Tenant Handbook

Paying Rent

The rent is due on the 1st of each month.  We have several choices you can choose to pay your rent.

1. Payment Options:

• Option A – Pay online by selecting the checking amount option; make sure to have your Account & Routing number and there will be NO fees involved.
• Option B – Sign up for our Auto Pay option. This will automatically transfer your rent payment from your account on the 28TH OF EVERY MONTH.  Forms are available upon request.  There is NO fee for this method of payment.
• Option C – Pay online by selecting credit or debit card. There will be an automatic 3.5% service fee for this payment method.  The service fee will go directly to the service provider.
• Option D – Pay at the MHM Properties Office located at 303 S. Fifth Street, Champaign. You may pay with a check, money order or cash.

1. If you have leased a parking space, you can either pay for it monthly with your rent or pay for it in full when you move in.
2. Any checks not recognized at the bank (NSF) will be assessed an additional fee of $25.00 which will be billed to your account.
3. There shall be an increase of 5% assessed on the unpaid balance of each installment if not paid on or before the 1st day of the month in which that installment falls due.  In addition, $3.00 per day service shall be assessed for every day after the 1st day that the installment remains unpaid.

If you have any questions regarding your rent balance you can feel free to call the office at 217.337.8852 or email accounts@mhmproperties.com.

Parking

If you are renting a parking space, it is important you read the following information:

1. Once you have purchased a parking space, you must have a copy of your parking lease in your vehicle at all times or you will not be able to tow anyone from your space.
2. Make sure you are parking only in the correct space.  Please be advised that MHM Properties is not responsible if you get towed for not parking in the correct space.  You are responsible for getting your vehicle back and paying for the towing fees.
3. If someone is parked in your space, call Reynolds Towing to have them towed.  DO NOT PARK IN ANOTHER SPACE IF SOMEONE IS IN YOUR SPACE OR YOU WILL BE THE ONE TO GET TOWED!
4. Parking can be paid with your monthly rent.  If you are a non-resident, the entire parking fee is due at the signing.
5. Make sure the MHM Properties office has your current vehicle and contact information, including your cell phone number.  We must have a way to contact you in case of an emergency.
6. To sign a parking lease, contact MHM Properties office at 217.337.8852 or email at contact@mhmproperties.com.

Bike Racks

All bikes should be locked up on the designated bike racks.  DO NOT lock bikes on handrails, fences or any other area that blocks doors or hallways as this violates fire escape codes.  Bikes will be removed without notice if they are blocking walkways.

Mailboxes

Please check your mail on a regular basis as accumulated mail can make the mailbox difficult to open.  MHM Properties does not accept packages in our office for residents.  All package deliveries must be sent directly to your apartment address.  For secure entry buildings, do not prop the front doors open.  UPS and FedEx have access to entry door keys in order to deliver packages to residents.  USPS has entry access to all buildings.  Other mail carriers will attempt delivery to your apartment door.

Lockouts

If you are locked out of the apartment during office hours, call the office at 217.337.8852 and one of the staffs can help you get you into the apartment.  A lockout fee is $50.00 after the office hours, which are 9am-5pm, M-F.

Apartment Maintenance

If you have an emergency and it is after office hours, call the office 217.337.8852 and leave a message.  They will return your call to determine if it is an emergency needing an immediate response.

Do not email or leave emergency work orders on the answering machine, they will not be received until the next business day.

Here is the list of emergency work order:

• No heat
• Water leaking from the ceiling
• Water flooding onto the floor
• Lockout

All other maintenance requests for your apartment may be reported by submitting online at MMHProperties.com via Resident Portal.  Make sure to report maintenance issues as early in the day as possible to ensure work orders are taken care of in a timely manner.  If you have a leak in your apartment from the roof, or if there is a plumbing issue, please notify the office immediately.

If you have a fire, call 911 first, then notify MHM Office.

