Renter fees · Effective September 2026
What does it cost to rent from One Focus? Every fee, right here.
Surprises about money aren't cool and we believe in transparency. So we put every cost of renting from us on one page, before you ever fill out an application.
What you pay to apply, what you pay to move in, what you pay every month, and the fees you will only see if something goes wrong. Most of our renters only ever pay the first three. We also tell you how to avoid every fee that you do not have to pay.
The short version
Every renter cost on one table
| Cost | Amount | When you pay it |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $65 per adult resident (18+), and per co-signer | When you apply. Not refundable |
| Security deposit | Usually one month's rent | Before you move in |
| First month's rent | Prorated rent for your move-in month, plus the next full month if you move in on the 21st or later | Before you move in |
| Move-in admin fee | $50, one time | Before you move in |
| Rent | Your monthly rent | Due on the 1st of every month |
| Resident Benefits Program | $15 a month | Every month with rent |
| Renter's liability insurance | $12.95 a month, only if you do not have your own policy | Every month with rent |
| Pet fee | $15 to $50 a month per pet | Every month with rent, only if you have an approved pet |
| Late fee | 8% of what you owe | Only if rent is not in by the 5th |
| Paying rent online by bank account (eCheck) | $0 | Never |
| Paying rent online by debit card | $9.99 per transaction | When you make the payment |
| Paying rent online by credit card | 2.99% of the amount paid | When you make the payment |
| Paying rent with electronic cash at a local store | $4.99 per transaction | When you make the payment |
Applying
$65 per adult
Every adult 18 or older who will live in the home, and any co-signer, fills out their own application and pays a $65 screening fee. The fee pays for your credit check, criminal background check, eviction history search, and income and rental history verification.
The application fee is never refunded, even if you are not approved. That is exactly why we publish our full application criteria and scoring ahead of time. Read it before you apply, check yourself against it, and you can apply with confidence.
Application fee
$65
per adult resident (18+) and per co-signer. Not refundable.
Looking at more than one of our rentals?
Good news: your application can be used for any of our listings for 30 days with no extra fee.
Moving in
What you pay before you get the keys
Security deposit
1 month
usually, of your rent
For most approved applicants, the security deposit is equal to one month's rent. Sometimes we approve an application on the condition of a higher deposit. If a higher deposit is part of your approval, we will tell you before you sign anything.
Your deposit is held in a trust account the whole time you live with us.
First month's rent
Prorated
based on your move-in day
When you pay your first month depends on the day you move in:
Move in the 1st to the 20th
You pay the prorated rent for that month only, at the time you move in.
Move in the 21st to the end of the month
You pay the prorated rent for that month plus the next full month before you move in.
There is no holding deposit or holding fee. Once you are approved, you pay the deposit, first month, and move-in admin fee before move-in, and that is it.
Move-in admin fee
$50
one time
This one time fee covers preparing your lease, your video move-in inspection, and setting up your security deposit in our trust account.
Example
What move-in looks like in real dollars
Say two adults are renting a $1,100 a month, 2 bedroom apartment in Williamsport and moving in on the 1st.
The application fees are paid when you apply. Everything else is due before move-in.
- Application fees (2 adults x $65)
- $130
- Security deposit (one month)
- $1,100
- First month's rent
- $1,100
- Move-in admin fee
- $50
Your monthly cost
What you pay every month
Rent is due on the 1st of every month and late charges will be assessed if not received by the 5th.
Resident Benefits Program
$15
a month, included in every lease
Every lease includes our Resident Benefits Program. It is required for all tenants, and here is what you get for it:
- Your online tenant portal for rent, maintenance requests, and messages
- On-time rent payments are reported to credit bureaus, boosting your credit score
- Free online check payments
- Online credit and debit card payments and cash payments are accepted at local stores. Transaction fees will apply from payment processors.
