Tenant Handbook

From Haven Homes

This guide for tenants of Lion Canyon has been written to include all required information you would normally expect to find in a tenant handbook as well as a wealth of additional information to help you get the most out of your time living here.

Communication

Emergencies

If there is a fire, medical, or police emergency, call 911.

If there is an emergency I can help with—like a water leak that you cannot shut off—please call me immediately and, while the phone is still ringing, run over to my house (two houses up the street) and ring the doorbell and pound on the door and scream until I answer, at any hour, day or night. (I am nearly always home.)

If the matter at hand doesn't warrant such an extreme response, please use TenantCloud to send a message starting with "URGENT:" and I will respond as soon as possible.

Here's what to do if you lose your keys.

Requests & questions

All non-emergency communication should be sent via TenantCloud—the same system you used to fill out your rental application. You can use the TenantCloud website or the app for iOS or Android.

If you want to request maintenance, please use the "Requests" feature of TenantCloud.

  • Website: Start here and follow these instructions.
  • App: Same as website, except the "Requests" button to start the process is at the bottom of the screen.

If you have any other questions, please use the "Chats" feature of TenantCloud.

  • Website: Start here and follow these instructions.
  • App: Same as website, except the "Chats" button to start the process is at the bottom of the screen.

Change of contact info

If your contact information, such as your mobile number, changes, you must notify me immediately. Sending a message via TenantCloud is sufficient.

Site Policies and Rules

Overview

Most of the same mundane policies that one would expect at any rental apply here at Lion Canyon and are described in the lease agreement. However, there are some extra rules here that aim to:

  • Prevent nuisance to you and your neighbors
  • Prevent damage to your home or furnishings
  • Keep people and cats safe and healthy

Rest assured that these rules are reasonable and not overly controlling. For example, "no loud music" and "no big parties" doesn't mean you can't have friends over and listen to music. It just means you can't bring an unruly mob in to damage the property and blare music so loud that you bother the whole neighborhood.

Ideally, you would feel these rules would be easy to follow without any real sacrifice, and hopefully see some of them as beneficial. For example, a quiet home can help you get good sleep, and every rule about the plumbing could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

However, if these rules seem like a burden to you—if you really want to throw loud parties and set things on fire—then we highly encourage you to look elsewhere, because essentially no other homes in the area have these rules.

Keep Lion Canyon peaceful.

Lion Canyon is designed to be a calm, quiet refuge for both people and cats, which means excessive noise—like loud music or big parties—is not allowed.

If you did not plan on making much noise anyway, then you can see this quiet policy as a pure benefit, since it won’t restrict you and will ensure your sleep, study, work, or enjoyment of your home will not disturbed by your neighbors. (Sleep is important for everyone’s health, especially cats—in fact, kittens need to sleep 16-20 hours a day for proper development.)

On the other hand, if you see this quiet policy as uncomfortably restrictive, then Lion Canyon probably isn’t for you. However, since practically no other housing in the area has such restrictions, you have no shortage of other options.

In general, please be courteous of your neighbors and avoid making noise that would bother them. A few specifics:

  • Please take care to open and close the convertible desk/bed gently to avoid disturbing others.
  • Please avoid using the garbage disposal between 10 pm and 8 am.
  • Please keep the television and music at a level that does not disturb your neighbors.

No flames or vapors.

Smoking, candles, incense burners, and anything that produces smoke or vapor other than steam are all prohibited. In addition to reducing fire danger, this also protects the eyes and respiratory tracts of cats, as well as prevents unnecessary anxiety and irritation, since a cat’s sense of smell is about 14 times more sensitive than that of a human.

Only cats are allowed.

Dogs are awesome and many dogs are wonderful with cats, but the misbehavior of a single dog—or even its scent—could disturb all cats on the property, so no pet dogs or any other pets are allowed at Lion Canyon—only cats.

(We love dogs, and one of the next Haven Homes project planned is for large dogs; however, Lion Canyon is for cats only.)

Cats must be cared for.