Common Maintenance

1. DO NOT flush foreign objects such as paper towel, grease, food, or feminine hygiene products down the toilet!  We highly recommend you purchase a toilet plunger to have on hand for emergencies.  If your toilet overflows, shut off the water immediately.  The shut off is behind the toilet.
2. DO NOT use anything but automatic dishwashing soap in the dishwasher.  Regular dish soap will cause your dishwasher to suds up and overflow.
3. DO NOT allow bottle caps, broken glass, large amounts of foods or any other foreign objects to enter your garbage disposal.  Charges will be assessed for repairs if foreign objects are found in the garbage disposal or you are overloading it.  Please, this is not a trash compactor, it is meant for very small amounts of food.
4. PLEASE make sure you close your shower curtain completely and the plastic liner is pulled into the bathtub.  This will prevent water from flooding the floor and leaking into the apartments below.
5. DO NOT pour water or allow water to flood onto your kitchen or bathroom floors.  This will cause flooding in the apartments below.
6. DO NOT stack boxes or personal belongings around your furnace or water heater.  This is a fire hazard and will interfere will the operation furnace.
7. DO NOT turn off your heat in the winter.  If you leave town over winter break, make sure your heat is set at 62 degrees with your thermostat left in the “On” position.

A/C and Heating

Central Heat and Air:

Your apartment might have central heat/air.  When turning on either the air or heat for the season, be sure the thermostat is set correctly and the unit has a clean filter.  We change out furnace filters every 90 days with notice prior.

Air Conditioning:

Set thermostat on COOL, and fan on AUTO.  Be sure to allow ample time for the unit to cool your apartment.  The air conditioner should only be used when outside temperatures are above 60 degrees.  Operating the A/C when outside temperatures are lower than 60 degrees can cause the air conditioner unit to freeze up, possibly damaging the unit.  If your A/C unit is to stop working due to the weather being cooler than 60 degrees please turn off your A/C, so it is able to unfreeze and then call maintenance so they can fix the unit.

Heating:

Set thermostat on HEAT, and fan on AUTO.  Nothing should be placed in the heating closet.  Airflow is needed to properly operate the heat and air conditioner.

Non-Central Heat and Air

Wall Unit A/C:

Your apartment might have a window A/C.  If your unit is leaking or has “iced up”, please turn it off and turn on the fan for the unit.  Place towels under the A/C unit to soak up the water and fill out a maintenance request to have the unit looked at.  To prevent this from happening again, be sure the thermostat is always set about 72 degrees.

Appliances

Washers & Dryers

Please do not overload washer and dryer!  Overloading the clothes will cause the motor to burn up and will cause your clothes to wash and dry inefficiently.  Do not wash or dry items soiled with any type of oil or solvents, it can result in an explosion or fire!

Check the guidelines below:

• Check your pockets to avoid damage. Make sure you remove pins, buckles, coins, and other hard objects.
• Please do not wash pillows or comforters in front facing units because they are too big and will damage your washer and dryer. If you need to wash them, please check the nearest laundromat.

To avoid scratching up the inside of washer make sure to close zippers and snaps.  Turning clothes inside out is highly suggested such as jeans and tops with buttons.

• Before every use, please make sure you are emptying out the lint traps. By not emptying the lint traps, it will make the dryer not work properly and also is an extreme fire hazard!

Garbage Disposal

Garbage Disposal Do’s:

• Keep your garbage disposal clean. Pour a little dish soap inside and let the garbage disposal run for a minute or so with some cold water after washing dishes.
• Run your garbage disposal regularly. Frequent use prevents rust and corrosion, assures that all parts stay moving and prevents obstructions from accumulating.
• When grinding food waste, use a strong flow of cold water. Why cold water?  It will cause any grease or oils that may get into the unit to solidify so that they can be chopped up before reaching the trap.

Garbage Disposal Don’ts:

Don’t put anything in the garbage disposal that is not biodegradable food.  A garbage disposal is not a trash can; it’s for food scraps only!  Non-food items can damage both blades and the motor.  When in doubt, make sure to throw it out!

