Admissions and continued occupancy policies — See Ch. 4.
Equal Opportunity Housing Plan — See Ch. 8.
Pest control policy — See Ch. 20.
Smoking policies — See Ch. 28, Art. II.
Tenant handbook for high-rise buildings — See Ch. 40.
Standard lease — See Ch. A51.
§ 36-1Telephone numbers.
§ 36-2Introduction.
§ 36-3Management offices.
§ 36-4Lease.
§ 36-5Payment of rent.
§ 36-6Miscellaneous charges in addition to rent.
§ 36-7Security deposit.
§ 36-8Use of apartment.
§ 36-9Tenant requests.
§ 36-10Changes in personal status.
§ 36-11Location of projects; cleaning.
§ 36-12Answering service.
§ 36-13Keys; lock change policy.
§ 36-14Floors.
§ 36-15Unit inspections.
§ 36-16Appliances.
§ 36-17Exhaust fans.
§ 36-18Plumbing fixtures.
§ 36-19Window panes and screens.
§ 36-20Utilities consumption.
§ 36-21Electrical system.
§ 36-22Photoelectronic smoke detectors.
§ 36-23Light bulbs.
§ 36-24Prevention of mildew on bathroom ceilings.
§ 36-25Sweating toilets and tanks.
§ 36-26Bathtubs.
§ 36-27Kitchen sinks.
§ 36-28Vermin, pests and insects.
§ 36-29Security.
§ 36-30Drinking on Authority property.
§ 36-31Lockouts.
§ 36-32Admission of maintenance personnel.
§ 36-33Apartment surfaces not to be covered.
§ 36-34Pets.
§ 36-35Fireworks.
§ 36-36Halloween.
§ 36-37Snow removal.
§ 36-38Clothes dryers.
§ 36-39Automobiles and parking.
§ 36-40Thermostat.
§ 36-41Energy conservation.
§ 36-42Drying yards.
§ 36-43Aerials and antennas.
§ 36-44Disposal of rubbish.
§ 36-45Young children and teenagers.
§ 36-46Notification of misrepresentation.
§ 36-47Evictions; grievance procedure.
§ 36-48Obligations upon moving.
§ 36-49Outreach to families.
§ 36-50Outreach special efforts.
§ 36-51List of charges.
§ 36-52Use of community rooms.
§ 36-53Air conditioner/window fan policy.
| Woonsocket Housing Authority (connecting all offices and buildings) | 767-8000 |
| Emergency number | 767-8000 |
| Police Department | 911 |
| Fire Department | 911 |
| Rescue | 911 |
| Senior Services | 766-3734 |
| Visiting Nurses | 769-5670 |
| Lion Line | 769-4444 |
The Woonsocket Housing Authority welcomes you and your family to our projects and sincerely hopes that you will find living in these modern apartments an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Your dwelling and its surroundings have recently been modernized, and you and your family will certainly find them most comfortable.
Residing in a housing development will be, for most families, a new experience in the democratic way of life. You and your family will share with many other families and The Woonsocket Housing Authority the mutual obligation to make this development a pleasant and attractive example of community life in our City.
The Housing Authority must provide an efficient management as its contribution to sound financial administration. To this end, it will repair and maintain the property to extend the physical life of the development in first-class condition. It will select as tenants only those families eligible under existing laws and regulations and help the tenants to establish, improve and protect the reputation of the community, which is basically their community and which will be no better than they themselves make it.
Such public obligations will be impossible without your earnest cooperation. Obligations to yourself and your neighbors are most important. It may be that at no time in your life have you lived in such close daily contact with so many other families. In order to do so happily, you must always remember that your neighbor has a right to privacy and freedom from annoyance. For the proper maintenance of the development, it is very important that you pay the rent promptly, as mentioned in your lease.
These are only general responsibilities. How you may best meet them is explained in the following pages. This handbook is presented as a guide to agreeable, pleasant living in your home, not as a code of restrictions. The suggestions for care of your home and equipment should save you time and money. Read it carefully and keep it handy for quick reference.
The management will gladly receive your suggestions or observations and will advise and assist you in meeting and overcoming problems that may arise. It will cooperate to the fullest extent in making your life in the Morin Heights or Veterans' Memorial Project agreeable and pleasant for all. To that end it sincerely requests your active help and cooperation.
Remember, cooperation is the basis for success in any housing development.
The dwelling lease is a mutual agreement between you and The Woonsocket Housing Authority. Read it carefully. It states the amount of your rent, the conditions under which you occupy the dwelling assigned to you and the ways in which a lease may be terminated by either yourself or the Housing Authority.
Prompt payment of rent is of prime importance and is payable in advance between the first and fifth day of each month, unless you have a previous arrangement to pay biweekly.
The rents paid in public housing are far lower than in private enterprise for comparable accommodations. This is possible only because the federal government, and incidentally the taxpayer, is committed to make up the deficiency which annually amounts to a very substantial sum. In order to keep this subsidy within reasonable limits, you must cooperate fully in the economical use of utilities, good care of the property and payment of rent when due. Check with your appropriate administration office to verify which days rent collections are scheduled.