To protect the health and wellbeing of all tenants and pets:

  • All cats must be indoor-only.
  • All cats must be spayed/neutered.
  • All cats must be examined by a licensed veterinarian at least once a year.
  • All cats must be vaccinated according to the recommendations of a licensed veterinarian.
  • All cats must be given adequate food, water, physical touch, and mental stimulation.
  • All cats must be given access to a litter box that is emptied and cleaned regularly.

In order to be allowed to have a cat on the premises, you must sign a document promising to follow these rules. (This is not intended to be a legally enforceable document; however, there is still value in making a firm promise and signing your name to it.)

Everyone can use the patio.

Since San Diego has famously perfect weather year-round, you may want to spend much of your time outside. You are welcome to do so on the giant 1,250 sq. ft. raised patio, which has outdoor seating and a 600 sq. ft. covered area with lights and fans, for your quiet enjoyment from 8 am to 10 pm.

Don’t alter the home.

If you want something changed in your home, just ask—please do not attempt to do it yourself. Even if you just want to hang something on the wall, just ask me—I have special hooks that cause minimal drywall damage and I know what’s inside all the walls.

If you are using a hammer, saw, drill, screwdriver, or practically any tool on something that isn’t your own property, then you are almost surely violating this rule.

Avoid plumbing and water damage.

If you want to avoid costly repair bills, pay close attention to this section, because other than causing a fire, almost every way you could possibly cause expensive damage to the home is related to plumbing or water damage.

As of this writing, the pipes are all brand new, so if your drain backs up, the odds are incredibly high that you caused it through misuse.

Never use these products.

Using any of these products can cause thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars in damage.

  • Drano
  • Liquid Plumr
  • Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

Never flush anything but TP.

Just ask any plumber: There is no such thing as a “flushable” wipe, regardless of the lies printed on the label.

The lease says: “Tenant shall not allow any tampons or other hygiene products, cotton balls, tissues, bandages, dental floss, wipes of any kind (including those marked ‘flushable’), sweepings, rubbish, sand, rags, ashes or any other substances other than toilet paper or human excreta to be thrown or deposited therein.” Follow this to the letter.

Never use shower caddies.

Shower arm pipes are not designed to support more weight than the shower head. Heavy shampoo bottles apply constant pressure on the shower arm. Then that weight is suddenly taken away, then put back—and not always gently—by people who have just put soap near their eyes. This will inevitably cause a leak in the pipe behind the wall, which is incredibly expensive to fix, let alone the cost of any other water damage the leak causes. Do everyone a favor and use the multiple shelves that have been built into each shower instead.

Use drain strainers.

In the bathroom, use a strainer to keep hair from clogging the drain.

In the kitchen, use a strainer to keep out everything that shouldn’t go into the disposal, including:

  • Fats, oils, grease
  • Eggshells
  • Used coffee grounds
  • Potato peels
  • Fibrous foods
  • Expandable foods, like rice and pasta
  • Starchy foods, like oatmeal
  • Corn husks
  • Nuts
  • Trash
  • Celery & onions
  • Meat
  • Bones
  • Fruit pits
  • Seafood shells
  • Broken glass or metal

Don’t put grease in the drain.

It bears repeating: Do not pour fats, oils, or grease down any drain. It will stick to the pipes, harden, and cause a foul-smelling clog.

Run cold water with disposal.

Always run cold water down the drain when using the garbage disposal. Otherwise, the motor will overheat and burn out.

Don’t let mold/mildew form.

Open bathroom windows and turn on the ventilation fan during and the shower, and keep ventilating afterward until the bathroom is dry. Similarly, always use the ventilation fan when cooking on the stovetop. Clean up spilled water promptly. Failing to take these steps will lead to mold or mildew forming.

Don’t attract ants.

Do not leave food out uncovered, and use airtight containers when possible. Do not let dirty dishes sit very long outside the dishwasher. If ants do invade, remove whatever was attracting them and wash all their pathways with soap and water—this disrupts the scent markers they use for navigation.

Tips & Tricks

The following is a collection of helpful information from me and previous tenants to help you get the most out of your home.

Heating, Cooling, and Ventilation

How to use the HVAC properly

Just set the thermostat to the temperature you want and the HVAC unit will operate extremely efficiently to keep that temperature—the onboard algorithms are very, very good at optimizing what’s most efficient. If you are too warm or too cold, simply change the thermostat setting—you won't have to wait more than a few minutes.

