Supporting Sonoma County Residents

DeDe’s Rentals is known for often being more accepting of pets at our properties than some other firms in Sonoma County. However, the decision to allow pets – of any particular species, breed, size, age – is always established by the individual property owner.

We recognize that “assistance” animals (which may be known by a variety of similar terms) are not considered pets, and by law, ANY property is going to accept a properly-qualified assistance animal from a properly-qualified applicant.

We use a third-party internet-based screening service to help us establish whether or not to accept any particular pet at those properties that DO consider pets. This same service allows us to establish a reasonable formula for increased deposits associated with the acceptance of pets. Most importantly, this service helps us properly screen and identify “assistance animals,” so we remain legally compliant with ADA and the Fair Housing Act. You can find more information on our pet screening process

By law, the security deposit for an unfurnished rental in California can be no more than 2 times the rent. Our formula for determining security deposits is primarily based on two factors: the combined FICO2 credit score of applicants PLUS an increase, if appropriate, for an approved pet. The amount of the security deposit could be as low as approximately 1.25 times rent, up to a maximum of 2 times rent. You can find more information on credit scores and security deposits .

Can you pay in installments? When we’re screening applicants for risk, we do consider whether you’ll be able and prepared to promptly honor financial obligations that come due. Being unable or unwilling to pay the full security deposit at the time of move-in is certainly cause for some concern. However, in the early stage of our application process, we engage with you in a short “intake” interview, when we ask a series of questions, including “do you have any special requests?” If indeed, you want to pay the security deposit in installments, and there’s an understandable reason why it’s necessary, that’s something that should be mentioned, and that MIGHT be considered.

Sorry. Rent is due on the first, considered delinquent if not received by the end of business on the fifth. Even if a holiday occurs during that five day period, it doesn’t impact the underlying due dates.

NOTE: If you have a specific ADA situation which justifies a “reasonable accommodation” regarding when you pay rent, please communicate with your property manager. We always strive to abide by the various laws that impact resident rights, even if they result in an exception to established rules.

We know of many programs – HUD, VASH, “Section 8” – and we are prepared to work with any or all of them.

^THIS^ is the answer you should expect from ANY California housing provider. In 2020, a statewide law was passed that established that these assistance programs ARE considered “source of income,” which is an FHA-protected class. You should never again receive a blanket “no” in answer to that question.

However, while the simple answer is “yes,” the more complicated answer is that you, as an applicant, must still qualify on your own merits, specifically for those criteria that would not be accounted for by the assistance program. Furthermore, whatever program you’re working with must provide you with very specific documentation that you can then provide to DeDe’s Rentals when you initially submit your rental application. If that documentation is missing, or is not formatted properly, we won’t be able to process your application until and unless it IS provided.

Please contact us if you have questions on this process.

Each property, each property owner has established their own lease terms. Some may be classified as month-to-month. Some may be a fixed-term lease of just a few months, or a length of time exceeding a year. The terms of tenancy are usually clearly identified in our marketing information.

However, even for those properties that are classified as “month-to-month,” we’re in search of long-term residents. We don’t intentionally offering short-term rentals of thirty or sixty days. Our clients sometimes classify their rentals as “month-to-month;” that’s a classification made for strategic business reasons, not because we’re marketing a short-term or vacation rental.