This letter is to give our new tenants useful information that will improve their stay with
Johnson Associates.
OUR OFFICES. We are located at 4619 Lee Highway near the intersection of Glebe Road
and Lee Highway. Our hours are 10:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday thru Friday. Rents are due the first
of the month and are considered late after the 5th with a late fee then added on. They can be
mailed or taken to our office. We do not accept cash. The main phone is 703.524.8858. The
extensions are Office Manager, 21, Jim Burkholder, 24, Jim Adams, 25, and regular maintenance
calls, Ken, 26. When leaving maintenance requests, please speak clearly, and slowly. You should
include your name, building number, apartment number, time, nature of the call, and most
importantly phone numbers for home and work so we may reach you if needed.
If you need to contact us by mail our address is PO box 7139, Arlington, Virginia, 22207.
We hope your time with us is uneventful, but in case of a serious emergency or crime
involving your safety or belongings call the police at 911. This would include homeless people
sleeping or walking around the property, any suspected theft, or someone breaking into your
apartment, peeping toms, suspected domestic violence at a neighbors, drug sales, or car vandalism.
We are not law enforcement officials, we need you to notify police right away to stop and prevent
these issues. We provide extensive security lighting inside and outside the buildings, but we do not
live there. If you notice broken, burned out, or flashing bulbs call maintaince right away. Do not
rely on others to call.
We strongly suggest you look at renters insurance. Many of the items I will list may end up
causing damage to your belongings. For many of them insurance is the only way you will receive
compensation. In most cases a cheap renters policy will be perfect coverage for you.
Water problems are the most common service, and emergency call we get. Here is some
basic information on what to do if a problem occurs
Natural rain leaks can occur during some thunderstorms or winter snowfalls. If a leak in the
roof occurs try to collect the drip in pans, take a screwdriver and make a hole in the ceiling to
prevent the leak from spreading, and preventing a section of the ceiling from collapsing on your
belongings. Lower level apartments may be susceptible to ground flooding. Check exterior drains
outside your apartment to be sure they are not filled with storm debris. Call our offices as soon as a
problem is noticed, and use the emergency number at night or on weekends. Plaster repairs will be
done after the leak is repaired and the surface is dry.
Water leaks often are found in the bathrooms. You may be the cause of a leak to a neighbor
below if your shower curtain is not closed, not inside the tub, or the spray is getting on the floor. Be
sure the caulk is secure around the edge of your tub and at the joint near the floor. A leaking drain
line from the kitchen or bath sink may damage the apartment below. Look for signs of paint damage
or discoloration above your tub or toilet.
Most water leaks can be stopped at the source. Look for a shut off valve, and use it. Dripping
sinks, tubs and toilets are all sources of wasted water. We want to take care of these promptly.
Clogged drains do not fix themselves and can turn into floods. A $4.00 plunger can take care
of most toilet blockages. If a toilet blockage persists or water backs up into your tub or kitchen sink
from the apartment above ask your neighbors to stop using water till you can call and get the
problem repaired. Put only toilet paper in toilets. If we find a tenant has dropped something in the
toilet they will be charged for a service call. Please refrain from using draino or other chemicals in
the drains, as this can be harmful or dangerous.
Radiators may leak near the shut off valves. We ask that you refrain from turning them
because unless done properly, it could get worse.
An air conditioner can be another source. Water can run down the wall damaging your
apartment and the one below. A clogged drain or dirty filter during the hot humid days of summer
can be the cause. We will be glad to clean or change your filter if you cannot do it.
You may have one or two AC units depending on your apartment. Additional ACs may be
added for a fee. Please check with our office before installing one. For better AC service are, keep
plants, blinds, curtains, and furniture away from the front of the units. Make sure all windows are
closed, blinds shut, and filter cleaned. Keep a digital thermometer handy to monitor the temperature.
A cheap box fan can help circulate air throughout the unit for more even cooling.
Power outages occur for a variety of reasons. When you call it is important to have as much
information as possible. If only part of your unit is without power a blown fuse is probably the
problem. Many of our units are older and were built before many of today’s appliances arrived.
Toasters, microwaves, curling irons, etc can cause problems. The fuse box is located in your
apartment. A simple test is to exchange LIKE fuses to see if a problem is resolved. Replacement
fuses can be bought at many locations and it is a good idea to keep spares on hand. If the entire
apartment is out, check with your neighbors to see if it is a building problem. In this case it will be
necessary to call Dominion Power to fix the problem.
Lock and key problems make up many tenant calls. You are given a complete set of keys
when you move in. These are your responsibility. There is a charge to remake keys or replace
mailbox locks that need to be changed because of lost keys. All keys are to be returned at move out.
Stolen keys or roommate issues necessating lock changes are the tenant’s responsibility.
Insect and rodent problems are a part of urban life. All our buildings have regular service
contracts and there is no charge to have a problem taken care of. Call your manager to schedule
service. Squirrels can be a special problem, if you suspect them call. Mice often show up in the fall
as the weather cools. We can provide traps if needed but we leave the hunting to you.
