House Rules

A lot went into building this rental and a lot goes into maintaining it. In order to keep it safe for you and for future occupants, we have strict rules about what can be brought into it. If these rules feel overwhelming to you, we will not be offended if you decide this rental isn't for you. We are looking for a certain type of tenant who understands why we have these rules and sees them as desirable rather than onerous.

Breaking any of these rules is cause for termination of the lease and may be cause for retaining all or part of your security deposit to repair resulting damage.

Rent and Deposits

Before you arrive, we will do a small particle clean of the entire house. We do that for every occupant. We charge a one-time non-refundable deposit of $2000 to cover this SPC. We also charge a $6000 refundable deposit. If any furniture needs to be replaced or repairs need to be made, they will come out of that deposit. If there is no damage, the refundable portion of your deposit will be returned to you.

Utilities

Rent includes electric, internet, landline, water, septic, and trash. We provide a television but you provide your own streaming service.

The property is on a low-producing well. We ask that you do not exceed average American water use of 300 gallons per day for a family of four. We do track water usage with a separate meter for the rental. Excessive water use may result in a charge of $1000 to have water trucked in and/or termination of the lease.

The home is on a septic system. Nothing but TP and human waste should ever be flushed. We provide a compost bin for food scraps and coffee grounds. Grease should go into the trash, not down the drain. If the septic system is damaged or blocked because you flushed or poured something down the drain you shouldn't have, you may be responsible for the resulting repair costs.

Preventing Cross-Contamination

Very few belongings are allowed from the house you are currently living in. We use the guidelines on Surviving Toxic Mold as a guide.

The following possessions may be wiped with a microfiber cloth and pure ammonia, dried in the sun, and brought with you:

Electronics without a fan (i.e. cell phones and Macs okay, PCs likely not.)
ID cards (but not your wallet or purse)

Nothing else is allowed from your current living space. Consider renting a storage facility for any belongings you want to keep that can’t be brought to Terre de Vie.

We ask that you buy all new clothing and do not bring it into your current house. Leave it in your car with the tags still attached in a sealed plastic bag. You can wash it when you arrive at Terre de Vie.

Any vehicles that are parked at Terre de Vie must undergo a full remediation clean to remove cross-contamination prior to moving in, including removal of the carpets, center console, and seats, and a full car detail. We can recommend a local detail shop if needed.

The house is furnished and has basic kitchen equipment. We provide mattresses.

Linens (Sheets, pillows, pillowcases, blankets, duvet covers, bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, kitchen towels) are not included with the rental. People coming from a moldy environment tend to detox into their sheets and towels. They cannot be reused between occupants. You are responsible for buying them new. There is one king sized bed and two twin sized beds. The house has neutral colors so any colors you choose will work.

You have three options for providing linens:

You can buy them new and leave them in your car with the tags still attached in a sealed plastic bag, and launder them when you arrive at Terre de Vie.
You can have them shipped to us, and for a one-time service fee of $300, we will launder them and have the beds made and ready for you.
We can buy one set of linens, including 4 bath towels, and have them laundered and ready for you, for a one-time service fee of $1500.

When coming from a moldy environment or a large city, we ask that you shower and change into clean clothes in the downstairs bathroom before coming into the house. Clothing that was in your moldy environment should be bagged in a sealed plastic bag and left in your car. We suggest that you maintain an "in-between" outfit for each person that can be used for regular errands and washed in the machine.

Preventing Mold

The washing machine is a front loading Speed Queen. The door and detergent tray must be left wide open between loads, and the gasket wiped with a damp microfiber cloth, so the machine is allowed to dry and does not grow mold.

The dishwasher must also be left cracked open when not in use.

If the batteries go out on any leak alarms in the house, they must be replaced immediately.

If a leak alarm goes off because it has gotten wet, or if you discover a leak or water damage in another way, we need to know immediately so that we can fix it properly. Water damage is not an issue if it is discovered and properly dried out in a timely manner. Water damage that sits for over 48 hours could be catastrophic to our clean environment.

Minimizing VOCs

You must use our unscented laundry products. No fabric softener of any kind. You may use plain vinegar as fabric softener.