If for some reason rent cannot be paid by the fifth day of the month, you should contact the management office in person or by telephone. In most instances, arrangements for payment can be made which will be mutually satisfactory.
Please bear in mind that failure to pay your rental obligation within 14 days could result in immediate eviction.
A charge of $15 will be assessed to the account of any family for whom a personal check given to the Authority as payment for rent or other charges is returned by reason of insufficient funds.
Families will be charged for the repair of damages or replacement of installed equipment in the dwelling unit, project buildings, facilities or project common areas, trees, bushes or shrubs caused by the family, its members or guests. Fair wear and tear will be excepted.
Charges for required repairs or replacement of installed equipment or to the dwelling unit or structure will not exceed the actual costs incurred by the Authority for labor and/or materials expended in the repair or replacement of damaged, defaced or destroyed items.
A schedule of repair and replacement costs, by standard and routine repair items, will be given to each family and will be posted on the Authority's administrative office bulletin board.
Charges assessed to the accounts of families will be due and payable on the first day of the second month following the month in which the charge is incurred.
Total tenant payment will be accepted exclusive of other charges due.
Refusal to make payment for other charges when due will result in the serving of a notice to cure or quit to the family and the commencement of legal action to recover the charges due or to gain possession of the dwelling unit. Continued refusal to make payment for other charges when due will constitute a serious breach of rules and regulations and will result in initiation of legal action for the purpose of terminating the lease agreement.
At the time a tenant leases an apartment, a security deposit in the amount of one month's rent must be paid. Upon termination of the tenancy, the amount of security deposit due to the tenant shall be the entire amount given by the tenant as a security deposit, minus any amount of unpaid accrued rent and the amount of physical damages to the premises, other than ordinary wear and tear, which the Authority has suffered by reason of the tenant's noncompliance with R.I.G.L. § 34-18-24, all as itemized by the Authority in a written notice delivered to the tenant. The Authority shall deliver said notice, together with the amount of the security deposit due to the tenant within 20 days after the later of either termination of the tenancy, delivery of possession, or the tenant's providing the Authority with a forwarding address for the purpose of receiving the security deposit.
Said R.I.G.L. § 34-18-24 provides that a tenant shall:
Comply with all obligations primarily imposed upon tenants by applicable provisions of building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety.
Keep that part of the premises that he or she occupies and uses as clean and safe as the condition of the premises permit.
Dispose from his or her dwelling unit all ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste in a clean and safe manner.
Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits.
Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in the premises.
Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so.
Conduct himself or herself and require other persons on the premises with his or her consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb his or her neighbors' peaceful enjoyment of the premises.
Refrain from using any part of the premises in a manner such as would constitute the maintaining of a narcotics nuisance under the provisions of R.I.G.L. § 21-28-4.06.
Refrain from using any part of the premises or any public property adjacent thereto for the manufacture, sale or delivery of a controlled substance or from possessing on the premises or any public property adjacent thereto with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver a controlled substance classified in Schedule I or Schedule II of Chapter 28 of Title 21 of Rhode Island General Laws.
Refrain from any crime of violence on the premises or on any public property adjacent to said premises. A "crime of violence" shall mean and include any of the following crimes or an attempt to commit any of the same: murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, sexual assault, mayhem, kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault or battery involving grave bodily injury and a felony assault with intent to commit any offense.
The size of the home which you are renting is selected to house adequately those members of your family listed in your lease. It is not intended to provide housing for roomers or lodgers, nor to provide you with a place of business. This should not be interpreted in any way as interfering with the use of your home for entertaining friends or relatives for brief visits.
No repairs, alterations or additions may be made to the dwelling units or buildings without written permission of the management. Signs or business cards may not be displayed in windows or on any part of the buildings. These restrictions are necessary to prevent deterioration of your apartment and building and to make the project a desirable residential community.
Tenant requests are handled by calling 767-8000. We now have a mobile van that will be dispatched throughout the day to answer all emergency requests within the same day and minor requests, as a rule, within a reasonable period.
The Housing Authority is sincerely concerned with what happens to you and your family while living in the housing projects. If someone becomes ill, particularly with an infectious or contagious disease, kindly report it at once to your Project Manager. If there has been an accident, a death, a birth, the loss of employment or a change in income, please notify your management staff.
The Project Manager must be notified of any damage to the walls, floors, stairways and equipment, whether or not it is your fault.
Morin Heights: Your home is located in one of the 35 apartment buildings, extending over several acres of land, that comprise this housing complex.
Veterans' Memorial: Your home is located in one of the 56 apartment buildings, extending over several acres of land, that comprise the housing complex.
Scattered housing: 31 apartments located in various sections of Woonsocket.
It is expected that tenants will cooperate with one another and with the management in the daily cleaning of the areas in the front and rear of their dwelling units.
