Applying, Approval & Move-In
What to expect from your application through your first week in the home.
How do I apply for an Atlis rental home?
Every home we manage is listed on atlispm.com with an online application link. Each adult 18 or older who will live in the home must submit a separate application, including married couples and roommates. Applications are reviewed in the order received, and a home is not held until an approved applicant has paid the required deposit and signed the lease.
What do you look for when reviewing an application?
We evaluate verifiable income, rental and payment history, credit, and background screening. As a general guideline, we look for combined household gross income of roughly three times the monthly rent, a positive rental reference history, and no prior eviction judgments. Every applicant is evaluated under the same criteria in accordance with federal, state, and local fair housing law.
Is the application fee refundable?
No. The application fee covers credit, background, and rental history screening, which runs as soon as your application is submitted. It is non-refundable whether or not the application is approved.
What do I pay before I get keys?
Your security deposit, first month's rent, and any pet fee or pro-rated amounts shown on your Lease Summary. All funds must be received and cleared before keys are released — not merely submitted. Plan for processing time so your move-in date isn't delayed.
Do I have to carry renters insurance?
Yes. Your lease requires renters insurance with at least $100,000 in personal liability coverage, maintained continuously for the entire term. You can satisfy this automatically through the Resident Benefits Package, or provide proof of your own qualifying policy before move-in. A lapse in coverage is a lease violation.
What is the Resident Benefits Package?
Eight services bundled into your lease for $55 per month, billed with rent: renters insurance, monthly HVAC filter delivery, on-time rent reporting to the credit bureaus, resident rewards, $1M identity protection for every adult leaseholder, move-in utility concierge, 24/7 maintenance coordination, and full online portal access. Residents who carry their own qualifying insurance policy may decline that one component and keep the remaining seven for $45 per month. See what's included.
Who sets up the utilities?
You do, unless your lease states otherwise. Electric, water/sewer, trash, and internet must be active in your name from your lease start date through your final day. Your Lease Summary lists exactly which utilities are yours and which, if any, are included in rent. The move-in concierge in the Resident Benefits Package can set these up in a single call.
Do I need to document the condition of the home when I move in?
Yes, and this directly protects your deposit. Submit a completed move-in inspection form with timestamped photos within five days of taking possession. Anything not reported in that window is presumed to have been in good condition when you moved in — which means it can be charged against your deposit at move-out.
Who is allowed to live in the home?
Only the people listed on your lease. Every occupant 18 or older must apply, be approved, and sign the lease before moving in. A guest who stays more than 14 consecutive days, or more than 21 days in any 12-month period, is treated as an unauthorized occupant and is a lease violation unless approved in writing beforehand.
Rent, Fees & Payments
How to pay, when it's due, and what happens if something goes wrong.
When is rent due?
Rent is due in full on the 1st of every month, without an invoice or reminder. Your Lease Summary states your specific grace period and late fee. Rent counts as paid when the funds actually clear — not when the payment is submitted — so schedule electronic payments with enough lead time.
How do I pay rent?
Through your Rentvine Resident Portal, or with Flex Debit Card if you use it. Inside the portal you can pay by bank account, by card, or in cash through Cash Pay, set up automatic payments, and view your full payment history. Atlis does not accept cash, personal checks, or money orders at our office, by mail, or handed to a vendor or manager — Cash Pay is the only way to pay rent in cash. Processing fees may apply to card and cash payments.
Can I pay my rent in cash?
Yes — through Cash Pay in your Resident Portal, which is the only cash option we accept. In the portal, choose Cash Pay, pick a participating retail store near you, and download or display the barcode assigned to you. Take the barcode and your cash to the register and the clerk scans it. A $4.99 fee is added by the retail processor to every transaction, and the payment posts to your ledger as soon as the store submits it. Your barcode is unique to you — never share it, and pull a new one from the portal if you switch stores.
My rent is more than $1,500. How do I use Cash Pay?
