details about what the problem is.  The more detailed you are, the faster we can address your issue.

Q:  I'd like to see my lease, how can I do that?

Using your Tenant Portal allows you to review any previously signed documents.

Q:  Am I required to Clean?

Answer:  Yes, your property must be cleaned prior to your move out.  Prior to move out you will be supplied with a letter that details the cleaning expectation of your property.  Failure to clean your property thoroughly will result in a reduction to your deposit and we are providing you this letter to ensure that your cleaning matches our expectations.  All of your personal belongings must be removed from the property.  No items should be piled up near trashcans outside or inside the home.  Any haul away of your items will result in a deposit reduction.  Review this the attached cleaning checklist attached.

If you would like to hire a trusted cleaner, you may contact DaRold Cleaning at 804-647-7567.  DaRold performs our cleanings and using them will ensure that your property is cleaned to our standards.  An invoice must be supplied to us prior to your move-out so we may have that on file.

Q:  When should I return my keys?

Answer:  Your keys must be returned to our office no later than noon on your move out date.  Our office is located at 1200 W Cary St, Richmond, VA 23220.  If no one is available to receive you please make sure that you put your keys in an envelope and put your name on the front of that envelope.  Please leave your keys in our Drop Box on the front door.  

Q:  When can I disconnect my utilities?

Answer:  You must maintain your utilities until your move-out date.  Disconnection of your utilities early will result in penalty including setup fees and costs to reconnect the utilities.  Moreover, if any damage occurs due to low or high temperatures you will be liable for that damage.  If you vacate your property early, please make sure to set the temperature on your thermostat to no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter or 80 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.  Extreme colds or heats can damage plumbing and cause pipe burst.  

Q:  When can I expect my Deposit to be returned?  

Answer:  In accordance with the Virginia Residential Landlord Tenant Act (VRLTA), your deposit will be returned within 45 days of the end of your lease minus any deductions as allowed under your lease.  Any deductions will include a disposition letter which explains any charges to the deposit.  Our office will send one check for your deposit.  If you have any roommates or co-signers it is your responsibility to disburse the deposit between yourselves; our office does not do partial payments to each tenant.