With the interest of the tenants in mind, The Woonsocket Housing Authority has instituted a telephone answering service. This answering service provides service between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. daily. The answering service is also in service during the weekends and on all holidays. If you have an emergency need (anything that is necessary for the safety and health of a tenant or to prevent further damage to the apartment) requiring the assistance of The Woonsocket Housing Authority, contact the answering service by calling 767-8000.
One key will be assigned to head of household. A second key may be requested at no cost for another adult member on the lease or for either a minor member of the household and/or other responsible adult assigned custodial or caregiving responsibility, provided documentation sufficient to the Housing Authority is provided on the appropriate key request form.
Additional keys may be purchased for an advance fee of $10 if an additional key is for an adult member of the household lease or for either a minor member of the household and/or other responsible adult assigned custodial or caregiving responsibility, provided documentation sufficient to the Housing Authority is provided on the appropriate key request form.
All requests regarding your lock change and new keys will be handled and reviewed by your Housing Manager. All denials are grievable through The Woonsocket Housing Authority grievance procedure.
Residents are not permitted to give additional keys to individuals not on the lease or not approved under this policy. Anyone found doing so will be considered in violation of Article 6, Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of their lease.
Initial lost keys may be purchased for an advance fee of $25. Second lost key, for $35; all additional keys, $45.
Avoid dents or marking your floors by using casters under the legs of heavy furniture. Using casters distributes the weight of the furniture evenly. Any damage to floors arising from lack of conformity with this requirement will be your responsibility.
Wash tile floors with warm water and a mild detergent. After a thorough washing, allow the floor to dry properly and apply wax.
The care of wooden floors is somewhat different. Never use water on wood floors. Instead, use a polishing-type wax in liquid or paste form.
Do not apply varnish, paint or other preparations to the floor. Remember not to fasten carpets or linoleum with tacks, nails or glue.
When placing linoleum over flooring, be certain to place a protective coating of heavy wrapping paper or newspaper over the wood. Unless this procedure is followed, the backing on the linoleum will adhere to the floor and both will be ruined.
There are three basic inspections done on your apartment. They are as follows:
Upon moving in and signing the lease, there will be an inspection done by the Manager, and the tenant will be shown a copy of the inspection and will attest to the condition of the apartment before move-in.
The apartments are inspected annually as part of a maintenance program to ensure safe and sanitary conditions within the unit.
At the time of move-out, the Manager will inspect the unit again, and the tenant will be shown a copy of that inspection, along with the original occupancy inspection.
Stoves.
Each dwelling is equipped with a gas range for cooking. Your stove has four burners, an oven for baking or roasting and a broiler. It is best to clean your stove thoroughly each week. This is important because grease allowed to remain for a long time is almost impossible to remove. Baking soda and warm water is a good cleaning solution for this purpose.
The top of the stove is enamel. It should be cleaned with warm soapy water when the stove is cool. Never clean the top of the stove while it is still hot. If you do, the enamel may crack.
Enamel chips very easily and it is very costly to repair because the entire section has to be replaced. For this reason, try to protect the stove against hard knocks that may crack or chip it. Most acid foods, fruit juices and alcohol will damage the surface if allowed to remain on the enamel.
Frequently the hinges of the oven door are accidentally broken. To prevent this from occurring, always keep the oven door closed and do not use the oven for storage space when it is not in use.
If for some reason the heat in your apartment is not adequate, notify the management office immediately or call the emergency number if this occurs after working hours or on weekends and holidays. In no event should the stove ever be used to provide heat. Doing so is extremely dangerous and quickly uses the oxygen in the apartment.
Refrigerators.
Your electric refrigerator is large enough for your family if you store only perishable foods in it.
A clean refrigerator will keep food fresh for a long time. As it has an enamel finish similar to your stove, the same cleaning solutions will prove satisfactory. A good time to clean your refrigerator is when you defrost the coils, which should be done on a regular basis or when frost is 1/4 inch thick.
Never use a sharp instrument to chip away the frost. Doing so could damage the unit, in which case the tenant must assume the cost.
A periodic check of the units will be made to see that these appliances are kept in good condition.
Thoroughly defrost the refrigerator periodically (more often in the summer months) by turning it off for the better part of the day and leaving the refrigerator door open. In no case should you defrost by using hot water or heating devices.
Be sure to turn the fan off before removing the filter. The mesh filter in your fan should be cleaned regularly to reduce the potential hazard of a fire and also to keep the suctioning power of your fan working at a maximum level. This will also keep the area walls, floors and ceiling clean.
Filter. There is a washable filter in your kitchen vent fan which should be cleaned periodically. Clean the filter by swishing it up and down in hot, sudsy water, then rinse the filter with hot water and allow it to drip dry. Do not throw this filter away! Replace it once it is clean.
Fan blades and motor. Dust or vacuum when cleaning the filter.
Hood. Clean both the top and undersides of the hood with damp, sudsy cloth. Cleaning the underside is very important since deposits here will form a hard residue which is very difficult to remove if not cleaned regularly.
Waste, grease, garbage, tea or coffee grounds should never be poured down the drain of the sink or into the toilet. Dispose of these items with your garbage.
