Faq

Absolutely!  We terminate leases early very often.  We require a qualified replacement as well as a $50.00 termination fee per person on the lease.  We are always happy to help you find a replacement to take your place.  We will have all parties to the current lease sign a termination agreement.  This addendum will serve as notice of your intention to vacate early and describes the process to terminate your lease early.  We will work together to show your place with a days notice and once a new lease is signed we will finalize your termination agreement and collect the fee.

Yes you are allowed to sublet with the Owner's approval.  The sublet process is at your own risk!  As a sublet you will be finding a temporary replacement who will pay on your behalf.  It is always recommended that you sign an agreement with your subletor outlining their responsibilities (rent amount, duration of the sublet, rules and regulations they are required to follow that are a part of our agreement) so their is no question about what is expected of them.

It is imperative that you realize that any failure of rents to be paid, damages incurred, or complaints of inappropriate behavior will be a direct reflection of your tenancy regardless of whom is living inside your space.

NO, in fact we try and complete work orders as soon as possible.  As work comes in we prioritize emergencies and then come straight over to fix your issue.  Maintenance has a master key so you can simply come and go as you need knowing that the maintenance will fix your troubles in a timely manner.

YES, you may be present while maintenance is fixing your request.  Admittedly it will be harder to schedule around other emergencies that may need our attention first.  But we can accommodate you when necessary.

You have many choices to report any maintenance issues in your apartment.

First, call our office 253-2515.  This is the quickest way for us to respond to any maintenace request.  Also the Primary way to report any EMERGENCY you have inside your apartment.

Second, email us.  Not an emergency or some thing that came up after business hours drop us an email and it will be received the next business day. 

Lastly, use our Maintenance form here on the website.  It will ask all the necessary information we need to process your request.

We are sorry...  But we accept only Cash, personal checks, or money orders.  We do not have the means to process credit or debit card payments.

In accordance with the Better Business Bureau and with full compliance and accordance with the Privacy Act of 1988 and the national Privacy principals Therein; we would like to describe our privacy policy as it pertains to the internet, our website, and our general off-line operations within our office.

Use of personal information-

Kamins Real Estate collects information for that which is necessary to perform the functions of our office.  This will include (but not limited to) leasing, management, refurbishment and maintenance, specifically:

• Leasing and management of properties including payment of creditors and landlords through electronic payment systems.
• Processing of tenancy applications:  to confirm identity, assessment and confirmation of ability to meet minimum income standards, and to confirm through previous recommendation the personal habits and behavior to take appropriate care of the rental property during tenancy.
• Establishment of rent payments.
• Emergency contacts for next of kin or in case of necessary contact when the tenant is unavailable.
• Training and quality control processes.
• To aid in positive identification and verification of tenants over the phone.
• To meet our legal obligations, eg in accordance with legislation.

On the internet we collect no information as a qualification to view / access our website content.  You may elect to add yourself to our email alert list to receive an automatic email as we change content; however, this will automatically cease after 45 days and your email will be deleted from the database.

You may voluntarily use our website to report maintenance issues or request information on rental properties.  There is no minimum amount of information required to use these functions.  This request is delivered directly to an office email account designed specifically for that function.

How do we collect personal information:

Generally we collect personal information directly from you in the form of an Application, Umass form, and/or cosigner form to qualify you for housing.

We also may request the use of a Third party form for the purpose of (but not limited to) transferring utility services or for credit qualification.  We may ask you as a current resident for an update of information over the phone.

Disclosure of personal information:

As stated previously, information is collected for variety of reasons and purposes.  In fulfilling the duties and obligations associated with these uses it is sometimes necessary to disclose data to a third party.  These would include (but not limited to) a Maintenance person(s), building inspector, sub-contractor, or insurance agent to perform work on the property or as member agents to collect delinquent rents, process court documents, or participate in the eviction process.

Specific information most often given is phone information to schedule appointments.

Inquiry of information or recommendation of previous or current tenant’s information to another Landlord or agent will only be given after written authorization is received from said tenant allowing us to do so. 

Anti-spam policy / Direct Marketing :

We do not offer, sell, or lease our online subscriber ship for any reason.  We do not release information of our residents or their personal information for the purpose of sales, marketing, or solicitation.  We will advertise local business through flyers or coupons that are inserted into our move in packets that new residents receive when they pick up their keys.

While visiting our website we do not use cookies or other automated detection tools to track or gather information or record your actions.  Kamins Real Estate’s website may provide links to third-party websites for your convenience and information. If you access those links, you will leave the Kamins Real Estate website. Kamins Real Estate does not control those sites or their privacy practices, which may differ from our practices. We do not endorse or make any representations about third-party websites.

Contact Us:

If you have comments or questions about our privacy statement, please email us lml.kaminsre@comcast.net  or write to us at the following address:

55 South Pleasant Street

Amherst, MA 01002

*Revised October 2009

The means of payment will depend on the location you rent.

If you live at Colonial Village or Presidential Apartments we have a tokette system in place.  They are plastic pieces you purchase from our office.  They are used instead of the traditional quarter/coins.  They are dependable & safe.  There is no minimum to buy.  One tokette per use of each machine.

Every other location we provide laundry is a traditional coin operated system.

I am required to have this space ready for you on the First of the month.  I suggest that if you are looking to find more flexibility to move early then contact our office a week or so before your lease starts so we can see if we can accommodate an early move in.  Please remember that we need time to paint, clean, and prepare your space before we have you move.  

We do not accept any deposit money in lieu of "Holding" an apartment.  Deposit money is accepted only once a person has been approved and has signed the lease agreement.  No money is accepted at the time of application.

Unfortunately, due to internet fraud and our specific rental process we are unable to have anyone secure a rental property before you have viewed it.  However, If you have a local contact who is willing to see, apply, and sign on your behalf then that is perfectly acceptable.  We can switch you once you arrive as long as you qualify under our rental requirements.

We have all interested people who are considering renting an apartment to fill out an application listing all of their pertinent references.  With this application we also describe our minimum proof of income.  All applicants must collectively gross a month's worth of rent in one week.  We must verify this income in writing (paycheck stub, bank account information...).

All applicants must meet the minimum income requirements or provide a Massachusetts Guarantor to cosign for their responsibilities to the lease. Qualified cosigners must meet the income qualification that the rental applicant does not.

We also require all applicants who have lived in the dorms at Umass to fill out a Umass form to verify their records with The Dean of Students.  Any student who has violated the rules while living on Umass Campus will automatically be disqualified to rent.  NO ACCEPTIONS~

We rent out apartments on a first come first served basis.  We schedule appointments to show available rentals weekdays during regular business hours.  We unfortunately do not have a waiting list.  Waiting lists are difficult to keep current, are contrary to a first come first serve process and can be considered discriminatory.  Nor do we "pre-lease" apartments.   We schedule tours of the specific unit(s) in question for rent.  Availability of rentals change all the time so call often!

We require cosigners to live in state because of the collection process.  When we are forced to collect past due rents or damages we use the local sherriff and courts.  They do not travel outside of the state of Massachusetts.

Unfortunately we do not.  Residents will list their own apartments for short term renting or subleting.  This does not involve an application process with Kamins but might involve one with whomever is listing their own apartment.