Occasionally there is a need for plaster or paint repairs in an apartment. Please call us to get
it scheduled. Long-term tenants may be eligible for room-by-room painting. Call for the
requirements.
Trash and dumpsters need your attention so as not to become a problem. Recycle bins are
provided by law to protect the environment. Use them. Throw your trash to the rear of the dumpster
so it fills evenly. Do not send children to the dumpster. Do not block the loading side, and do not
lean large items against it. Please do not park cars in front of the dumpsters, as you car will be
towed. If pickups are missed or the company is performing poorly lets us know.
If you’re building has a storage area please keep your items in it. Access and clearance in
isles must be maintained. Occasionally we post notices that items not in the proper storage areas
will be removed.
Bike storage is provided at many buildings. Keep them locked. Please do not attach them to
gas or water pipes. When you move take them with you or notify us if they are to be recycled.
Hallway and exterior lights have been installed at all apartments. We need you to notify us
when they need replacement. Newer style bulbs blink shortly before they fail. If you notice
blinking, burned out bulbs, or faulty timers, call immediately. They are a security and safety issue
for all tenants. Don’t wait for someone else to call.
Johnson Associates has a landscaping crew. They are responsible for most lawn, garden, and
brush care. If you feel there is a need for landscaping work please call our office. We also do our
own leaf and snow removal. It takes time to get to all of our properties. During a snowfall please
try to sweep or shovel the steps at your entrance as often tenants trample down and compress a small
amount of snow into ice before we arrive. This makes the landings dangerous and difficult to clear.
Please try to keep the exterior of the property neat by not littering, using the recycle containers,
putting trash in the dumpsters, and keeping any yard items, tables chairs grills etc in good condition
and neatly stored.
We are not a carwash. Don’t use garden hoses to clean your cars. It is wasteful.
Overcrowding of our units is not allowed. It is a violation of the lease and you will be asked
to vacate the apartment.
Parking at our apartments is at a premium. We ask that all cars have stickers if available and
that inspections and tags are up to date and the car is in working condition. If you have more than
one car per apartment please keep only one on the lot to help others with parking.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and we hope it makes your time at Johnson
Associates a pleasant experience.
Rent. Rent is due on the first of each month and considered late after the 5th. Late charges will
apply after that. There is a secure mail drop at our office if needed.
Service calls. Non-emergency service calls go to extension 26 at our office. After hours
emergency calls only go to Rays Maintenance at 703.960.1571. There is a charge for
lockout services or lost keys. Remember, call immediately with all problems. On the
answering machine, speak slowly and clearly. Leave your name, building, apartment
number, a detailed message, and your home, cell, and work numbers so we may reach you.
Automobiles. Please keep only one licensed, inspected, and operable vehicles on the lot. If needed
be sure it has the necessary sticker.
Overcrowding. All tenants must be on your lease. Overcrowding is a violation of that lease.
Carpeting. Tenants on upper floors are required to have 80% of the floors carpeted.
Gas smells. If you suspect a gas leak, call Washington Gas at 1.800.752.7520 immediately.
Power outages. If only part of your apartment is without power, check your fuse box for a blown
fuse. It is a good idea to keep one or two of the same size fuse on hand to speed the return of
power. If the entire apartment or building is without electricity, call maintaince.
Pest services. All units have free, scheduled pest treatment services. If you travel or have overseas
visitors please know that bedbugs are a possibility. Please learn the signs and call
immediately if an infestation is suspected.
Laundry rooms. For laundry machine breakdowns please call (ext 25) and give detailed
information on the problem. Also, please unplug the machine and place a note on it to aid
others. Refunds will be made if needed.
Insurance. We strongly recommend renters insurance for your personal items. We do not cover a
water leak, storm, fire and smoke, or sewer back up damage under most circumstances.
Trash. Please throw trash in the back of the dumpsters and do not block the front of them with large
items or vehicles. If trash is not picked up, or overflowing, call the number on the container
or our office. Please use the recycle bins as much as possible.
Heating problems. With our older apartments we recommend having a small digital thermometer
and a box fan for moving air. Check to see if the heat problem is building wide or
only in your apartment. Keep furniture away from radiators and do not turn valves as they
may leak. Call ext 26.
Air Conditioners. If not working, check for power to the unit. For best results close all blinds,
keep them and curtains away from units, make sure the filter is clean, vent is closed, and all
windows are shut and secured.
Plumbing Problems. Do not use Drano, call us. Buy a plunger and use it. If you have a leak in
your apartment try to find a shut off valve for it. If water comes from above check with the
tenant above. For all problems call as soon as possible.
Security. Your security is a joint venture. Please inform us of broken windows, problems with
locks, exterior and hallway light being out, malfunctioning smoke detectors, or fire
extinguishers. For suspicious persons, break-ins, un-authorized entry, and vandalism, or
dangerous situations call the local police immediately.