Resident FAQs

To apply for a rental property managed by Evernest, click the “apply now” button in the listing. This will prompt you to create a Findigs account. With your Findigs account, you will be able to fill out an application for the property, including submitting personal information, financial qualifications, and pet information. Click here to browse available listings by market.

We cannot hold a house before an application has been submitted, approved, and a security deposit has been paid. We encourage everyone to fill out an application while you’re looking for that perfect house. Once you find the house you want, you can come in and reserve it with a security deposit and a signed lease.

You must be at least 18 years old to apply to rent an Evernest home. In addition, anyone planning to live in the home age 18 or over is required to submit an application.

We allow a co-signer for applicants who meet or exceed all qualifications besides income. In that case, you may have a cosigner as long as they meet the following criteria. The co-signer must have a credit score of 650 or better to be approved.

Any lease modification has to be requested at least 60 days before the current lease expiration date, or it can’t be processed. There is also a $200 administrative fee required to modify the least. When we remove you from the lease, your roommate will need to either find another qualified person to take your place or they must qualify for the property on their own. In either case, we would need to sign a new lease agreement.

Some restrictions apply as the person staying would need to re-submit an application and pay the app fee so they can be rescreened by our underwriting team to see if they are approved to remain in the house on their own as financially responsible.

Tenants must give from 30 to 60 days' notice before moving out, depending on your location and lease terms. Please complete this notice to vacate form to officially notify Evernest of your intent to move.

When you move out, the property should be cleaned appropriately and ready for inspection. This means all personal belongings have been removed, including from closets, cabinets, garage, and storage areas. The home must be sufficiently cleaned; floors vacuumed/swept, surfaces wiped down, appliances cleaned, and bathrooms sanitized. Vacuum the carpets and sweep and mop hard flooring surfaces sufficiently. Walls, doors, and trim should be free of excessive marks, holes, or damage. All trash and unwanted items must be properly disposed of.

Normal wear and tear is expected, but anything beyond that may be deducted from your security deposit. Following the move-out checklist we provide will help ensure a smooth inspection and a quicker return of your deposit.

Any lease extension must be approved by the homeowner and may be subject to a rent increase or additional fee. Similarly, converting to a month-to-month lease also requires the homeowner’s approval and will include a month-to-month fee in addition to the regular rent.

Subleasing is not permitted under any Evernest lease. However, additional roommates may be added with approval, provided that every individual over the age of 18 completes our application process and passes a background check before moving into the property.

You can pay your rent through the following methods:
Online Portal: Log in to the tenant portal provided by Evernest. From there, you can make payments directly using a bank account or credit card. Click here to log in or create an account.
Automatic Payments: You can set up recurring payments through the online portal to ensure your rent is paid automatically each month.
PayNearMe: You can pay your rent in cash at participating stores like CVS, 7-Eleven, or Walmart using the PayNearMe option and downloading your PaySlip.

Before you can move into the property, you will need to pay the security deposit, first month’s rent, and a one-time $150-$200 administrative fee. The administrative fee may vary by market. To view the exact fees pertinent for the market you are applying for, click “Learn More About Fees” in the rent breakdown on the listing. Please note that the security deposit is not to be used to pay any future, current, or rent in arrears.

Rent is due on the first of the month. There is a grace period of 3 - 5 days. (3 - 5 days depending on your lease agreement and location, please review and comply) After the grace period has elapsed, late fees will begin to accrue. Click here to log in to your online portal to make a payment.

There is a grace period of 3-5 days. After the grace period has elapsed, late fees will begin to accrue, which vary based on your market. Failure to remit payment within your grace period will result in a posted eviction notice.

Your portal will be automatically disabled for payments, and you will have to pay via Certified Funds payable to Evernest. A cashier's check and money order may be dropped off at the office, OR you can request the PayNearMeSlip from your Resident Communication Specialist.

You signed a lease agreement specifying that rent is due on the first of each month, and we allow a grace period before the late fees accrue. However, after the grace period and the late fee accrues, we may post an eviction notice if you are unresponsive and have not communicated your payment plans. We will follow the state law for non-payment, which might include a Notice to Pay post on the door. A posting at the property has an additional charge.

We accept multiple forms of payment to make it easy for you to pay your rent on time. Your payment options are below:

Through the portal:

• Credit card (applicable fee of 2.99% of the total amount per transaction).
• Debit card (applicable fee $9.99 per transaction).
• eCheck (no applicable fee, currently waived).