- One interest-free payment plan per lease term to help manage temporary hardships
- Forgiveness of one late fee and one returned payment fee per lease term
- A live person answering after-hours emergency calls
- Access to our handyman service for small jobs around your home, at $62.50 an hour
Renter's insurance
Every tenant has to carry renter's liability insurance. You have two options:
Bring your own policy
You pay your insurance company directly and nothing is added to your rent. Your policy needs to meet the lease requirements, and you upload proof before move-in and again at each lease renewal.
Use ours: $12.95 a month
If we do not have proof of your own policy, you are enrolled in a liability policy through Second Nature for $12.95 a month.
If you bring your own policy, it needs to have:
- At least $100,000 in liability coverage for property damage and legal liability, from an A-rated insurance company
- One Focus Property Management listed as an "additional interest," at PO Box 660121, Dallas, TX 75266
- InsuranceSupport@SecondNature.com also listed as an additional interest, if your insurance company allows it
Upload your proof at insurance.residentforms.com before your lease starts. If we do not have it by then, you are enrolled in the $12.95 policy automatically. You can switch to your own policy at any time by uploading proof.
One thing to know: the $12.95 policy is liability only. It protects you if you accidentally damage the property, but it does not cover your own stuff. We strongly suggest a policy that covers your belongings too.
Utilities
Your lease spells out which utilities you pay and which are included. In most cases, you pay the utility company directly. In some cases, when the water and sewer charges can become a lien on the property, we pay those bills and then invoice you, with a copy of the utility bill, so you can reimburse us.
Pets: $15 to $50 a month per pet
If your home allows pets and your pet is approved, here is what it costs:
There is no separate pet deposit. And if you have an approved assistance animal, like a service or emotional support animal, you do not pay pet fees at all.
Pet screening: $30 or $25 per pet profile
Every pet gets a profile on PetScreening before it is approved. PetScreening charges $30 by card or $25 by bank account (ACH) for each pet profile, paid to them directly. Assistance animal profiles and no-pet profiles are free. Start your profile at One Focus on PetScreening, and check out PetScreening's FAQ for renters if you have questions about the process.
Monthly pet fee: $15 to $50 per pet
Depending on the pet:
- $15 a month for caged animals, like a guinea pig, snake, or bird
- $35 to $50 a month for cats and dogs
Annual pet inspection: $50 per household
No matter how many pets you have. We check the home once a year to make sure you are complying with the animal addendum.
Example
Your all-in monthly cost
Here is the same $1,100 apartment, with one cat, if you use our insurance.
Plus your utilities and the $50 pet inspection once a year.
- Rent
- $1,100.00
- Resident Benefits Program
- $15.00
- Renter's liability insurance (if you do not bring your own)
- $12.95
- Pet fee (example)
- $40.00
Paying rent
The cheapest way to pay is free
The cheapest way to pay is online with your bank account. It is free, and it is fast. Card and cash payment fees are charged by the payment company, not by us, and you will see the fee before you pay. We do not accept cash at our office.
| How you pay | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online with your bank account (eCheck) through the tenant portal | $0 One Focus pays a monthly fee to ensure you have this convenient way to pay without expense. |
| Personal check, cashier's check, or money order at our office drop box or by mail to our PO Box | $0 |
| Debit or credit card through the tenant portal | Debit card payments are $9.99 per transaction. Credit card payments are 2.99% of transaction amount. Charged by payment processor. |
| Cash at 7-Eleven, CVS, or Walmart with a cash payslip | $4.99 per transaction. Charged by the payment processor |
Paying on time can help your credit
We report rent payments to the credit bureaus, so a steady record of on-time rent works in your favor.
Drop box and mail
Our drop box is at 414 W. Fourth Street in Williamsport, in the beige box to the left of the blue double doors and it is available 24/7 with lighting and covered by video monitoring. You can also mail payments to One Focus PM PO Box 428, Williamsport, PA 17703.
If your rent is late
Rent is due on the 1st.
If it is not paid in full by the 5th, these fees can apply.