Use a toilet brush, rather than a cloth, in cleaning toilet bowls. Cloths of any kind may become lodged in the drain. Consequently a great deal of inconvenience and expense to yourself and management will result. Caution your family and instruct youngsters against throwing anything into the toilets that could cause a blockage. Clogged drains, running toilets and leaking faucets should be reported to the management office immediately. Never attempt to remedy the situation yourself or ask a neighbor to remedy it for you. If a block in the plumbing should occur which is the result of carelessness on your part or that of your children, the full cost of repairs will be charged to your account.
Each tenant is responsible for all the panes, screens and storm door kickplates. During the winter months the screens are self-storing in the combination windows just by pushing them up. If damage or breakage occurs, please notify the management office immediately. It is also very important that you teach your children not to lean against the screens under any circumstances because the screens will not support the weight of a child and a child could fall out of the windows.
Due to extremely high costs of utilities, it is very important that the tenant not waste electricity, heat or hot water. In order to conserve energy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has required The Woonsocket Housing Authority to implement various energy controls and monitoring methods depending on the housing development in which you live. Basically, this program consists of the following:
Morin Heights and Veterans' Memorial Projects. Electricity will be surcharged for overconsumption of appliances such as extra freezers, fans, air-conditioners, etc. There has been an allowance for normal consumption of a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, four-bedroom and five-bedroom unit. Charges will be only for waste above the normal consumption.
Scattered sites. Tenants in the scattered site buildings will pay the utility company directly for consumption of gas and electricity. A reduction in the rent has been made to compensate for this.
Numerous energy-saving devices have been installed to help conserve. If you have a problem, we will be more than willing to come to your apartment and assist in evaluating the problem for a solution.
The electrical wiring and equipment in your apartment are protected by circuit breakers located in a main control panel in each tenant's utility room. If a power failure occurs in just a section of your apartment, check the main electrical panel and push just the one button that is off until it goes to the "ON" position. If this does not solve the problem, report the trouble at once to the management office. After office hours and on weekends or holidays when the office is closed, call the emergency number listed in this booklet.
Electrical outlets must not be overloaded by using adapters or extension cords. Use of these items is a very dangerous practice. Most fires are caused by this thoughtless act. We urge each tenant to be "safety-minded" by checking the cords and plugs on all electrical appliances such as radios, television sets, clocks, lamps, irons, blow dryers, vacuum cleaners, etc. If they are in need of repair or the cords are frayed, please have them repaired as soon as possible and discontinue using them until the repairs are completed.
We cannot overemphasize the importance of being careful with the use of electricity in your apartment, not only for your family's safety, but for the safety of all your neighbors as well.
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Two of the above smoke detectors have been installed in your project apartment. They are wired together to a light and horn located above your outside door for immediate identification of a fire. The detector sensing smoke will sound a continuous horn; if both sense smoke, one will sound continuously and other will be an intermittent horn. The unit is functioning properly when the center bulb is blinking on and off every 15 seconds. When there is a malfunction with the unit, you should hear an intermittent beeping. The smoke detectors are wired to the circuit breaker controlling your stairwell light. Pushing this breaker off will disconnect the alarm system in your apartment.
Maintenance. This unit does not come apart. You merely fan the smoke away or blow it out from the side with a newspaper. Vacuum or brush the small openings on the sides once or twice a year to keep dust from causing a false alarm.
In case of alarm, check both detectors and, if smoke is present, just fan away and the unit will automatically reset itself and shut off the alarm. If the unit is beeping, this is telling you that there is a malfunction with the unit. Try to reset with the test button. Call the office or answering service for any problems.
To test alarm, depress button with a pencil or a toothpick to test for the alarm. The unit should be tested at least once a month.
The Maintenance Department will change only fluorescent lights and light bulbs in the upstairs hall and stairwell. All other bulbs must be changed by the tenant himself.
Tenants should do the following:
Check that the fan is operating.
Make sure the lint is cleaned from the fan every week.
Whenever you are using the shower you should use the fan and leave it on for a half hour after you are done.
Large families. Once a week, clean any evidence of mildew with a tub and tile cleaner that has a bleach base or trisodium phosphate base (such as Clorox or XR14 mildew remover).
This may be a problem with large families. You should make sure the toilet does not run constantly. Also it is advantageous if you buy a fabric-type tank covering and a rug for the base of the toilet. In the hot, humid weather you will have to periodically wipe the sides of the bowl.
Do not hang items in the toilet bowl or on racks over the toilet bowl.
Hair must be periodically cleaned out of the bathtub drains. Use nonabrasives only to clean bathtubs and all porcelain fixtures.
Do not remove the strainer basket from your kitchen sink. It is there for a purpose: to stop food and other things from going down the drain and perhaps blocking it.
Vermin, pests and insects are disliked by all but frequently get into the cleanest places through no fault of the tenant or owner. The best protection is to examine all possessions thoroughly before moving into the development. If there are any signs of contamination, have the pieces fumigated by a reliable person.
If you see any of these pests or any signs of them after moving into the development, the Housing Authority insists that you notify the management office immediately.
