Terms & Rent Payment Policy

These terms apply to the Pine Grove Apartments website and to rent paid by card or bank account. Pine Grove Apartments ("Pine Grove," "we," "us") is an affordable apartment community at 18 Union St, Searsport, Maine 04974. It is financed through the USDA Rural Development Section 515 program and managed by Union Street Property Management ("USPM").

Website terms

Information only

This website gives general information about Pine Grove Apartments. Apartment availability, rents, and eligibility depend on USDA Rural Development program rules and on verifying each household's information. Nothing on this site guarantees that an apartment is available or that a household qualifies.

Inquiries are not applications

Sending the "Get Started" form is an inquiry, not a rental application or a lease. We will contact you about next steps, including a full application. Waiting-list placement and tenant selection follow our approved tenant selection plan and USDA Rural Development rules.

Using this site

Please give accurate information and use the site only for lawful purposes. Do not try to disrupt the site, get into systems you are not authorized to use, or send automated or bulk submissions.

Other websites

We link to some outside websites, such as USDA and our payment processor, for your convenience. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or practices.

No warranties; limitation of liability

We work to keep this site accurate and available, but we provide it "as is," without warranties of any kind. To the extent the law allows, Pine Grove and USPM are not liable for indirect or consequential damages from using the site. Nothing here limits any right you have under your lease or under law.

Governing law and changes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maine and applicable federal law. We may update these terms. When we do, we will change the "Last updated" date above.

Paying rent by card or bank account

Current Pine Grove residents can pay rent by debit or credit card, or from a bank account (ACH). These payments are processed securely by our payment processor, Stripe, Inc. Payments go to Pine Grove Apartments, and the funds are deposited into the property's operating account.

How it works

1. Contact the management office by phone or email and let us know you'd like to pay by card or bank account.
2. We send you a secure Stripe payment link for the amount due, by email or text message.
3. Open the link and pay on Stripe's secure payment page. Stripe emails you a receipt.

We will never ask for your card or bank account numbers by phone, email or text. Enter them only on the secure Stripe page that our link opens. If you are not sure a message is really from us, call the office at (207) 305-8778.

Paying this way is optional

You never have to pay by card or bank account. You can always pay by check or money order, in person at the management office or by mail to the address below.

No added fees

We do not charge you a fee for paying by card or bank account.

What you pay

• Pay your share of the rent (your tenant contribution) as shown on your lease and your most recent certification. If your household receives Rental Assistance, USDA Rural Development pays that portion directly. You do not pay it.
• We apply each payment to rent first, then to any other charges you owe under your lease.
• Security deposits cannot be paid by card or through Stripe. Please pay them by check or money order.

When a payment counts

A payment counts as received on the date you complete it on the Stripe payment page, unless it is later returned or reversed. Bank (ACH) payments usually take a few business days to finish processing. Rent due dates, grace periods, and any late charges follow your lease.

Returned or reversed payments

If your bank returns a payment, or a card payment is reversed, the payment is canceled and the rent is still due. We will let you know so you can pay another way. We do not charge an extra fee for a returned card or bank payment.

Receipts and records

Stripe emails you a receipt for each card or bank payment, and we record every payment in your rent ledger. You can ask the management office for a copy of your ledger or a receipt at any time.

Your payment information

Stripe collects and protects your card or bank account details. We never see or store full card or bank account numbers. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Refunds & disputes

• Rent payments. Once a rent payment is applied to your account, it is not refundable. Paying ahead creates a credit toward future rent.
• Duplicate or mistaken payments. If you pay twice or pay more than you meant to, contact us. Once we confirm the error, we will refund the extra amount to your original payment method within 10 business days. If you prefer, we can credit it toward next month's rent instead.
• Move-out. At move-out, any remaining rent credit is handled with your security deposit, as your lease and Maine law require.
• Questions or disputes. Contact the management office first. We will review your payment history with you and correct any error. You also keep any rights you have through your bank or card issuer.

Contact us

Pine Grove Apartments, c/o Union Street Property Management
18 Union St, Searsport, ME 04974
Phone: (207) 305-8778 (TTY/Relay: 711)
Email: help@uspm.co
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm ET

Pine Grove Apartments is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider. Reasonable accommodations are available on request.