Having a hard month? Call us before the 5th. Your Resident Benefits Program includes one interest free payment plan and one late fee forgiveness per lease term. They only help if you reach out.
| Fee | Amount | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Late fee | 8% of the unpaid amount | Pay in full by the 5th. Set up autopay in the portal so you never forget |
| Notice posting fee | $50 | This is charged when we must post a notice to quit at your home. Paying by the 5th avoids it |
| Returned payment fee | $50 | Make sure the money is in your account before you pay |
Maintenance and repairs
Normal repairs are not your cost
If your furnace quits, a pipe leaks, or an appliance breaks from normal use, you do not pay for the repair. Just put in a maintenance request through the portal. For emergencies, call anytime, day or night.
What you do pay for
- Damage you, your guests, or your pets cause. If a repair is needed because of damage, negligence, or misuse, the cost is billed to you.
- Clogged drains from the wrong things going down them, like wipes, paper towels, sanitary products, or toys.
- Everyday items: light bulbs, fuses, and smoke detector batteries.
- Pest control, except for pests you cannot prevent, like termites, wasps, bees, or wildlife. Report any pests you find in writing within three days of moving in.
- Missed appointment: $75 if you are not home for a scheduled appointment you requested, or if your pet is not secured and we cannot do the work.
Handyman service
$62.50
an hour, 1 hour minimum, half up front
Want something extra done? Our handyman service can help with small jobs that are not repairs, like hanging shelves, mounting a TV, putting in a window air conditioner, or hooking up a washer and dryer you bring. It is $62.50 an hour with a 1 hour minimum, and we ask for half up front.
Fees you only pay if something goes wrong
Most of our tenants never pay a single one of these
They are in the lease so everyone knows the rules and what happens when they are not followed. Each one is easy to avoid.
| Fee | Amount | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Lease change (adding or removing someone from the lease) | $150 | |
| Lockout: borrowed key not returned | $100 | If you are locked out during business hours, borrow a key from our office and bring it back by 5 PM the same day. After hours, you will need to call a locksmith |
| Keyless entry code change | $75 | Keep your code private |
| Utilities left in the owner or manager's name | $100 plus the utility cost | Put your utilities in your name before move-in and keep them on |
| Re-inspection when a lease violation is not fixed | $50 each time | Fix the violation promptly |
| Noise complaints after the second one | $50 each time | Be a good neighbor, especially at night |
| Cigarette butt cleanup | $100 an hour, 1 hour minimum | Use an ashtray and toss cold butts in the trash |
| Cars parked on the lawn or other yard damage | $100 plus the repair cost | Park only in approved spots |
| Lawn care or snow removal not done (if it is your job under the lease) | $100 plus the cost of the work | Mow and shovel on time |
| A city fine caused by you | The fine plus $100 | Follow the lease and local rules on trash, snow, and yard upkeep |
| Disabling a smoke or carbon monoxide detector | $500 plus damages | Never unplug or remove a detector. If it is chirping, replace the battery. |
| A pet that is not on your lease | $100 per pet per day | Do not allow any animal into your home without written permission first. That includes pet sitting, visitors and rescued animals. |
| Someone living there who is not on the lease | $500 | Anyone staying more than 10 days in a row needs to apply |
| Changing the locks without approval | The cost to re-key | Ask us first |
Breaking your lease early
Life happens.
If you need to end your lease early, here is what it costs.
Staying past the end of your lease without a renewal is called a holdover, and the rent goes up to 150% of your normal rent. If you need more time, talk to us before your lease ends.
Early termination fee
1 month
of rent or $800, whichever is more
We start advertising your home for a new tenant once this fee is paid.
Rent until the home is re-rented
You keep paying rent until a new tenant moves in or your lease ends, whichever comes first. The faster we find someone, the less you pay.
Moving out
Getting your deposit back
Give us at least 30 days written notice through the tenant portal. Then here is how to get the most of your deposit back:
Clean everything
Inside cabinets, appliances, bathrooms, walls, and baseboards. If we have to clean, it is charged at what it costs us. Keep in mind that even if it is only a small amount of cleaning needed, a professional cleaner will have a minimum trip charge.
Get the carpets professionally cleaned
With hot water or steam, and give us the receipt. This is required. Rented or personally owned equipment is not acceptable. No chemical cleaning.
