Varsity House / For parents
For parents and guarantors
You are being asked to put your name on a lease for someone you care about. Here is what that means, what the house has, and who to call. Dave is happy to talk it through on the phone.
What a guarantor signs
A guarantor promises to pay the rent if the tenant does not. That is all it is. You do not live here, you do not get a key, and Dave does not call you about noise or dishes.
- Dave emails you a short form. It names the tenant, the room and the rent.
- You read it and sign on your phone. It takes about ten minutes. You can live anywhere in the US.
- You get a copy. You will hear from Dave only if rent goes unpaid for more than a few days, and he will call before he ever sends a letter.
What you are responsible for
- Rent for the tenant's bedroom, $575 to $625 a month depending on the flat
- Damage beyond normal wear that the deposit does not cover
- Nothing else: not utilities, not a roommate's share
How rent is paid
Rent is due on the 1st through the tenant portal, which runs on RentMerchant. Tenants pay by bank transfer or card, and autopay is available, so it never gets forgotten. Parents can also set up the payment from their own account if that suits the family better. Rent paid after the 5th carries a $50 late fee.
Safety, in specifics
Smoke and CO detectors
Hard-wired on every floor, with a battery backup. Dave tests them every August before move-in.
Locks
A deadbolt on every bedroom door, and new locks for each flat's entrance every year.
Lights
Exterior lights on motion sensors at the front porch, the side stairs and the back lot.
Fire extinguishers
One in each kitchen, checked and dated. The basement has a second by the laundry.
When something breaks
Tenants text Dave a photo. He answers the same day, and most small repairs are done in a day or two because he does them himself. A true emergency (no heat in winter, water coming through a ceiling, a gas smell) gets a phone call and he comes straight over, since he lives 10 minutes away. If it is a gas smell, tenants leave the house and call the gas company first.
The lease in plain words
Dates
August 1, 2027 to July 31, 2028. Twelve months, with rent due all twelve.
One bedroom
The tenant signs their own lease for their bedroom. A roommate leaving does not change what they owe.
A whole flat
The group signs one lease together, and the group is responsible for the flat's rent as a whole.
Deposit
One month's rent per bedroom. It comes back within 30 days of move-out, less any damage beyond normal wear, with a list of what was taken out and why.
Included
Water, trash and recycling pickup, high-speed internet, lawn care and snow removal. Electric and gas are split by the people in each flat.
House rules
No pets (assistance animals are not pets). Quiet hours are 10 pm to 8 am on weeknights.