• Do NOT grind glass, plastic, metal or even paper.
• Do NOT grind anything combustible.
• Do NOT grind cigarette butts.
• Do NOT pour any grease, oil or fat into your garbage disposal or drain. Grease will slowly accumulate and impede your garbage disposal grinding ability as well as clog drains.
• Do NOT use hot water when grinding food waste. Hot water will cause grease to liquefy and accumulate, causing drains to clog.
• Do NOT grind extremely fibrous material like cornhusks, celery stalks, onion skins, banana peels, and artichokes. Fibers from these can tangle and jam the garbage disposal motor and block drains.
• Do NOT turn off the motor or water until grinding is completed. When grinding is complete, turn off the garbage disposal first.  Let water continue to run for at least 15 seconds, flushing out any remaining particles.  Then turn off the water.
• Do NOT grind solid, large pieces of potato, or potato peels down the garbage disposal. The starches in the potatoes will turn into a thick paste and may cause blades to stick.
• Do NOT put large amounts of food down the garbage disposal.
• Do NOT put expandable foods into your garbage disposal. Foods like pasta and rice expand when you add water in a pot; they do the same thing once inside your pipes or garbage disposal and are the cause of many jams and clogs.
• Do NOT grind large animal bones such as beef, pork, chicken, or any types of bones.
• Do NOT put coffee grounds down the garbage disposal they can accumulate in drains and pipes, causing clogs.
• Do NOT use harsh chemicals such as bleach or drain cleaners. They can damage blades and pipes.  Borax is a natural sink cleaner and sanitizer that effectively works on odor-causing mold and mildew that accumulates in garbage disposals.
• When setting dishes in the sink, make sure you cover the garbage disposal with the black stopper to avoid items from falling into the disposal such as shot glasses, utensils, and other small objects.

How to Keep Your Garbage Disposal Running Problem-Free

Ice is an extremely effective and inexpensive method for cleaning your garbage disposal, sharpening the blades and breaking up any grease build up that has accumulated.  Just toss a few ice cubes into the garbage disposal and run it.  As the garbage disposal chops into the ice cubes, the ice chips will effectively scour all the hard to reach areas of the unit, and melt down the drain.  Try this once or twice a month to keep your garbage disposal in fine working order.

How To Remove or Prevent Nasty Garbage Disposal Smells

Here are some natural methods to clean your garbage disposal that are good for the environment and very inexpensive.

• Periodically, take peelings and pieces from citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges and toss them into the disposal. The oils and juice from the fruits and peels naturally clean the walls inside the garbage disposal and create a fresh, long-lasting scent.
• Freeze vinegar in ice cube trays and run those down the disposal. This will keep your blades sharp while safely killing odor-causing bacteria.
• For bad odors, pour baking soda into the drain and let it set for several hours before running the water and garbage disposal.
• For really bad odors, use a safe cleaning product like Borax. Just pour 3-4 tablespoons of Borax down the drain and let it sit for an hour.  Then turn on the hot water and flush the Borax away.

Tips for Removing Fallen Objects

NEVER insert your unprotected hand into the garbage disposal!  If you must use your hand to remove objects and debris from the garbage disposal, always wear safety gloves to protect your hand from the garbage disposal sharpen blades.

There are safer steps in retrieving the fallen objects.  First, grab a flashlight and try to find the exact location of the object.  Use a pair of extra-long needle nose pliers or salad tongs to carefully extract the object.

If unable to extract the object yourself, call the office for a work order during business hours.

Electric Stove Coil Top

Please Be Cautious:

• If heating grease or fat be careful, watch it closely, if it gets too hot it may catch fire!
• DO NOT USE WATER OR FLOUR ON GREASE FIRES!
• DO NOT place any items on top of the stove or near the heating surface elements.
• If something is spilled down into the burners of the stovetop, wait until it’s cool and then wipe off the mess, otherwise, it will smoke when you turn the burners back on.
• If using the broiler pan DO NOT use the pan without the insert.
• DO NOT cover the insert with foil, the insert allows grease to drain. Warning: using the broiler without the insert will leave grease exposed and could ignite on fire!