Return every key
To our office on move-out day. Keys that are not returned cost $150.
Add your bank information in the portal
For the fastest refund.
We do a video inspection when you move in and again when you move out, so the condition of your home is recorded both times. Within 30 days of you returning the keys, we send your deposit refund and a list of anything we kept and why. If you add your bank information in the tenant portal, your refund comes by direct deposit. Otherwise, we mail a check to your forwarding address. If a refund check gets lost and we have to send a new one, the replacement check is $15.
Questions renters ask
FAQ
-
How much does it cost to move into a One Focus rental?
Plan on your security deposit (usually one month's rent), your first month's rent, and a $50 move-in admin fee, plus $65 per adult to apply. For a $1,100 apartment with two adults, that is about $2,380 total. -
Is the application fee refundable?
No. The $65 application fee is never refunded, even if you are not approved. That is why we publish our full application criteria. Check yourself against it before you apply. -
Can I pay rent with a credit card?
Yes, through the tenant portal. Credit card payments cost 2.99% of the amount you pay, and debit card payments cost $9.99 per transaction. Those fees are charged by the payment processor at the time you pay. Paying with electronic cash at a local store costs $4.99 per transaction. Paying online with your bank account (eCheck) is free. -
Is the $15 Resident Benefits Program optional?
No. It is part of every lease unless the listing for the property states otherwise. When we list properties that we don't manage, the owners manage them, those leases will not have the Resident Benefits Program. -
How do I use my payment plan or late fee forgiveness?
Contact us before your rent is late. We will walk you through it. After we discuss what you need and agree to a payment plan, we will both sign it. -
Can I get the handyman service to do something that is not a repair?
Yes, that is exactly what it is for. Think hanging shelves, mounting a TV, putting in a window air conditioner, or hooking up your washer and dryer. It is $62.50 an hour with a 1 hour minimum, and we ask for half up front. -
Do I need renter's insurance?
Yes. You can bring your own policy with at least $100,000 in liability coverage, or you will be enrolled in a liability policy through Second Nature for $12.95 a month. -
When is rent late?
Rent is due on the 1st. If it is not paid in full by the 5th, an 8% late fee applies. -
Do I pay for repairs?
Not for normal repairs. You pay for damage caused by you, your guests, or your pets, and for small things like light bulbs and detector batteries. -
How much do pets cost?
A PetScreening profile for each pet ($30 by card or $25 by bank account), $15 to $50 a month per pet ($15 for caged animals, $35 to $50 for cats and dogs), and a $50 annual pet inspection per household. There is no pet deposit, and approved assistance animals have no pet fees. -
Are pets allowed in every One Focus rental?
No. It depends on the home. Each listing tells you whether pets are allowed, and some homes have limits on the type, size, or number of pets. Ask us before you apply if you are not sure. -
Do I need a PetScreening profile if I do not have a pet?
If you do not have a pet, your PetScreening profile is free. Pet profiles are $30 by card or $25 by bank account, for each pet. PetScreening has a helpful FAQ for renters if you want the details. -
Does my service or emotional support animal cost anything?
No. Assistance animals are not pets, so there are no pet fees, and the PetScreening profile is free. You still need to submit the request to PetScreening so it can be reviewed and approved. -
What happens if I get a pet without telling you?
Every pet has to be approved first. A pet that is not on your lease is $100 fine per pet per day. Go through PetScreening and get approved before the pet moves in. Non compliance around animals and other lease terms could result in lease termination. -
What is the $50 annual pet inspection?
Once a year, we visit the home to make sure the animal addendum requirements are being followed. The $50 is per household, not per pet, and it covers the labor for that visit. -
How do I get my full deposit back?
Give 30 days notice, clean thoroughly, get the carpets professionally cleaned, and return all keys. Add your bank information in the portal for direct deposit. We send your refund within 30 days.
Ready to find your next home?
Now you know exactly what it costs.
Browse our available rentals, check our application criteria, and apply with confidence. You can also read the lease before you apply.