A professional exterminator is under contract to service the housing projects weekly on Wednesdays, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon. Kindly notify your management office not later than Friday afternoon if you require this service.
In the interest of keeping unwanted pests at a minimum, roach monitors have been installed under the kitchen sinks in all of the dwellings. Check these traps frequently and report any findings to the office immediately.
Cleanliness goes a long way towards controlling an insect problem once started. Please make sure there are no open food products left out for cats nor open boxes on shelves nor food left on counters.
If you neglect to do this, it will be considered sufficient evidence that you are not fully cooperating with management and steps necessary to correct such a situation will be taken.
The Woonsocket Housing Authority provides security patrols at all family projects. Although we have security personnel, management must remind you that the best security you could have is neighbors in the surrounding area.
If you see anything suspicious, telephone the police immediately. In doing so, the security guards in the project monitor police calls and will respond immediately to the troubled area in the project.
If you experience any vandalism, breaking and entering in your apartment or automobile, please come to the office and report the incident even though you have reported it to the police. In reporting the incident to the office, we are able to pinpoint trouble areas in the project and notify security of problem areas.
You need not give your name if you so desire when reporting vandalism or theft.
No drinking of alcoholic beverages is permitted outside your apartment on Woonsocket Housing Authority property.
There will be a charge of $12 for any lockouts after 4:30 p.m. and before 8:30 a.m. All tenants should consider leaving a key with a relative or sponsor for this reason. Only project managers are permitted to admit a tenant into his/her unit without a key.
Entrance to your home will be made by maintenance personnel for the purpose of repairing items in your apartment at your request. Emergency calls are usually handled within the same day and routine repairs within a reasonable time. It is therefore imperative that maintenance be granted permission to enter the unit when you call in a repair. If this is not possible, please discuss the situation with your Housing Manager.
No decals, scotch tape or transfer pictures may be placed on the kitchen cabinets, stove, refrigerator, walls, doors or any other part of your dwelling. At no time are you allowed to cover any surface with either contact paper or wallpaper.
Cats.
Under the terms of your lease, Article V, Obligations of the Tenant, Section D: "Tenant shall not keep on the premises any dogs or unspayed female cats."
Used cat litter is to be placed in plastic bags, tied and deposited in barrels. With the warm weather, the odor of used cat litter is very offensive to all and unsanitary as well.
You are not to have a female cat that has not been spayed!
Dogs.
Under the terms of your lease, Article V, Obligations of the Tenant, Section D: "tenant shall not keep on the premises any dogs..."
There is also a leash law in Woonsocket stating that dogs should not be running loose. In the event that any tenant sees a dog in the area, he/she should report it to the project office or immediately call the Dog Officer to have the dog picked up.
If the tenants know the location of dogs in the project units, they are requested to notify the office as soon as possible.
In the past years, there have been injuries occurring from illegal use of fireworks.
The Woonsocket Housing Authority does not allow fireworks in the project area. It is against the law for anyone to fire or sell fireworks.
The Manager would appreciate it if tenants or their families would make the project office aware if anyone is violating this law.
There are to be no stuffed dummies hanging outside the windows or placed on top of any roof in the project.
Natural gas dryers are the only type of clothes dryers that are allowed in the apartments.
It is very important that you telephone the project office when considering purchasing a dryer so we can either inform you or the person who is to install the dryer of the proper procedure for installation. The Authority does not repair any tenant-owned appliances such as clothes washers, dryers, etc.
Exhaust from the dryers is not to be exhausted into the apartment or floor below. The tenant must receive permission to install any tenant-owned appliance.
Please notify the office prior to installation.
Unregistered automobiles. Please refer to Article V, Section S, of your lease agreement which states: "Only automobiles registered and belonging to a tenant shall be parked in such areas designated therefor. No unregistered automobiles shall be allowed in the project area."
Double parking. Double parking of automobiles on project designated areas is also not permitted because it causes a serious hazard to tenants, particularly children.
Parking of visitors' cars. When you have persons visiting you, it is your responsibility to tell them to park their car on the street and not use a tenant's parking space.
Violators of these regulations will be subject to having their cars towed away at the owner's expense, and this is probable cause for eviction.
Parking of tenants' vehicles. Parking spaces and stickers are provided for tenants' vehicles. If you do not have a sticker, apply at your project office for it. Your Project Manager will assign a parking space to you. Tenants should park their autos only in their assigned parking spaces. Any changes in your auto registration should be reported to your Project Manager immediately.
Cars blocking pickup of rubbish areas will be towed.
The Woonsocket Housing Authority (WHA) shall have the right to revoke any parking privileges and permit previously granted to any tenant, upon 14 days' written notice to the tenant of the proposed action, if, in the opinion of the WHA, the motor vehicle for which the parking permit was granted is not in good working condition and/or is on or near WHA project property and presents a danger or a hazard to other tenants or to the general public. The written notice to the tenant shall advise the tenant of his/her right to repair and/or remove the motor vehicle in question within 14 days from the mailing of the notice and shall also advise the tenant of his/her rights under the grievance procedure. Should the tenant take no action to either remove or repair the vehicle within the 14 days provided, the parking permit shall be considered revoked as of the 15th day, and the motor vehicle in question may be towed by the WHA, through its authorized agent, at the expense of the tenant. The tenant shall bear the cost of any towing and/or storage of the vehicle incurred by the WHA as a result of this subsection.