Do NOT cycle the HVAC on and off—you actually cost yourself more money that way, and do more work only to be less comfortable, plus you wear out the HVAC unit. (Letting the room heat up too much makes it work harder to cool down again—it’s better to let the compressor operate longer at a lower level without starting and stopping.)

Open the windows

Some people who move here from other areas are used to keeping windows closed almost all the time. But this is San Diego, where it's often more comfortable outside than it is inside. If this is the case, just open the window and let fresh air in. Also, if you're in Highgate, the wall switch to the right of washer/dryer controls a whole-house fan—open a few windows, turn the fan on, and the entire home will quickly be full of fresh outside air.

Lighting

Dim the lights before bedtime

Every bedroom has dim-to-warm lights in the ceiling.

At full brightness, the light is bright white, which is great for work, but it supresses melatonin and interferes with sleep.

Dim the lights at least 90 minutes before you plan to sleep—the decreased brightness and the color shift to warm yellow light will help regulate your circadian rhythm, leading you to fall asleep faster and get better quality sleep.

Use all the desk lamp features

[Explain all the buttons]

The [] button changes the color temperature.

The [] button activates a secondary, low-power bulb that functions as a night light.

The [] button activates a timer, which will shut the lamp off in an hour.

Finally, for those in The Quarters and Cloud Nine Studios, the desk lamp provides a handy reference for what will fit safely on the desk when opening the bed, since it fits fairly snugly when the lamp is in the horizontal position.


About Your Home

Customizing your home

Changing the closet layout

If you are in Cloud Nine Studios or The Quarters, your closets are built with a modular organization system that can be reconfigured. Just talk to me about what you want and I'll work with you to create a closet layout that meets your needs.

Furthermore, if you are in Cloud Nine Studios then your closet also has the option of using the lower portion as a litter closet.

Changing the decor

If you would like to change the way your home looks, just ask. We maintain a collection of extra decorative pillows, comforters/sheets, area rugs, art objects, and wall art, so you should always have at least a few options.

Special features for cats

If you have a cat, or are thinking about getting one, make sure to read about all the special features for cats in each of the homes:


Cleaning Tips

Appliances

  • The washing machine should be aired out after use to prevent mold.

Bathrooms

Floors

Furniture

Kitchen

  • With the kitchen sink faucet, move the lever toward the back for hot water and toward the front for cold water.

Appliance user manuals

Many questions you have about your appliances can be answered in the user manuals:

Highgate

  • Dishwasher: GE GDT550PYRFS (Manual)
  • Washer: GE GFW550SSNWW (Manual)
  • Dryer: GE GFD55GSSNWW (Manual)

The Quarters

Cloud Nine Studios

Utilities

Electricity

Electricity is provided by SDG&E. You must transfer service into your name immediately upon moving in, which you can do here.

Water/Sewer

For Highgate and The Quarters, water and sewer service is included in the rent.

For Cloud Nine Studios, you must transfer service into your name immediately upon moving in, which you can do here.

Internet

The highest-speed internet service available in the area (as of this writing), Gigablast from Cox Communications, is provided via wired ethernet and Wi-Fi connections. Please contact me if you need connection info or if you require your own dedicated internet service account.

Television

Some streaming video services are provided free-of-charge for all tenants. If you need the login info or require live TV service, please contact me.

Trash

Trash pickup service is included in the rent. The normal trash pickup day is Friday, although holidays will change this. (Collection schedule)

Renters Insurance

Renters insurance is required for all tenants; otherwise, rents and security deposits would have to be much higher. Renters insurance typically costs less than $20/month in San Diego.

The easiest way to get this insurance is to buy it directly through TenantCloud by following these instructions.

However, if you want to use a different provider, you can upload the policy details through TenantCloud as well.