The retail system caps a single Cash Pay transaction at $1,500, so larger amounts must be split into back-to-back transactions at the same register using the same barcode. The $4.99 fee applies to each one — a $2,200 rent means two transactions and $9.98 in fees. There is also a $2,900 limit per day and $10,000 per month. If your rent is above $2,900, Cash Pay cannot cover it in a single day, so start early in your grace period or use a portal or Flex payment instead. Tell us before the 1st if you plan to use Cash Pay for a split payment so your account is configured to accept it.
What happens if my rent is late?
Once the grace period stated in your Lease Summary ends, the late fee in your lease is applied automatically, and an additional charge applies if the balance is still unpaid later in the month. Late fees are additional rent and are collectible as rent. Balances unpaid more than 30 days may be referred to a licensed collection agency, reported to the credit bureaus, and pursued through legal action.
Can I make a partial payment?
You can submit one, but it does not stop the clock. Funds received are applied first to outstanding fees, then to older rent balances, then to current rent. Accepting a partial payment does not waive a late fee or any notice already issued. If you expect a shortfall, contact us before the 1st so we can discuss options.
What happens if my payment is returned or reversed?
A returned payment fee applies per occurrence, plus any late fees that would have applied had the payment never been made. After two returned payments, Atlis may require certified funds for the remainder of your lease term.
Does paying rent on time help my credit?
Yes. Residents enrolled in the Resident Benefits Package have their on-time rent payments reported to the major credit bureaus, so the rent you already pay builds your credit profile. No separate enrollment is required.
What fees can be charged besides rent?
Charges tied to your own actions are listed in the Tenant Negligence and Responsibility Addendum attached to your lease — most commonly lockout service, lost keys, lost gate fobs, missed maintenance appointments, unauthorized pets or occupants, HOA fines caused by resident conduct, and damage from misuse. You will always receive written notice with an invoice, photos, or vendor documentation before a charge is applied.
How is my security deposit held?
In accordance with Fla. Stat. § 83.49. You receive written notice of where the deposit is held and whether it earns interest within 30 days of receipt. Your deposit is never applied to rent — including your final month.
Maintenance, Repairs & Property Access
How to report a problem, how visits get scheduled, and how we get into your home.
Reporting a problem
How do I submit a maintenance request?
Log in to your Rentvine Resident Portal and go to Maintenance Request. You can also call 561.473.3664 and press 1. Submitting in writing through the portal is best — your request is tracked from intake through completion and you can check its status any time.
What should I include when I report a problem?
As much detail as you can, because it determines whether the vendor arrives with the right part. Include photos or a short video, the specific fixture or appliance affected rather than just the room, the make and model from the appliance tag or equipment plate where you can see it, when the problem started and whether it's getting worse, whether a working alternative exists such as a second bathroom, and any access notes like a gate code, building entry, or a pet we should know about. Requests with photos are resolved on the first visit far more often than requests without them.
I have several unrelated problems. One request or separate ones?
Separate ones. A failed air conditioner and a sticking closet door are different jobs with different urgency and often different trades. Filing them separately means the urgent one moves immediately instead of waiting behind the minor one. If you submit them together, we'll split them for you.
Can I report a problem in Spanish?
Yes. Submit in Spanish and we'll respond in Spanish, including your written notice of entry. Puede enviar su solicitud en español y le responderemos en español.
Does reporting a lot of problems count against me?
No. Florida law protects your right to report maintenance issues, and Atlis does not raise rent, decline renewal, or take any other adverse action because a resident reported a problem in good faith. We would much rather hear about ten small things early than one large thing late. If something has gone unaddressed for a long time, including before we took over management, send it in.
Emergencies
What counts as a maintenance emergency?
Fire, a gas odor or suspected leak, a carbon monoxide alarm, electrical arcing or a burning smell, flooding or an active burst pipe, a sewage backup, a total loss of power, a structural or ceiling failure, someone trapped in an elevator, or a door or ground-floor window that leaves your home unsecurable.
If the situation is life-threatening, call 911 or your utility's emergency line first, then call us at 561.473.3664. Emergencies are dispatched immediately, any day, any hour — service days do not apply and no advance notice is required for entry.
Is no air conditioning an emergency?