Set your thermostat for the desired room temperature. Your thermostat is operating properly if the top reading (the temperature you desire) is the same as the bottom reading (the temperature in the unit). Forcing the thermostat beyond the preset limits can cause damage to the thermostat, and the tenant would be responsible for the cost of replacing it.
Keep your windows closed when your heating system is turned on. If your apartment is overheated or you are experiencing problems heating your unit, report it to your Housing Manager. All storm windows must be closed during the heating season.
Under no circumstances should any tenant tamper with the heating system!
Remember to turn off the lights in a room when no one is in the room. Televisions, radios, irons and other small appliances should be turned off when not in use. Remember to also turn off your outside light when all your family members are home for the evening.
Drying yards are convenient to each apartment building. You will be assigned an area of space to dry your clothes. Much confusion and inconvenience to you, your neighbors and the management will be avoided if you use only the area that has been assigned to you.
Aerials or antennas of any description shall not be installed on roofs, on the buildings or hung from windows.
Rubbish should not accumulate in your apartment but should be taken out daily. Place rubbish in a plastic bag in your wastebasket. Remove it daily and place in the dumpster and make sure the dumpster is closed after placing your rubbish there. Use the dumpster assigned to your unit.
The housing projects have been designed to accommodate elderly individuals and also families. In order to maintain harmonious living with the different generations, we ask that these simple rules be followed:
Ball playing and contact sports. Because of the close proximity of the buildings and our concern for the safety of all, we ask that you instruct your children not to play any type of ball (baseball, football, volleyball, etc.) in the apartment areas. Rather, instruct your children to play these sports in the designated areas of the housing complex or at the City parks.
Bicycles, scooters and motorized bikes. Allowing your children to leave these items in the yard areas and along interior walks and sidewalks is in direct violation of your lease. Article V, Section P: "Sidewalks and passages shall not be obstructed nor be used for any purpose other than to enter or exit from dwelling." As this also presents a safety hazard, we ask your immediate and full cooperation in curtailing this practice. Owners of motorized bikes should register at the office and discuss provisions to park same.
Pools. No pools of any size, including wading pools, are permitted.
Graffiti and defacement of property. Please advise your children that at no time are they to write on the buildings, outside cement walls or sidewalks with spray paint, crayons, chalk or any type of item that will alter the looks of the buildings. The defacement of the buildings creates an eyesore and is an extremely costly item to correct. We urge all tenants to contact the administration office immediately if you witness such vandalism. Parents of children found defacing the property will be held fully responsible in making restitution.
Teenagers. Teenagers, being naturally sociable individuals, have a tendency to congregate in certain areas of each housing complex. While there are no objections to having teens stopping for a few moments to exchange pleasantries, the objections are raised when groups congregate for lengths of time, disturbing the quiet surroundings, the tenants and littering the grounds. Also, when any group of individuals congregates, different problems and situations can and do occur. To avoid this entire situation, parents are advised to inform their young adults that this practice is not allowed. Those individuals who fail to comply with this rule will face disciplinary action. Please remind your teenagers also that the speed limit for driving through the housing complex is 15 miles per hour and this speed limit should be adhered to.
In the event that misrepresentation of any required information is revealed through the process of determination of eligibility for admission, annual or interim reexamination, rent review or through the conduct of normal and routine Authority business, the applicant or family will be so notified in writing.
The written notice will clearly set forth the facts or information misrepresented and the corrective action to be taken, if any, and of the action which will be taken by the Authority.
Actions to be taken include the imposition of retroactive rent increases, as appropriate, termination of the lease agreement and, if justified, the initiation of appropriate legal action to recover possession of the dwelling unit.
Written notice. The Woonsocket Housing Authority cannot evict a tenant without first giving him/her written notice and an opportunity for a hearing. The notice must state the reason for the action, including reference to applicable regulations and/or rules and the alleged facts upon which the eviction is based.
Hearings. The hearing panel is composed of two members from the Board of Tenant Affairs, two members chosen by The Woonsocket Housing Authority and one impartial member chosen by the four.
Who can have a hearing? Any tenant who has a grievance and has not had it answered or corrected to his/her satisfaction or any tenant who has been evicted.
When and where is the hearing held? The panel shall set a date for the hearing and shall inform the tenant of the date, time and place.
Preparing for the hearing. The complainant may examine before the hearing, at his/her expense, copies of all documents and records that are relevant to the hearing.
Who can attend the hearing? The hearing shall be private unless the complainant requests and members of the hearing panel agree to a public hearing. The Woonsocket Housing Authority will have its witnesses, and the tenant may have his/her witnesses. The tenant may be represented by an attorney or may represent himself/herself.