Paying Rent

  • The preferred method of paying rent is via bank payment through TenantCloud by following these instructions. (You will not be charged a fee; I pay the fees for you.)
  • You can use contact@havenhomes.org to pay via Zelle or Paypal.
  • You may also pay via ACH or wire transfer; contact me for instructions.
  • Cash or cashier's check payments require advance approval.
  • Finally, you can pay using a credit card through TenantCloud, but you will be charged a 3.5% fee. Please avoid using a credit card if you can help it; we offer it only in case you are stuck with no better option.

Parking

Residents of Highgate may use the driveway to park up to two full-size vehicles.

All other residents of Lion Canyon must park on the street; however, there are no other homes on the entire block where Lion Canyon is located, and as of this writing, parking has never been a problem.

Moving In

Update utility bills

On or before the day you move in, you must contact SDG&E to put the electrical bill in your name. You can transfer service here or you can call 1-800-411-SDGE (7343).

For residents of Highgate and The Quarters, that is all you need to do.

Residents of Cloud Nine Studios must also sign up for individual water billing at [LINK TBA].

Update your mailing address

You can change your mailing address with USPS at moversguide.usps.com.

Please Note: As of 2023, filing a change of address requires an extra step whereby you verify your identification to prevent fraud.

Moving Out

Giving notice

How to get your entire deposit back

Keys

Lost keys

If you are locked out of your home, please do not call a locksmith unless you are sure I am not home. If you need to get in and I am not responding to your message quickly, just ring my doorbell until I wake up. I may be a little grumpy, but I'll be grumpier if you have a locksmith open your door lock, because that will damage it.

Changing the locks

If, for security reasons, you would like your locks changed, just ask and I can rekey the locks for you.

Damaged/Lost Furnishings Policy

Everything we provide is built to last. If you are reasonably careful, when you move out you should be able to return most items in about the same condition they were in when you moved in. It is our goal that you get your entire security deposit back.

If you damage or lose a provided furnishing:

  • Please let us know right away.
    • If it is covered under a product warranty, it may be able to be repaired or replaced at no cost.
  • We will charge you only for the exact cost of the repair or replacement, and we will give you a copy of the receipt.
    • If you don’t need a replacement right away, we will watch for a sale price for a few months if you prefer.
  • If you want, you can keep the damaged item.
  • We will prorate the cost if the item was not in good condition when you got it.
  • We will not charge for normal wear and tear. For example, if we furnish you with a cutting board, we expect it will get scratched up.
  • We’re not unreasonable. If you chip or break a plate during your stay, we’re not going to charge you. If you chip or break all the plates, then you will be charged for a replacement set.

Loaner Items

We have several items available to borrow on an as-needed basis. We expect this list to grow over time, but as of now, the following items are available for tenants to borrow:

  • Wet/dry vacuum
  • Various tools
  • Umbrellas
  • Beach gear set: Includes two body boards, two beach chairs, and a tent
  • Cat carrier kennel (for emergencies)

Local Area Guide

As the property manager, I am happy to share all that I know about this location, having lived here for over 20 years. If you have any questions not covered in this section, please feel free to ask.

Neighborhood

The best feature of this neighborhood is the people who live in it—this area has a curiously high concentration of wonderful, friendly neighbors.

  • This is a quiet neighborhood of a few cul-de-sacs, so there is no through traffic. In fact, past this location there is only one short street with 18 homes, so few cars ever drive by at all.
  • The neighbors are mostly seniors, with just a few homes with students, so parties are rare. Unlike many areas around SDSU, the people in this neighborhood are vigilant and don’t let parties get out of hand.
  • This area is down in a canyon, so it is especially quiet and there is almost no noise from wind or surrounding areas.
  • Since there is a hill on one side of the property, there is only one neighbor close by, and they are some of the nicest folks you’ll ever meet. In fact, most of the neighbors here know each other, look out for each other, and are very friendly.

This is the best area of a great neighborhood, and I’m constantly grateful for living here.

  • When bad things are happening in the world, it’s usually not so bad in the US.
  • When bad things are happening in the US, it’s usually not so bad in California.
  • When bad things are happening in California, it’s usually not so bad in San Diego.
  • Of the relatively few problems San Diego does have, practically none of them occur here in this neighborhood.
  • One of the largest problems in San Diego is high housing costs, but that’s a direct result of having so few other problems that everyone wants to live here.