It is treated as urgent, every month of the year, with no seasonal exception. Report it immediately and it is dispatched within 24 hours regardless of the day of the week. There is no such thing as a routine A/C call in South Florida.
When visits happen
When do repair visits happen?
Routine repairs are scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. — the full window Florida law allows for non-emergency entry. Three service days every week, and every home we manage is eligible on all three. Nothing routine waits more than two business days for the next available day.
Emergencies and urgent habitability issues are not on that schedule. They are dispatched immediately or within 24 hours, any day of the week.
Do you come out on weekends?
There is no standing weekend service day. Weekday evenings to 8:00 p.m. exist so that weekend visits aren't necessary, and scheduling inside the work week means vendors can reach parts suppliers the same day rather than making a second trip. Weekend visits happen only by exception and only with management approval. Emergencies, of course, are dispatched any day of the week including weekends.
I work during the day. Can someone come in the evening?
Yes. 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on each service day is set aside for residents who can't accommodate a daytime visit — nine evening hours a week. Evening slots depend on vendor availability and aren't guaranteed, so offer us as many options as you can. If you authorize key access or put a lockbox on your door, you don't need to be home at all — by far the fastest route to a completed repair.
How quickly will my request be handled?
Intake and triage run 24/7 — report a problem at 2 a.m. and it's assessed immediately. Response time is how fast we assess and assign your request, not how fast a vendor arrives.
Emergencies dispatch immediately. Urgent habitability issues are dispatched within 24 hours and are never held for a service day: no air conditioning, no hot water, no water, a roof leak, a failed refrigerator, a non-working smoke or carbon monoxide detector, a leaking water heater, partial loss of power to a room or circuit, the only toilet in a one-bathroom home not working, a stove and oven both out of service, a sewer or drain backup affecting your only bathroom, or a broken interior lock creating a safety problem.
Everything else is a routine repair, scheduled to the next service day that allows proper notice.
How scheduling works
Why am I not given an appointment time right away?
Because Atlis works with independent vendor companies who route their own crews — we set the service window, the vendor sets the appointment. So the process runs in two steps. First we ask you for several times you're available inside the service window. Then we send your availability, the job details, and your access method to the vendor, and the vendor picks the slot that fits their route. Only after the vendor confirms is your appointment set, and that's when you'll receive your written notice of entry. Until then, nothing is booked — and we won't tell you it is.
What availability do I need to give you?
If you'll be home for the visit, give us at least three different blocks of time, spanning at least two of the three service days, each at least two hours long, and each at least 24 hours out. More options means a faster confirmation, because the vendor can fit you into a route they're already running. If you authorize key access or a lockbox instead, you don't need to provide availability at all — just tell us any time in the window works.
What if the vendor has an opening sooner than 24 hours from now?
Florida law requires at least 24 hours' notice before entry, so we can't use a sooner slot unless you've told us in writing that it's okay. When we collect your availability we'll ask whether a shorter-notice appointment works for you. A written yes keeps that option open and often moves your repair up by a day or more.
How will I know a vendor is coming?
You'll receive written notice by both text and email at least 24 hours before the visit, sent after the vendor confirms. Each notice names the date, the confirmed time window, the specific work being done, the vendor company entering, and a number to call to reschedule. You get a separate notice for every visit — the service-day schedule itself is not a substitute for it. Vendors do not contact you directly to schedule; everything runs through Atlis.
Can I reschedule?
Yes, free and with no limit, as long as you give at least 24 hours' notice. Your repair moves to the next service day your availability allows — at most a couple of days out, not a week. Under 24 hours' notice, or not being there when the vendor arrives, is treated as a missed appointment and the $100 missed appointment fee in your Negligence Addendum may apply. We waive it for documented emergencies, illness, family crises, and our own errors — just tell us what happened.
What happens if I miss several appointments?
We'll reschedule the first time and walk through the access options again. If it keeps happening, the work order is closed and noted in the property file, and repeated refusal of lawful access is a lease matter. That's an outcome nobody wants — if scheduling is genuinely difficult for you, a $25 lockbox solves it permanently, or tell us what's in the way and we'll work with you.