We use Branch Basics cleaning products. You may not use any cleaning products other than those that we provide.

No perfumes, heavily scented body care products, or other scented products allowed.

The house is extremely tight (better than passive house standards) and does not have a makeup air system. You must crack the kitchen window while running the kitchen vent fan to prevent depressurizing and causing damage to the house's air barrier.

Minimizing EMR

The house is equipped with multiple ethernet ports that are linked to our Starlink internet service and are available 24/7. We also have a low-EMR JRS Eco Wifi Router that is programmed to turn off at 9pm and back on at 7am. We ask that all wireless devices, including vehicles, be put into airplane mode from 9pm until 7am. Other occupants of the property are sensitive to EMR and nighttime wireless use can cause insomnia and migraines.

Cleaning

Your lease includes a normal (not small particle) clean every two weeks.

Finding local housekeepers is difficult. We currently have a great one and she will come every two weeks to clean. She needs access to all areas and all rooms. If for whatever reason we lose our housekeeper, we may not be able to provide cleaning service. In that case you would be expected to clean it yourselves until we can hire another housekeeper.

We reserve the right to drop by anytime. We are unmasked and use our noses and all of our senses to tell us whether anything might be wrong.

We clean the minisplits at the beginning and end of every summer. We do it ourselves so we can use unscented quaternary ammonia and Branch Basics to clean them. If you find you are reacting to them in between, you may either pay $1000 for an interim cleaning or opt to turn them off.

The house has a Zehnder HRV for filtered fresh air. We change the filters every 6 months. The HRV must be left running at all times.

Property Usage

A maximum of 7 people may live in the home, per the California "2 per bedroom plus 1" rule of thumb.

Pets are never allowed in the home. We have had cats in the past. We've since done a small particle clean and replaced key furniture, and there should be no trace of them left, but if you are extremely allergic to cats, this is probably not the right home for you.

This is a rural property on 60 private gated acres, with very steep hills. You may take walks on our property. Do not trespass on neighboring properties. Please stay on the roads and wear appropriate footwear.

The driveway is very narrow and steep. The speed limit is 5 mph. If two cars happen to meet on the driveway, the car going downhill has the right of way. The car going uphill must back up to an area of the road that is wide enough for the cars to pass. There is an alternate entrance, but we ask that you refrain from using that road so as not to disturb the neighbors.

There is a small swimming pool at the main house. This is only for the use of the owner. The ladder is disabled when not in use. Please make sure your children do not go near the pool.

You are responsible for monitoring your children at all times. You assume all inherent risks for yourself and for your children.

From time to time, you may hear gunshots, dogs barking, and generators running on neighboring properties, and smell smoke from fireplaces and burn piles. Such is the nature of living in a rural area. We have no control over what our neighbors do.

Very occasionally, we get evacuated because of proximate wildfires. If we receive an evacuation order, you must pack your things and go immediately.

The owners live onsite part time. We ask that you call or text if you need anything. In an emergency we can be there quickly.

County rules

You must comply with all of the following rules, which reflect the requirements of the Amador County Short-Term Rental Ordinance (Amador County Code Ch. 19.48.2):

Quiet hours are observed nightly from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. No unreasonable noise or disorderly conduct is permitted at any time.
Events, weddings, receptions, parties, and any commercial or public use, including food service, are strictly prohibited.
Outdoor fires of any kind are prohibited at all times. Fireworks are prohibited at all times.
Firearms may not be discharged on the Property.
You may only park cars in the driveway in front of the rental.
Trash and refuse must be stored per Amador County solid waste rules in the provided bin in the shed, so our local bears don't tear it apart and make a mess. We do not have trash service and instead take the cans to the local transfer station when they are full. Garbage in excess of one bin per two weeks is subject to an additional disposal fee.
Guest shall not sublet, assign, or allow occupancy by persons not disclosed at booking beyond the stated maximum occupancy.
Guest shall not use the Premises for any commercial or unlawful purpose including, but not limited to, using, manufacturing, selling, storing, or transporting illicit drugs or other contraband.
Guests shall not violate any law or ordinance.
Guests shall not commit waste or nuisance on or about the Premises.

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