Transportation

Freeway Access

Map: Freeways

This location is about as close as you can get to freeways without having any freeway noise. It is near the nexus where most major San Diego freeways converge:

  • I-8 and I-15 are just two miles away.
  • I-805 is the very next exit from there.
  • I-163 is only two miles past that.

Plus, during typical travel from this location, most of the time traffic is going in the other direction.

Public Transit

Map: Public Transit

With easy access to all three major San Diego public transit systems within walking distance, many people live in this area without cars.

Top-Rated Schools

Map: Schools

This is an incredible area for education with top-rated schools at every level, and many people live here specifically to get access to them. These include:

Furthermore, if you need tutoring or childcare services, there are so many college students nearby actively looking for extra work that you can often find graduate students in fields like education or child development who will offer great rates in exchange for convenient work close to home.

SDSU

If you study or work at SDSU, this location is difficult to beat, as this is one of the closest locations around—just 2-3 blocks away from the campus (near Parking Structure 7).

Plus, the SDSU campus is beautiful, and is a great place for anyone to walk, jog, or ride a bike.

Even if you are not a full-time student, the location is convenient if you need continuing education credits for your job. Or, if you want, you can even take classes at SDSU without enrolling. (More info: SDSU Open University)

Grocery Stores

Map: Grocery Stores

Trader Joe’s is so close that you can use it like an extended pantry, but there are several other grocery stores very close by as well.

  • Trader Joe’s
    5140 College Ave. (1.0 mi.)
  • Grocery Outlet
    4360 54th Street (1.2 mi.)
  • Von’s
    6155 El Cajon Blvd. (1.7 mi.)
  • Ralph’s
    6670 Montezuma Road (1.9 mi.)
  • Food 4 Less
    5975 University Ave (2.5 mi.)

Restaurants

Map: Restaurants

There are hundreds of restaurants within a few miles of this location.

There are over 20 fast-food and fast-casual restaurants near the corner of Montezuma and College (about a mile away), with several more coming soon.

  • McDonald’s (coming back soon)
  • Epic Wings
  • Lolita’s Mexican Food
  • Everbowl
  • Poki One ‘n’ Half
  • Which Wich
  • Eureka!
  • Señor Pancho’s Fresh Mexican Grill
  • Trujillo’s Taco Shop
  • Jack in the Box
  • 55 Thai Kitchen
  • African Cuisine
  • Domino’s Pizza
  • Panda Express
  • Rubio’s
  • Oggi’s Pizza Express
  • Shake Smart
  • The Habit Burger Grill
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill
  • Plant Power Fast Food
  • Subway
  • The Garden

Plus, there are dozens more down Mission Gorge and hundreds on El Cajon Blvd.

Some others close by worth noting:

  • D.Z. Akin’s
    6930 Alvarado Road (less than 3 mi. away)
    (619) 265-0218
    A San Diego icon that started out with one space in a strip mall, then expanded five times to take over the entire building. This New York-style deli has something for everyone with around 400 items on the menu (they have over 100 types of sandwiches alone), a ridiculously extensive selection of breakfast served all day, a full dinner and dessert menu, plus a full in-house bakery. In over 25 years of going here, I’ve never had anything I didn’t love.
  • Antica Trattoria
    5654 Lake Murray Blvd. in the Lake Murray Village Shopping Center
    (619) 463-9919
    Speaking of strip malls, don’t let the location of this one fool you. This Italian restaurant has great ambience and the food is on par with the best restaurants in Little Italy, but with a much more convenient location—just one exit east from College Ave on I-8 to Lake Murray Blvd., then turn right to head north—it’s just past the Vons.
  • Ponce’s
    4050 Adams Ave.
    (619) 282-4413
    Great traditional Mexican food close to home. Closed Sundays.