CAUTION: If a fire occurs inside the oven

1. Close the door
2. Turn oven OFF

If the fire continues, use fire extinguisher!  DO NOT put water or flour on the fire, flour may be explosive!

Cleaning Tips Stove Top:

• Use soap and water with a washcloth to wipe down stovetop and coil burners.
• Tougher cleanup jobs you will need to remove the coil burner and clean with a washcloth. DO NOT submerge the coil burner into the water!
• For food stuck on the burner, use baking soda with water to gently scrub residue off.
• Removable drip pans wipe down or wash in the sink if needed.

Note: Don’t forget to replace drip pan first before reattaching coil burner.

Cleaning tips for the oven:

• If you have a Self-Cleaning Option, set it for 1 to 2 hours. Afterward, wipe out leftover ashes with a washcloth, soap, and water.
• If there is no Self-Cleaning Option then you will have to clean out the oven with a washcloth, soap, and water. You can use a metal spatula to carefully scrape up food then wipe clean.  You can also use oven cleaner but DO NOT spray directly in the oven.  Spray on the cloth then wipe out the oven.

Gas Stove

Please Be Caution:

• Be careful when heating grease or fat, watch it closely, if it gets too hot it may catch fire!
• DO NOT USE WATER OR FLOUR ON GREASE FIRES!
• DO NOT place any items on top of the stove or near the heating surface elements. It may cause items to ignite on fire or melt!
• Clean ventilating hood frequently. Grease should not be allowed to accumulate on the hood or filter.
• When using the broiler pan DO NOT use the pan without the insert.
• DO NOT cover the insert with foil, the insert allows grease to drain. Warning: using the broiler without the insert will leave grease exposed and could ignite on fire!

WARNING: Use the proper flame size for safety, place pan with food on the burner before turning it on and do not leave unattended.

CAUTION: If the fire inside of oven occurs

• Close the door
• Turn oven OFF

If the fire continues, use the fire extinguisher!  DO NOT put water or flour on the fire, flour may be explosive!

Cleaning Oven: This is a self-cleaning oven

A Self- Cleaning oven cleans itself with high temperatures that will eliminate soils completely or reduce them into a fine powder ash that will then need to be wiped away. Remove broiler pan before selecting the Self-Cleaning button.

Self-Cleaning cycles: 2 hours-light soils, 3 hours-average soils, 4 hours- heavy soils

• DO NOT use oven cleaners in or around any part of a Self-Cleaning Oven.
• DO NOT hand clean gasket or use any cleaning materials on the gasket. It will cause damages.
• YOU CAN hand-clean door and frame. Make sure to use soap and water to thoroughly clean the top, sides, and front oven door
• DO NOT immerse oven door with water or in front of the door can be cleaned with glass cleaner but DO NOT get spray into the door vents.

Cleaning Stove Top:

• Make sure to clean the stovetop on a regular basis in order to keep from grease accumulating; pay special attention around the burner.
• Cleaning burner grates use a non-abrasive scrubbing pad with a mild cleaner or soap/water. Shut off the burner and clean immediately if food is spilled on burner grate; do not wait until the last minute!

NOTE: Make sure burner grate is cooled off before cleaning and thoroughly dried before returning it to the stove top.

Dishwasher

1. Scrap all food into trash such as bones, seeds, peelings, and any large chunk of food, and other materials.
2. Pre-rinse dishes removing anything that is stuck on plates such as gunk and thick food residue.
3. Load dishes in the dishwasher that are free from excess food particles.

WARNING!

• If you smell something burning, turn off dishwasher, pull out the bottom rack, and make sure something has not fallen on or got stuck onto the bottom-heating element!
• Only use soap that is specifically for dishwashers. Do Not Use Regular Dish Soap or it will cause the dishwasher to sud up and flood the kitchen!