My schedule can't work because of a medical or disability-related need. What do I do?
Tell us. If a health, medical, or disability-related circumstance affects when we can access your home — treatment schedules, home health aide hours, mobility needs, or a need for longer notice — that request goes straight to our fair housing accommodation process for a written determination. You don't need to use any particular legal wording to start it, no coordinator or vendor will turn it down on the spot, and a granted accommodation carries no fee of any kind.
Getting into your home
Do I have to be home for the repair?
No — you have three options, and only three.
- Be present, or have an adult 18 or older you've named to us in writing be present.
- Authorize key access. At properties where Atlis holds a key for your home, an approved vendor enters using a key signed out against your specific work order, with the entry logged and the door photographed on arrival and departure. Not every property we manage is set up this way — ask us and we'll tell you.
- Put a lockbox on your door. If your property isn't on our key system and the service window is hard for you, this is the answer. See below.
Either of the last two takes your schedule out of the equation entirely, which is by far the fastest route to a completed repair.
Can I just leave the door unlocked or hide a key?
No, and we will not accept it if offered. A lockbox is the right answer here — see below. Leaving a door unlocked, hiding a key outside, or leaving a key with a neighbor or front desk is prohibited without exception — there's no chain of custody, no accountability, and no insurance coverage if something goes wrong in your home. If none of the authorized access options can be arranged, the visit is cancelled rather than performed.
How does the lockbox option work?
You buy it, you install it, you own it, and you control the code. Atlis doesn't supply or charge you for one.
Pick up a combination key lockbox at Home Depot, Lowe's, or Ace Hardware — the shackle type that hangs on a door handle. They run about $20 to $40. Then:
- Hang it on your entry door handle or a fixed railing. Not on a window, not on a gate, and out of view from the street if you can manage it.
- Put a spare key inside — never your only key.
- Set your own code and send it to us in writing.
- Change the code after each visit, or send us a new one each time. You stay in control.
- Sign the short access authorization form, the same one used for key access.
- Take the box with you when you move out.
If you live in a condo or an HOA community, check your association's rules first — some prohibit hardware on exterior doors.
Vendors are held to the same standard as any other entry: they photograph your door on arrival and again on departure with it secured, and the visit is logged.
Why is a lockbox okay but a hidden key isn't?
Fair question, and the answer is accountability rather than convenience.
A lockbox is a purpose-built, coded device covered by a signed authorization. We know who has the code, the code changes, the entry is logged and photographed, and you can revoke it any time. If something ever went wrong, there's a record.
A key under a mat or in a planter has none of that. Anyone who finds it has your home, there's no record of who came in, and no insurance policy — ours, the owner's, or yours — will treat it as a covered event. That's why we won't accept it even when it's offered.
Do I need to do anything before the vendor arrives?
Secure any pets in a closed room or crate, and tell us in advance that they're there — a friendly dog still stops a vendor from working. Clear a path to the area being repaired, move valuables and breakables out of the work zone, and make sure gate or building access details in your request are current.
Should I sign anything a vendor hands me?
No. If a vendor asks you to sign a work authorization, a scope of work, an estimate, or a damage waiver, politely decline and call us at 561.473.3664. Atlis authorizes and pays vendors — you should never be asked to approve work or accept a charge at your door. Signing a completion acknowledgment confirming the vendor was there and the work looks finished is fine.
Are the vendors screened?
Every vendor working in an Atlis-managed home is licensed for their trade where Florida requires it, carries current general liability and workers' compensation insurance on file with us, and has signed our access and conduct policy. Vendors who accept an unsecured entry or contact residents directly to schedule are removed from our approved list.
When else can Atlis or a vendor enter my home?
For inspections and showings on the same terms as repairs: at least 24 hours' written notice, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., as permitted by Fla. Stat. § 83.53. Entry without notice happens only in a genuine emergency. We will never force entry, change your locks, or enter over your objection.
Can I change or add a lock?
No. Locks, deadbolts, and door hardware may not be installed, added, rekeyed, or changed by residents, and any key issued to you remains Atlis property. If a lock isn't working properly, submit a maintenance request — a broken lock on an exterior door is treated as an emergency, and a broken interior lock creating a safety issue is treated as urgent.
