The following are frequently asked questions. However, if you cannot find an answer below, you can email us at contact@wphouses.com, or just give us a call at (517) 927-7805.

How do I lease a house from Whiddon Properties?

Answer: If you are interested in signing a lease with Whiddon Properties, you need to complete an Application and contact us via email or by phone at (517) 927-7805 to return it. Once you have been approved, you will need to set up a date and time to sign the lease. At the lease signing, you are required to pay the security deposit, which is 1.5 times one month's rent. For example, if the total monthly rent is $1,200, the security deposit due at signing is $1,800. You are also required to pay a non-refundable cleaning fee and a non-refundable recycling fee (these payments may be deferred up to two weeks after the lease signing). Please note that WP conducts leasing on a first-come, first-serve basis.*

How do I renew my lease for another year?

Answer: Current tenants are always given first option to re-lease their current home. WP will contact its current tenants in mid-September and at that point, you can express your interest to re-lease.

When is rent due?

Answer: Rent is due on the first of August, December, and April. Checks should be made payable to Whiddon Properties, LLC, and sent to 148 Kedzie St, East Lansing, Michigan 48826. If you pay by check, there is a $25 processing fee per check. You may pay your rent online at RentPost. There is a $5 transaction fee charged by WP for this service. Please contact us to set up your online account. If you are receiving student loans, please inform us as soon as possible so that we can set up a payment arrangement.

What should I do if I have a maintenance issue?

Answer: If you are having a maintenance issue, please submit a work order through RentPost. Please be sure to include your name, your address, and a brief description of the problem. The sooner you send the request, the sooner we can get someone out to assess the maintenance issue. If you are having an emergency, i.e. the heat is out during the winter, you should contact Cindy at (517) 927-7805 or Darcie at (517) 927-7805 IMMEDIATELY. In case of a fire, you should first contact 911 and then follow up with management.

When do the utilities need to be turned on by?

Answer: The utilities must be turned on in your name 15 days prior to your lease begin date. If you have given authorization, we will place the utilities on in your name. However, if you have not completed the applicable paperwork, we have provided below the contact numbers for the gas and electric companies as well as for the cable and internet companies:

Board of Water and Light (electric): (517) 702-6006, (800) 493-8009

Consumers Energy (gas): (800) 477-5050

City of East Lansing (water): (517) 337-1731

Comcast (cable and internet): (800) 824-2000

AT&T (cable and internet): (866) 534-5874

Can I move into the house early?

Answer: It depends. WP tries to accommodate early move-in requests; however, it is not always feasible to allow a group to move in early. If we are able to complete the changeover (i.e. cleaning, re-painting, and maintenance), you may be allowed to move in at an earlier date. You need to provide a written request for early occupancy at least 30 days prior to your scheduled date.

Can I paint the walls a different color?

Answer: Painting is prohibited. If you paint without written authorization, you will be responsible for the cost and labor of repainting.

Can I have a pet?

Answer: Pets and/or animals are allowed on a case-by-case basis for a fee. If there is an unauthorized pet on the premises, Tenants will be charged a fee plus be subject to violations of the lease. 

Am I allowed to sublease?

Answer: Subleasing is allowed with written permission and payment of a processing fee.

Can I put a lock on my bedroom door?

Answer: You may not install your own lock. However, locks are available for a fee for use during your tenancy.

What Covid-19 safety precautions have you implemeted?

Answer: Please see each category below.

Request for Showings by Prospective Tenants:

1. If you are a prospective tenant requesting a showing, we ask that you first take a virtual tour of the home, available on our website, wphouses.com. We are also able to supply additional pictures of each house by request. 
2. Leasing information, including pricing, is available at wphouses.com. We are more than happy to also answer any of your questions or concerns by phone, text or email. Please direct your calls/texts to Darcie at 517-927-7806 and emails to whiddonproperties@gmail.com. 
3. Once you have had the opportunity to take a virtual tour, you may request an in-person tour. We are conducting showings on an appointment basis. 
4. Please either have your entire group present during the appointment. Or, if feasible, please designate one person as your representative to tour the house in-person. 
5. As stated above, we are conducting showings on an appointment basis. If the current tenants have agreed, you may knock on the door to see the house with them.  Please ask for houses where this is available. 

During Tours:

1. We will limit each tour to no more than 15 minutes inside the house. 
2. If you are sick or have been possibly exposed to Covid, you must tell us immediately. We reserve the right not to show a house if there is a suspected Covid issue. This is for the safety of our tenants, other prospective tenants, and ourselves. 
3. We will have sanitizer available upon request.

Lease Signing Process/House Reservation:

1. We sign leases on a first come, first serve basis. There are no holds. If your group would like to sign, contact Darcie or Cindy to set up a time to sign the lease. 
2. Lease signings will be done at our office located at 148 Kedzie St, East Lansing, MI 48823.  Weather permitting and upon request the lease signings may be conducted outside. 
3. To speed the process up, please bring a completed Application, which will be supplied to you via email.  You will also need to bring the security deposit and application fee. Acceptable forms of payment are personal check, cashier’s check, money order, cash and ApplePay. At this point, we are unable to accept credit or debit cards. 
4. Signings can take as little as 20 minutes and as long as one hour depending on how many questions you may have. 
5. If you are sick or have been possibly exposed to Covid, you must tell us immediately. We have other means of signing, if necessary. This is for the safety of our tenants, other prospective tenants, and ourselves. 
6. The table where signings take place will be sanitized down between group signings. We will have sanitizer available upon request. 

 Current Tenants/Entry of House:

1. To the extent possible, we are trying to limit the number of showings during this leasing time. With that said, the sooner we get the houses rented, the sooner we will not be coming in. 
2. In order to limit the appointments and showings, we have requested that prospective tenants first take a virtual tour, which is available at wphouses.com. If they would like to proceed to an in-person tour, we will schedule as best as possible so as to not interfere with your schooling, sleep schedule, etc. We will begin showings in the upcoming weeks. Please let me know what conflicts you each may have prior. 
3. As mentioned above, we are encouraging virtual tours for prospective tenants as much as possible. However, if we do schedule an appointment, I will do my best to give you as much heads up as possible--an email or a text. Please let me know your preferred contact method. 
4. We are requiring masks inside all of the houses. While you are not required to wear them while we are inside your own house, we do ask you to do so, if you feel comfortable. 
5. In years past, prospective tenants have with and without our suggestion, knocked on the doors to see the houses. As you all know, this is the way many houses are rented. If you are comfortable showing the prospective tenants through the house, please let me know. I will advise them that they can knock to see the house at both of your conveniences. If you are not, please direct them to me via email or by phone.

*We reserve the right to refuse to lease based on application factors. We abide by the Fair Housing Act, the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, and the local laws of the City of East Lansing.