What happens at the hearing? At the hearing and in all cases except evictions, the complainant must make a prima facie case and then the burden of proof is on The Woonsocket Housing Authority to justify the action or inaction proposed by it in its answer to the complaint. In cases dealing with evictions, the burden of proof is on The Woonsocket Housing Authority to justify the proposed eviction. The complainant may present evidence and arguments in support of his/her complaint, controvert evidence relied on by The Woonsocket Housing Authority and confront and cross-examine all witnesses on whose testimony or information The Woonsocket Housing Authority relies. Hearings conducted by the hearing panel shall be informal.
What happens after the hearing? The hearing panel shall prepare its written decision, including a statement of findings and conclusions, as well as the reasons or basis thereof upon all issues raised by the parties. The decisions of the hearing panel will be forwarded to all concerned parties.
Tenant grievances or complaints. A tenant grievance or complaint must be personally presented in writing and signed by the complainant to the Housing Authority office of the project in which the complainant resides.
The moving of your personal articles must be handled from curbside. No one is to drive over the sidewalks or lawns.
When vacating your dwelling, we expect it to be in as clean a condition as when you moved in. Please see that closets, shelves, the stove, refrigerator, plumbing fixtures and doors are clean of residue, food, dust and dirt that may be present. The tenant will be responsible for the cost of cleaning the apartment and also for the cost of replacement of items damaged during the tenancy by other than normal wear. Refer to Article VII, Damage and Repair, which is in your lease. The security deposit will be used for payment of damages and repairs. Any charges incurred over and above the amount of security deposit will be billed directly to the tenant. Remember also that, as stated in Article IX, Termination, Paragraph H, a written notice should be given to your Project Manager 15 days before vacating the apartment.
As per The Woonsocket Housing Authority's equal opportunity housing plan,
Bilingual materials may be provided, as needed, if requested and available.
Adjustment will be made in the outreach procedures as needed and by added media coverage on an information basis. The Woonsocket Housing Authority anticipates that, due to the significant number of eligible applicants from the lower-income level groups, as well as those on public assistance in the City of Woonsocket, a large volume of applicants will be covered by our present outreach procedure. However, if after initial efforts the flow of applications becomes too slow, The Woonsocket Housing Authority will make additional effort to contact those agencies and organizations which provide services oriented toward households in need of rental assistance. If the flow should become too rapid in relation to the agency's staff capacity to process applications, additional staff may be hired commensurate with available funding and HUD approval.
Household types who are least likely to apply, such as the very old, shut-ins, minorities and working families, will be reached through special efforts. These efforts are as follows:
Elderly. The Council on Aging will be solicited to aid in bringing the information to its clients.
Minorities. The Woonsocket Housing Authority will inform other public agencies in the hope that they will notify those minorities they are serving about the program.
Working families. The Woonsocket Housing Authority advertisement for applicants for public housing includes the income limits for eligibility. This is done in hopes of encouraging the working person or persons of very low income.
Staffing adjustments. If additional staffing is needed to handle the application-taking period, part-time help may be employed, as approved by HUD and if funding is available.
| Keys and Locks | ||
| Apartment keys (picked up at office) | $25 | |
| Change locks (per lock) | $35 | |
| Mailbox key | $2 | |
| Mailbox lock change | $10 | |
| Lost keys: | ||
| First | $25 | |
| Second | $35 | |
| Additional | $45 | |
| Doors and windows | ||
| New prime replacement sash top or bottom (complete) | $40 | |
| Glass for sash or storm | $15 | |
| Sash lock or jamb lock | $4 | |
| Storm unit complete | $40 | |
| Upper or lower storm sash | $20 | |
| Screen (complete window unit) | $20 | |
| Rescreen window unit | $5 | |
| New entrance door (no frame or lockset or hardware) | $200 | |
| Peephole | $8.95 | |
| New mail slot | $92 | |
| Nameplate | $1.25 | |
| New entrance door lockset | $60 | |
| Storm door complete | $200 | |
| Storm door closer | $10 | |
| Storm door latch set (2 different types) | $7.75; $16.38 | |
| Storm door catch chain | $3 | |
| Storm door screen and frame (heavy-duty security screen) | $76 | |
| Rescreen existing storm door frame | $50 | |
| Storm door kickplate | $15 | |
| Storm door rubber sweep | $7.50 | |
| Entrance door jamb repair kit for lockset | $30 | |
| Entrance door glass light | $10 | |
| Vinyl threshold | $9.50 | |
