APPLICATION CRITERIA

APPLICATION CRITERIA

Before applying for one of our units, please carefully review the qualification standards below. Every application is scored against these same standards, and every applicant is evaluated the same way.

Applications and Fees

  • Every person 18 or older who will live in the property must submit a separate application, pay a $70 application fee, and undergo a background, credit, and eviction screening.
  • Application fees are non-refundable once screening reports have been ordered, including if the application is denied.

Income

  • Household gross income must be at least 3x the monthly rent.
  • Verify income with the most recent 3 months of pay stubs or bank statements, or a signed offer letter for new employment. We may verify employment directly with the employer.
  • For housing voucher holders, income is measured against the tenant’s portion of the rent.
  • Applicants without sufficient income may qualify with verified liquid assets. Eligible assets are divided by 12 and counted as monthly income toward the 3x requirement. Retirement and investment accounts are counted at a reduced value.

Credit

  • A credit score of 650 or higher is preferred. Lower scores are considered; credit is one factor in the score, not an automatic denial.
  • Debt-to-income, collection balances, and bankruptcies are also considered. Collections owed to utility companies weigh more heavily, and any unpaid balance owed to a previous landlord is disqualifying.

Rental History

  • Positive landlord references for the most recent 5 years of rental history.
  • No eviction judgments within the past 7 years, and no unpaid judgments or balances owed to a previous landlord.
  • Eviction filings within the past 7 years for nonpayment or lease violations, including cases dismissed after payment, weigh heavily against an application. Holdover (non-renewal) filings, cases decided in the tenant’s favor, and filings related to domestic violence against the applicant are not considered. You may submit court records or a letter from the prior landlord explaining a filing.
  • Applicants with less than 24 months of verifiable rental or mortgage history within the past 5 years may be required to pay an additional security deposit.

Background

  • Lifetime sex offender registration is disqualifying.
  • Felony convictions within the past 7 years for violent crimes, sexual offenses, arson or other property damage, theft, fraud, or drug-related offenses are grounds for denial. Each is reviewed individually, considering the nature of the offense and time since. Arrests without a conviction are not considered.

Conditional Approval

  • Applicants who don’t meet every standard may be considered for conditional approval with one or more of the following:
  • An additional security deposit (up to a total of 2 months’ rent)
  • A qualified guarantor who earns at least 4x the monthly rent and passes the same screening
  • A lease guarantee through TheGuarantors (subject to their approval and fees)

Other Requirements

  • Non-smoking household.
  • Renter’s insurance is required before move-in.
  • Occupancy is limited to 2 people per bedroom.

Pet and Section 8 voucher acceptance vary by property; see the unit description. Where pets are allowed, a maximum of 3 pets per unit applies unless otherwise specified in the listing. Certain dog breeds and their mixes are restricted (the full list appears in the pet policy during your application).

Assistance animals (service and support animals) are not pets. Pet limits, restrictions, fees, and pet rent don’t apply to them. Assistance animals must be verified through our reasonable accommodation process at dossandspaulding.petscreening.com, which may include reliable documentation of the disability-related need when it isn’t readily apparent.

When multiple applications are received, we process them in the order they are completed in full. An application is complete when every adult (18+) in the household has submitted an application and paid the application fee, all required documents have been uploaded, and the pet/animal profile has been submitted. Incomplete applications are not reviewed until all items are received.