FAQs

Cortland Independence has access to all of the amenities included in the master-planned community of Independence, including a resort-style pool and jacuzzi, four playgrounds, a lake with boat ramp, 15 parks, tennis and basketball courts, two fitness centers, and more. 

Yes, there are two fitness centers available at Cortland Independence.

Cortland Independence has 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartment homes with upscale features. 

No, Cortland Independence does not have electric vehicle charging stations.

Cortland Independence is located within the master-planned community of Independence at 14600 Avenue of the Groves, Winter Garden, FL 34787. Enjoy luxe living with exceptional amenities, top-rated schools, and more. Explore Winter Garden living today.

Disney is one of the largest employers in the area and local Disney attractions are less than 20 minutes away from Cortland Independence.

Cortland Independence is located in Orange County Public Schools and is zoned for Independence Elementary, Bridgewater Middle School, and Horizon High School.

Cortland Independence was approximately 30 miles away from Orlando International Airport.

Yes, Cortland conducts a third-party screening that looks at credit history, rental history, and criminal background. The screening does not have specific credit score criteria but does flag items such as recent evictions, bankruptcies, felonies, and monies owed to previous landlords. In addition to the screening, we ask for proof of gross monthly income that is at least three (3) times the rental rate. You can visit our Resident Qualification Criteria page for more information.

Yes, Cortland accepts guarantors. Guarantors must also complete an application for residency, undergo screening, and meet our resident qualification criteria.

Security deposits are refundable contingent upon any damage to the apartment home beyond normal wear and tear. Please check your lease agreement for details about our security deposit requirements.

We do offer alternative options for paying your security deposit through our partnership with Jetty. Jetty Deposit lets you make a low monthly payment (or a one-time payment) instead of a traditional cash deposit. To learn more about how Jetty Deposit works and how to sign up, visit jetty.com/cortland.

We do run special offers from time to time. Please check the homepage on our website, our Google posts, or contact our team to find out about any current specials.

We require residents to have renters insurance with at least $300,000 liability coverage. While we encourage all residents to have renters insurance through the provider of their own choice, we also offer the option of enrolling in our Liability Only Protection Program. Liability Only Protection provides a low-cost alternative to satisfy the minimum liability requirement in your lease for only $15/month; however, it’s important to note that this option is not renters insurance and does not provide coverage for personal belongings. Please ask our community team for more details.

Yes, we are a pet-friendly apartment community. We love our Cortland pets! We require cats and dogs to be registered with our community, and certain pet fees may apply.

While we are a pet-friendly apartment community and love our resident pets, there are a few policies to keep in mind before bringing your pet home. We welcome two cats or dogs per apartment home, with a weight limit of 80 pounds per pet. At all Cortland communities, certain aggressive breeds/mixes are not accepted, including but not limited to: Rottweiler, Chow, Presa Canario, Doberman, Akita, Pit Bull (also known as American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, or Pit Bull Terrier), Cane Corso, or any Mastiff breed.

We generally welcome any animals you'd find at your local pet store to join you in your home. Pets that are not cats or dogs must continually stay in a cage or tank, are limited to two per apartment, and do not require a fee. Aquarium tanks larger than 50 gallons, non-domestic animals, venomous animals, and exotic pets are not allowed.

In addition, please note that all pet deposits and non-refundable fees must be paid before moving in. Service animals are welcome in our community and are not limited by a weight restriction.

Yes, you can reach our team anytime to place a routine or emergency service request by calling our 24/7 service hotline, which you can find on the Residents page. If you call outside of office hours, our on-call service associate will be on hand to address requests that qualify as an emergency.

If you experience excessive noise from a neighbor or outside our community quiet hours, please contact our community team so we can help address your concerns. If you ever feel like a neighbor’s safety is at risk, please call 911.

You can make certain changes, like painting walls and hanging wall art, to reflect your personal style while still complementing the rest of your community and protecting your security deposit. Please check your lease agreement or ask our community team about specific decorating policies.

Our lease agreement gives the community team the right to enter a resident’s apartment home at any time. However, we try to make residents aware of any scheduled inspections or any need to enter their home at least 24 hours in advance. In the case of an emergency, like a leak, Cortland has the right to enter without advanced notice to prevent further damage to the apartment home or community.

Rent is due on the first of each month.

You can pay rent online through our Cortland Connect resident portal and mobile app. We accept the following payment methods:

• E-check: ACH (e-check) is accepted with no additional fees.
• Credit cards: Master Card, Visa, Discover, and AMEX are accepted for an additional fee. Master Card, AMEX, and Discover card transactions charge a service fee of 2.95% of the transaction amount, while Visa transactions charge a service fee of 2.95% of the resident’s monthly lease amount.
• eMoney Order: Payments made using eMoney Order are accepted for an additional fee. You can request a payment coupon to make a payment using eMoney order through your Cortland Connect portal.

Yes, please check your lease agreement for more information about our late fee policies.

Yes, our early termination policy is defined in your lease agreement. However, there are some exceptions to this. Please contact our team for more information.

No, we do not permit short-term renting or subletting of any sort in our community. Homestay services such as Airbnb or VRBO are also prohibited.