Certified Funds:

• Delivered at the office:
• Money Order (applicable fee of $20 to be added to your ledger).
• Cashier's Check (applicable fee of $20 to be added to your ledger).
• Paid at CVS, Walmart, or Walgreens:
• Appfolio’s payment slip (a $4.99 processing fee applies to each payment) to be downloaded from the AppFolio portal.

Yes, you can set up recurring payments through the online portal to ensure your rent is paid automatically each month. Log into your account here.

To be eligible for a payment plan, you must pay at least 25% of the total past-due balance.

The 25% down payment does not guarantee the owner’s approval for this payment plan request. There are additional rules to follow as well, such as:

1. The resident cannot have had more than one broken payment plan in the past six months.
2. The resident cannot be in eviction status.
3. The resident must agree to and sign the payment plan document.
4. The payment plan cannot be extended past the lease end date (or it will be sent to collections).
5. The resident must make the agreed payments in full and on time.
6. The payment plan cannot exceed six months.
7. All future late fees charged during the payment arrangement period will be credited only if the tenant complies with the payment schedule and amount. RSC is not to request the late fees to be removed; the credit can be applied until the payment plan has concluded.

If you are unable to honor the payment plan, the default repercussions include:

1. Evernest will post an eviction notice after the first default if needed.
2. Evernest will not credit any incurred late fees after the first default, because the agreement will be considered broken.
3. Evernest will flag the account as a delinquent account, and the tenant will no longer be eligible for a payment plan for six months without property manager approval.

Any utilities not included in the base rent are to be paid separately and are the responsibility of the tenant. Liability for utilities varies for each property.

Yes, the security deposit will be refunded after a resident moves out and the house is inspected for any resident-related damage. If there has been damage to the home that is not normal wear and tear, the repair amount will be deducted from the initial security deposit paid and we will provide you with an itemized receipt. We follow the landlord-tenant law for each state regarding how long it takes to refund any security deposit.

The timeline for receiving your security deposit refund depends on the laws of your specific state or market. Each state has different regulations that dictate how quickly landlords or property management companies must return security deposits after move-out. Most states require the refund to be issued within 14 to 30 days after move-out. A few states allow up to 45 or 60 days, especially if there are deductions for repairs or unpaid balances. If there are deductions, you’ll receive an itemized statement explaining the charges along with any remaining refund.

We will not deduct any ordinary wear and tear related charges. Meaning the natural and expected deterioration that occurs with normal use over time.

• Unpaid rent or fees: Any rent, utilities, or other charges owed under your lease agreement.
• Damage beyond normal wear and tear: Costs to repair or replace items damaged due to misuse or negligence (for example, broken appliances, large holes in walls, or damaged flooring).
• Excessive cleaning costs: If the property is left excessively dirty or requires professional cleaning beyond normal turnover standards.
• Missing items: If any fixtures, appliances, or furnishings that were part of the property are missing or replaced without permission.
• Other lease violations: Any costs resulting from violations of the lease terms, such as unauthorized pets, smoking, or alterations made without approval.

If there are deductions, you’ll receive an itemized statement explaining the charges along with any remaining refund.

Owners are responsible for all usual maintenance, such as roof, plumbing, electrical, and any structural work that needs repair, as long as it was not the result of resident misuse. Residents will be responsible for work that was caused by misuse, such as holes put in sheetrock or toilets clogged by toys, feminine products, etc. Please be advised that if an appointment is scheduled and you miss the appointment, you will be charged a service fee.

For the fastest response to your maintenance needs, please submit your request through AppFolio. This will be the fastest way to submit the reason for your request, share photos of the maintenance issue, and get it assigned to a maintenance professional. Click here to learn more and submit your maintenance request.

An emergency maintenance request is any issue that poses an immediate threat to your health, safety, or the property’s structural integrity, directly impacting the landlord’s duty under the warranty of habitability. This includes hazards like structural failures (e.g., collapsing ceilings, weak floors or unsecured entry points), loss of essential utilities such as heat, water, or electricity, the presence of gas smells or electrical sparks, and major plumbing failures like sewage backups or active leaks causing flooding. Emergencies also include conditions that make the home unsecure or uninhabitable, such as broken exterior doors, shattered windows, or severe pest infestations from structure-damaging pests.