Not close by but worth the drive:

  • Funky Fries & Burgers
    101 W Washington Ave
    El Cajon, CA 92020 (plus two other locations)
    (619) 328-2929
    If you like burgers, it is impossible to overhype this restaurant. People come down from LA to get burgers here. Just try it.
  • Regents Pizzeria
    4150 Regents Park Row #100
    La Jolla, CA 92037
    (858) 550-0406
    The only place I’ve ever seen that can make excellent New York and Chicago pizza.
  • Royal India Miramar
    8990 Miramar Rd #200
    San Diego, CA 92126
    (858) 457-9999
    Excellent recipes, very high quality ingredients (just look at the rice), and perfectly cooked vegetables, but nothing compares to the taste that comes from their spices, which they dry and grind themselves.
  • Tacos El Gordo
    689 H St
    Chula Vista, CA 91910
    (619) 207-0144
    Open very late and serves some of the best Tijuana-style tacos and mulas around. Avoid peak hours, as the line can be almost an hour long.

Hospitals

Map: Hospitals

Many major hospitals within a few miles:

  • Kaiser Permanente Vandever Medical Offices
    4405 Vandever Ave, San Diego, CA 92120
    (2.1 mi.)
  • UCSD Health/Alvarado Hospital Medical Center
    6655 Alvarado Rd, San Diego, CA 92120
    (2.4 mi.)
  • Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center
    4647 Zion Ave, San Diego, CA 92120
    (3.2 mi.)
  • Kaiser Permanente La Mesa Medical Offices
    8080 Parkway Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
    (4.5 mi.)
  • Sharp Grossmont Hospital
    5555 Grossmont Center Dr, La Mesa, CA 91942
    (6 mi.)
  • Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center
    9455 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, San Diego, CA 92123
    (7 mi.)
  • Rady Children's Hospital
    3020 Children's Way, San Diego, CA 92123
    (7 mi.)
  • Sharp Memorial Hospital
    7901 Frost St, San Diego, CA 92123
    (7 mi.)
  • UCSD Medical Center
    200 W Arbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92103
    (8 mi.)
  • Kaiser Permanente Clairemont Mesa Medical Offices
    6911 Convoy Ct, San Diego, CA 92111
    (9 mi.)
  • Naval Medical Center San Diego
    34800 Bob Wilson Dr, San Diego, CA 92134
    (9 mi.)
  • Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
    9888 Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92037
    (14 mi.)

Veterinarians

Several veterinarians are nearby; below are some of the closest.

For routine veterinary care:

  • College Animal Hospital
    5653 El Cajon Blvd.
    (619) 286-1980
  • Banfield Pet Hospital
    4585 College Ave.
    (619) 286-0963

For 24-hour emergency veterinary care:

  • VCA Emergency Animal Hospital
    2317 Hotel Circle S.
    (619) 299-2400
  • Pet Emergency & Specialty Center
    5232 Jackson Dr. #105
    (619) 462-4800

Shopping

Mission Valley is just a few exits west on I-8. There you’ll find several shopping centers and two large malls, Fashion Valley and Westfield Mission Valley. Practically every major retail store is only a few minutes away.

There are also two Costco locations just a couple of miles away:

  • Costco Mission Valley
    2345 Fenton Pkwy
    San Diego, CA 92108
  • Costco La Mesa
    8125 Fletcher Pkwy
    La Mesa, CA 91942

Note: While they are both about the same distance away, the Mission Valley location is used as a national test market, so it often has new and interesting products you may not find at other locations.

Gyms

There are many gyms close by, but here are just a few worth noting:

  • ARC
    If you are a student or faculty member (or are sponsored by one), then you can’t beat the Aztec Recreation Center (ARC) at SDSU, which has one of the largest gyms in the world and Olympic-level facilities for just about every sport in existence.
  • Xplicit Fitness
    6628 Mission Gorge Rd. (3 mi.)
    (619) 281-0800
    Founded by a Golden Glove champion, Xplicit integrates boxing into an intense 40-minute workout that’s fun and feels like you have your own personal trainer. (Yelp: 5 stars when last checked.)
  • CrossFit 858
    5841 Mission Gorge Rd. (2.2 mi.)
    (858) 566-4500
    If you’re into CrossFit, this is highest rated CrossFit gym in the area, according to Yelp. (5 stars when last checked).

Local Rental Scams

[**COMPLETE]

Excessive application fees

Taking fees for hundreds of applications

“You’ll get the keys by mail”

Properties that don’t exist


First Time in San Diego Guide

Event Calendar

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