Application Criteria

 
We fully comply with all federal, state, and local fair housing, civil rights, and equal opportunity laws. All people who are 18 years of age or older or a legally emancipated minor who will live in the unit must complete an Application. Here are the criteria that all of our Applicants must meet. We run Tenant Screening Reports on all Applicants.

Application

An Application must be filled out completely and accurately. An incomplete Application will be rejected. Any misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission made on an Application, whether discovered before or after a lease is signed, is grounds for denial of an Application or termination of an existing lease. An Application will be rejected if information given on the Application cannot be verified or if the Application is not legible.

Each Applicant must sign the lease. Each Applicant must meet all of the Tenant Selection Criteria except that the income of all Applicants in a group may be combined to meet the income requirement. If two or more people apply together and not all of their Applications are approved, we reserve the right to deny all Applications in the group.

Business Relationship

The relationship between Company and our tenants is a business one. A courteous and businesslike attitude is required from all parties. We reserve the right to reject an Application if, at any time during the Application and leasing process, an Applicant is verbally or physically threatening or abusive, uses profanity, is disrespectful, is hostile or argumentative, or generally displays an attitude or conduct that causes management to believe that we would not have a positive business relationship.

Credit

Applicants must have a positive credit history. A negative history resulting in rejection of an Application includes high debt, judgments, delinquent credit obligations, foreclosure, dismissed bankruptcies, and collection actions. The absence of a credit history may also be grounds for rejection. In the case of first-time renters or renters who, because of age or other reasonable explanation, do not have a credit history, this requirement may be varied subject to additional requirements of management.

Bankruptcy

If an Applicant has a bankruptcy proceeding pending, the Application will be rejected. An Applicant may re-apply when their bankruptcy proceeding has been completed.

Criminal History

We consider the nature, severity, and recency of criminal convictions and the amount of time that has elapsed after the completion of any jail or prison sentence in determining whether to rent to an Applicant. We do not consider arrests for crimes if the Applicant is not convicted of or does not plead guilty or no contest to the crime or there is no continuing criminal proceeding.

An Application will be rejected if a criminal charge or a criminal proceeding is pending that could result in a conviction that would form the basis to deny an Application. An Applicant may re-apply upon resolution of the criminal charge or criminal proceeding, at which time the Application will be considered under our Tenant Selection Criteria.

Given the variety of convictions that exist and the need to review accurate records, we cannot make binding pre-Application determinations about whether an Applicant’s criminal history may result in rejection of their Application. We make decisions after we have ordered and reviewed Tenant Screening Reports.

We have the discretion to evaluate criminal records to determine how to characterize them and apply our Tenant Selection Criteria. Our Tenant Selection Criteria are narrowly and proportionately tailored to comply with fair housing law, advance the property’s interests, and not unduly limit an Applicant’s admission based on criminal history. We have and will continue to consider the interests of the property; various laws; and other relevant materials when determining how to treat criminal records under our Tenant Selection Criteria. We will reject Applications when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.

Housing History

Applicants must have a positive housing history. We require the name and last known telephone number of each landlord/property manager/mortgage or contract for deed holder for each address for the last three years. Roommate and family-member references are not acceptable. The refusal of a prior landlord to give a reference, or a negative reference, may be grounds for rejection. Negative items that can result in rejection include evictions, lease non-renewals, household safety/health/housekeeping violations, other lease violations, pest-control issues, unpaid rent, etc. In the case of first-time renters or renters who, because of age or other reasonable explanation, have less than three years of housing history, this requirement may be varied subject to additional requirements of management.

If a judgment in an eviction action has been entered or a writ of recovery (or similar order under another state’s laws) issued against an Applicant within the last seven (7) years, the Application will be denied. If an eviction action was commenced against the Applicant within the last seven (7) years, but no judgement was entered against Applicant and no writ of recovery issued (or similar order under another state’s laws) against Applicant, the Application may be denied based on the facts and circumstances of the proceeding. An Application will be rejected if an eviction proceeding is pending against an Applicant. An Applicant may re-apply upon resolution of the eviction action, at which time the eviction action will be considered under our Tenant Selection Criteria.

Income Requirements

Applicants must have gross monthly income or benefits that are 3 times the amount of the monthly rent, except that income from self-employed Applicants is counted on the basis of net self-employed income (gross income less business expenses). If an Applicant is self-employed, Company may ask for financial information to substantiate the Applicant’s net income, such as copies of income tax returns and bank records. To be counted as household income or benefits, amounts must be verifiable, reliable, and predictable. Each Applicant whose income is used to meet this requirement must have been in his or her current job for at least three months or have an adequate explanation for his or her change of employment.

Each Applicant must provide the two most recent months of paystubs from his/her employer. If relying on other sources of income, the Applicant must provide the two most recent months of account or benefits statements from that source. Company reserves the right to ask for more information in its discretion.

Photo Identification and Application Process

Applicants are required to provide a copy of their valid government-issued photo identification with their Application.

An Application fee of $50.00 must be submitted with each Application.