During and after the repair
The vendor came but didn't fix it. Why?
Usually one of two reasons. Some problems have to be diagnosed before the right part can be identified — a compressor, a major appliance, an electrical fault — and we'll tell you upfront when a visit is diagnostic and a return trip is expected. Or the repair needs a part that isn't carried on the truck. Either way you'll hear from us with the next step; you don't need to resubmit the request.
What if a part has to be ordered?
We don't schedule a return visit until the vendor confirms the part is in hand, because sending someone out who can't finish wastes your time as much as ours. You'll be told the part is on order and given the revised service day once it arrives.
The repair didn't hold, or it wasn't done right.
Tell us and we'll send someone back. Reference the original work order in your portal so the history stays connected rather than starting a new file. Warranty and callback work is between Atlis and the vendor — it isn't something you should have to negotiate.
How do I check the status of my request?
In your portal, under Maintenance Request. You'll see the priority assigned, whether it's been sent to a vendor, and the confirmed appointment once there is one.
Who pays for what
Who pays for a repair?
In general, Atlis and the owner are responsible for the home's systems and equipment — the structure, roof, plumbing, electrical, air conditioning, water heater, and appliances supplied with the home. Residents are responsible for damage caused by misuse or neglect, and for a short list of routine upkeep items.
Never let a question about cost stop you from reporting something. We dispatch based on the problem, not on who pays. Cost is sorted out afterward, and a delayed report almost always costs more than a prompt one.
Who do I ask about a charge on my account?
Contact the office at 561.473.3664 or residents@atlispm.com. Vendors and our maintenance line can't answer billing questions, and any charge to you comes with written notice and documentation — an invoice, photos, or a vendor report — before it's applied.
What am I responsible for maintaining?
Keeping the home clean and sanitary, disposing of trash properly, using appliances and fixtures reasonably, replacing light bulbs and smoke detector batteries, testing your detectors, replacing your air filter monthly, keeping drains clear of grease and foreign objects, running ventilation and air conditioning to prevent mold, and never tampering with smoke or carbon monoxide detectors. Atlis maintains the structure, roof, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems as required by Fla. Stat. § 83.51. Your lease's maintenance grid sets out the full split for your specific home.
Do I really have to change the air filter every month?
Yes, if your home has central air conditioning — every month, for the entire lease term, regardless of which benefits option you elected. Residents in the Resident Benefits Package receive the correct filter by mail and must install it within seven days of delivery; residents who decline buy and install their own. We don't send a vendor out for a filter change.
Service calls, repairs, or system damage caused by a dirty, missing, or incorrectly installed filter are charged to the resident — but if your A/C isn't cooling, report it right away regardless of filter status, and it will be dispatched as urgent. We will never ask you to check the filter before we send someone.
What if I damage something, or something breaks because of a mistake?
Report it immediately. Prompt reporting almost always costs less than a repair that was allowed to worsen, and damage made worse by a delay in reporting is charged to the resident. Reporting in good faith is not a lease violation — hiding a problem is.
Inspections and pests
What happens during a routine inspection?
You receive advance notice. The inspector checks smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, the air filter, plumbing and appliances for early signs of leaks, general condition and cleanliness, and lease compliance such as unauthorized pets or occupants. Inspections catch small problems before they become expensive ones — findings are shared with you and with the owner.
I'm seeing bugs. Who handles pest control?
Report it through your portal right away. Atlis addresses infestations that are the property's responsibility. Infestations traced to housekeeping conditions — food left out, trash buildup, clutter — are treated at the resident's cost, and repeat treatments are billed per visit. A bee or wasp nest at an entry, or a wild animal inside your home, is treated as urgent rather than routine.
House Rules, Lease Changes & Move-Out
Living by the lease, changing it, renewing it, and ending it well.
Can I paint, change the flooring, or mount a TV?
Not without prior written approval. That includes paint, wallpaper, flooring changes, fixture replacement, mounted televisions, satellite dishes, and lock changes. Submit the request through your portal with details. Unauthorized alterations are charged back at the cost to restore the home, plus an administrative fee.