| Interior passage sets | $8 | |
| Interior paneled doors | $90 | |
| Door stops | $2 | |
| Entrance door dead bolt | $8.42 + | |
| Sash balance | $5 | |
| Closet accordion doors, | $58.46 | |
| Accordion door extensions | $17.06 + | |
| Kitchen | ||
| Light lens | $13.50 | |
| New cabinet door top | $15 | |
| New cabinet door bottom | $10 | |
| Hinges | $3 | |
| Drawer pulls | $2.50 | |
| New drawer | $17 | |
| Repair drawer | $5 | |
| Exhaust fan grill (non stock) | $14.75 | |
| Exhaust fan filter | $11.76 + | |
| Gas Stoves | ||
| Knobs | $3.50 | |
| Door handles | $9 | |
| Top grates | $11 | |
| Broiler pan | $9.34 + | |
| Broiler rack | $9.98 + | |
| Door spring | $8.60 + | |
| Top manifold plate | $20 | |
| New oven door | $130.42 | |
| Wire racks | $10.46 + | |
| Rubber insulator door strip | $8 | |
| New stove | $228 | |
| Hood | $50 | |
| Refrigerators | ||
| Freezer door | $74.50 | |
| Refrigerator door | $68.92 | |
| Crisper | $25 | |
| Freezer door molding | $16 | |
| Refrigerator door molding | $29 | |
| Shelf racks | $8 | |
| New refrigerator | $355 | |
| Main door insert | $91.50 | |
| Freezer door insert | $30 | |
| Flipper on meat tray | $3 | |
| Refrigerator door handle | $8 | |
| Formica | $40.86 | |
| Countertop | $99.70 | |
| Heating systems | ||
| New thermostat | $35.75 | |
| New power head | $56.73 + | |
| New convector cover (8 inches x 8 feet) | $20 | |
| Divider covers | $5 | |
| Convector corner | $5 | |
| Large convector cover in hallways | $50 | |
| Fin tube element (8 feet) | $20 | |
| End cover | $4 | |
| Realignment of baseboards (per wall) | $20 | |
| Light fixtures | ||
| Entrance light complete | $27.50 | |
| Entrance light lens | $16 | |
| Living room light complete | $31 | |
| Living room light lens | $13.50 | |
| Bedroom light fixture | $33.75 | |
| Kitchen light complete | $53.57 + | |
| Kitchen light lens | $12 | |
| Utility room light complete | $23.40 | |
| Utility room light lens | $15 | |
| Stairwell light complete | $33.50 | |
| Stairwell light lens | $16 | |
| Upstairs hall light complete | $25 | |
| Upstairs hall light lens | $16 | |
| Bathroom light vent fan complete | $117 | |
| Bathroom light vent fan lens | $17.76 | |
| Porcelain pull chain | $11.79 | |
| Bathroom | ||
| Paper holder | $16 | |
| Paper holder roller | $1 | |
| Toilet tank | $171.33 + | |
| Toilet bowl | $77 | |
| Toilet seat | $11.74 + | |
| Medicine cabinet complete | $47 | |
| Medicine cabinet light lens | $12 | |
| Medicine cabinet mirror | $12 | |
| Shower rod | $11.03 + | |
| Towel bar (18 inches) | $5 | |
| Towel bar (24 inches) | $4 | |
| Lavatory | $76 | |
| Pop-up | $39 | |
| Replace floor | $120 | |
| Electrical | ||
| Light switch | $2.50 | |
| Outlet | $2.75 | |
| Covers for switches or covers | $1.50 | |
| Smoke detector | $43.50 | |
| Miscellaneous | ||
| Shower head | $10 | |
| Aerator | $4.50 | |
| Sink strainer baskets | $5.50 | |
| Washing machine utility box | $54 | |
| New tub trip plate | $8 | |
| Remove appliance | $7.50 | |
| Rubbish removal: | ||
| First time | $10 | |
| Second time | $15 | |
| Third time | $20 | |
| Lockout: | ||
| First time | $10 | |
| Second time | $15 | |
| Third time | $20 | |
| Preparation of apartment for fumigation by Authority | $35 | |
| Open windows during heating season: | ||
| First time | $25 | |
| Second time | $40 | |
| Third time | $60 | |
| Outside lights left on during daytime: | ||
| First time | $10 | |
| Second time | $25 | |
| NOTE: |
|---|
| These figures represent the material cost only and shall not prohibit The Woonsocket Housing Authority from charging labor or prorating charge for items not listed herein due to neglect. The tenant will be responsible for all neglect calls for the cost of labor. |
The Authority reserves the right to allow or disallow use of the community room at the two-family developments. Allowable use is as follows:
Special requests for use of the community rooms for other purposes will be allowed, provided that a deposit of $35 per day is paid and a leasing contract is signed by those requesting the use of the hall, such deposit being refunded upon satisfactory inspection of the hall after use.
Special requests will also require that a maintenance person be present during the use and that $18.026 per hour is paid by the party, at the discretion of the Authority.
As of January 1, 1996, there is no smoking allowed in the community rooms.
As of January 1, 1996, there are no alcoholic beverages allowed in the community rooms, even at private parties. However, a small wine toast is acceptable.
All requests for use of the community halls by nonresidents must be approved by the Authority and then forwarded to the Resident Services Coordinator, who will note the event on the calendar.
If police or security personnel are needed, the person who is renting the hall will supply payment.
Only a single one-hundred-ten-volt energy-efficient air conditioner manufactured within the last five years may be used per apartment; no more than two window fans in place of the one air conditioner may be permitted, and the WHA reserves the right to limit appliances to the capacity of the electric service for that apartment.