Maintenance requests are addressed based on urgency. Emergency requests, which pose immediate risks to tenant safety or property, are handled as quickly as possible. Non-urgent requests are expected to be completed within 7-15 business days. All work orders are dispatched by Evernest within 24 hours to the appropriate technician or vendor.

You will not be reimbursed if you choose to pay out of pocket for a maintenance issue that is not being repaired. We recommend you reach out to your resident communication specialist for an update or ETA to your work order. Please know you may not withhold rent as per your lease agreements. We also use certified vendors to complete the repairs to guarantee the work. If you are using your own vendor or paying out of pocket, the work is not guaranteed and any further repairs that may arise from it will be your responsibility.

Responsibility depends on state law, the lease agreement, and the type of pest. Generally, lawn care and snow removal are handled by the landlord for common areas to maintain safety and habitability, though some leases may require tenants to care for their own yards (especially in single-family rentals). Pest control is usually the landlord’s responsibility for infestations that affect habitability or cause structural damage, such as rodents, squirrels, raccoons, or termites, while tenants are typically responsible for nuisance pests like ants, spiders, roaches, or wasps unless the lease specifies otherwise. Lease terms and state laws take priority and should always be reviewed.

Generally, you cannot make changes or improvements to the rental property, such as painting walls, installing shelves, or making structural modifications, without prior written permission from the property owner or manager. Any approved changes may require you to return the property to its original condition at move-out, unless otherwise agreed. Lease agreements and property policies govern what modifications are allowed, so you should always get written approval before making any alterations.

Email communications@evernest.co. The main consideration will be whether the owner of the house will allow a pet and/or the animal is an acceptable pet breed per your lease. There is a $300 non-refundable pet fee per pet living in the home. Also, monthly pet fees may apply, and a pet addendum will need to be signed. If an unauthorized pet is found on the property, penalties or fines may be assessed in addition to the $325 non-refundable fees per pet.

A $300 non-refundable fee will be charged at move-in for each pet living at the premises, and a $25 non-refundable pet verification fee will be charged on the application for each animal. Please refer to the marketing description for any property-specific stipulations such as pet deposit, pet rent, weight limits, etc., subject to applicable state and local laws.

Yes, there are breed and weight restrictions for pets. Prohibited breeds include, but are not limited to: Akita, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Chow Chow, Doberman Pinschers, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherds, Korean Jindo, Malamutes, Pit Bulls, Presa Canario, Rottweilers, Siberian Huskies, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Wolves.

Support and/or assistance animals, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Federal Housing Administration, will not be subject to the pet policy.

Any lease modification request must be submitted at least 60 days before your current lease expiration date. If you’d like to remove a roommate, the person staying will need to either find another qualified tenant to take their place or qualify on their own by reapplying and showing they can meet the financial requirements.

In both cases, a new lease agreement will need to be signed. The person remaining (or the replacement tenant) must submit a new application, pay the application fee, and be rescreened by our underwriting team.

Please note: a $200 administrative fee applies to all lease modifications. Some restrictions may apply depending on the property and situation.

The parking rules vary for each property. Check your lease agreement or reach out to your Resident Services Coordinator for more information.

Package delivery will vary for each property. Single-family homes or properties with individual mailboxes typically have packages delivered directly to your home address. Properties with cluster mailboxes allow smaller items to go into your assigned mailbox. Larger packages may be placed in a parcel locker, and the carrier will leave you a key. Properties without mail service at the physical address will require you to set up a P.O. Box or other mail solution with the local post office.

If you experience a maintenance emergency after hours, please click here, locate your office based on where you live, call your office number, and select option 5.

At Evernest, our goal is to handle all maintenance issues promptly and efficiently. If this is a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.

If you lose your keys, you should notify the property management immediately. The management will guide you on obtaining a replacement key or arranging a lock change. You are usually responsible for the cost of replacing lost keys or rekeying locks, as specified in the lease agreement.

We provide both the Resident Benefit Package (RBP) and the Building Protection Plan (BPP), which removes the requirement for residents to carry their own renters’ insurance. However, we still recommend maintaining a personal renters’ insurance policy, as the Building Protection Plan is designed to protect the owner’s property and does not cover a resident’s personal belongings or liability.