Can I get a pet after I move in?
Only with written approval before the animal comes into the home. Pet policies vary by property and by HOA, and approved pets may require a non-refundable pet fee and monthly pet rent. Documented assistance animals are handled under applicable fair housing law and are not subject to pet fees. An unauthorized pet is a lease violation.
My home is in an HOA community. What does that mean for me?
The association's rules apply to you and are incorporated into your lease — typically covering parking, trash placement, pool and clubhouse use, guest access, and exterior appearance. Fines the association issues because of your household's conduct are charged to you along with the administrative fee in your Negligence Addendum. Quiet hours in Atlis homes are 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.
How do lease renewals work?
Atlis sends a renewal offer 45 to 60 days before your lease end date. If you accept, we prepare the renewal agreement with updated terms. If no renewal is signed and you stay with our consent, the tenancy continues month to month at the then-current rate plus any month-to-month premium, which is typically higher than a renewed fixed term.
How much notice do I have to give before I move out?
The number of days is stated on your Lease Summary — Florida law allows a lease to require between 30 and 60 days. Notice counts only when it is in writing, submitted through your portal or emailed to residents@atlispm.com. A verbal conversation, a text, or a note to a vendor is not notice. Missing the deadline can result in continued rent charges.
What if I need to end my lease early?
Contact us as soon as you know. Under your lease you remain responsible for rent until the home is re-rented or the term ends, whichever comes first, plus marketing and turnover costs — unless a separate early termination agreement is signed by both parties. Early communication gives us the most time to re-rent the home and gives you the smallest possible balance.
Can I sublease the home or list it on Airbnb?
No. Your lease prohibits assigning the lease, subleasing, and listing the home on any short-term rental platform without prior written consent from Atlis. Unauthorized subletting is a material lease violation and grounds for termination.
What if a roommate moves out or I want to add someone?
Every adult in the home must be on the lease. Adding or removing an adult requires written approval, and the incoming person must apply and be approved under the same screening criteria. Until that's complete, the residents on the current lease remain jointly and individually responsible for the full rent and all lease obligations.
I'm an active-duty servicemember. Can I terminate my lease?
Yes, in the circumstances protected by Fla. Stat. § 83.682 — including permanent change of station orders that move you 35 miles or more, early or involuntary discharge, or qualifying temporary duty orders exceeding 60 days. Provide written notice effective at least 30 days out, along with a copy of your official orders or written verification from your commanding officer. These rights cannot be waived.
What do I need to do before I hand back the keys?
Give written notice by your deadline, provide a written forwarding address, return every key, fob, and remote, take timestamped photos of every room, remove all personal property and trash, leave the home clean and undamaged, keep utilities on through your final day, and pay all outstanding rent and charges. Each item on that list is one fewer deduction from your deposit.
When do I get my security deposit back?
If no claim is made against it, your deposit is returned within 15 days after your tenancy ends. If Atlis intends to make a claim, you receive written notice of the claim and the reason within 30 days, and you then have 15 days to object in writing. This follows Fla. Stat. § 83.49(3). Always provide a forwarding address in writing — without one, notices cannot reach you.
What can be deducted from my deposit?
Damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, missing items, keys, or fobs, cleaning beyond the move-out cleaning fee stated in your lease, unpaid rent or fees, and costs arising from lease violations. Ordinary wear and tear — faded paint, minor carpet wear, small nail holes from normal hanging — is never charged to you.
What happens if I don't follow the rules?
Enforcement follows Florida law and escalates in steps: a written notice specifying the issue and the time to cure it, then fees or formal notices if it isn't resolved, then termination and legal action if it continues. Repeating the same violation within 12 months can remove the opportunity to cure. We would far rather resolve an issue in a phone call than in a courtroom.
How do I reach Atlis, and how fast will someone respond?
Message us through your Resident Portal, email residents@atlispm.com, or call 561.473.3664 during business hours. The portal is the fastest route because your message is attached to your file and your property. For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 first, then our line. You can also find every way to reach us on our contact page.