Applicant FAQs

Applicant FAQ

How can I view a rental?

Please click on our Rental Listings tab. A link to schedule a showing is provided within each rental listing.

How do I apply to live in one of your rental homes?

We’re excited you’d like to apply! Please go to this link to fill out your application and be sure to choose the property you’re interested in. Each adult 18 years or older must also fill out an application. If you don’t find the address of the home you’re interested in in the list of properties, please choose Property for Lease. Then, within the application itself, you’ll have a chance to enter the address.

Do you allow multi-year leases?

In most cases we allow a maximum of 2 years, but please contact us if you have something else in mind as we may be able to accommodate you. Please know that our minimum lease is 12 months but the lease term required may be longer than that (but shorter than 24 months) depending on the time of year.

Can I sign a lease for shorter-term than one year? Like a 6 or 9 month lease?

Our minimum is 12 months. We don’t do short-term leases.

What are some fees I should expect when submitting an application?

$60 nonrefundable application fee per person. This includes all persons 18 years or older who will be living in the home (even if they won’t be paying rent), as well as guarantors when applicable.
If applicable, a $20 pet application per pet. There is no fee for a service or emotional support animal.

What credit score do you require?

We require a minimum 600 credit score. If your credit score is below 600 you must have a co-signer that has a credit score of 600 or above and satisfy all the additional qualification requirements.

How much income do you require to rent one of your properties?

We require that all tenants as a group (not individually) make an income that is at least 3x the monthly rent.

What if we’re retired and have no income?

When you apply, please provide us with 3 months of statements so that we can confirm you have sufficient income to cover rent during the term of your tenancy. This could be from bank accounts, investment accounts, social security or pension accounts, etc.

What will you accept for proof of income?

Here’s our acceptable source of income: pay stubs, written verification from income source, most recent W-2 or 1040, and 3 months of personal bank statements.

If I am the sole income earner and my spouse doesn’t work, do they need to apply?

Yes, we require all occupants ages 18 or older to submit an application whether or not they earn an income.

Do all adults need to apply and be on the lease?

Yes, we require everyone who is age 18 or older to submit an application.

What are the fees I should expect to pay at lease signing?

1 month’s rent equivalent for the security deposit. Or, renters who qualify can choose our cashless deposit option Qira.
$350-500 pet deposit per pet. There is no pet deposit for a service or emotional support animal.
$45.95/month mandatory Resident Benefits Package. Cost is $35/month if you provide your own renters insurance.
1 month’s rent for the first month. If move-in date is not the 1st of the month, the prorated rent for that month will be paid the following month.

Do you rent to sex offenders?

No.

Does my adult child who is a college student need to apply and be on the lease if he/she stays with me during the summer?

Yes, we require that anyone who is 18 years or older fill out an application, get approved, and be added to the lease. Once they move back out, we will remove them from the lease.

Do you accept co-signers?

Yes. Guarantors must have a sole income equivalent to 6x the monthly rent and a credit score of at least 600. Guarantors fill out the same rental application that renters fill out and should indicate in one of the comments field that they are a guarantor, and for whom.

Do you accept pets?

It depends on the property but most of the time we do. We at SmartEgg are animal lovers but sometimes the landlords don’t allow pets due to allergies or home insurance policy limitations. The rental listing will indicate whether or not pets are allowed. Where pets are accepted, part of the application process is filling out a pet application through PetScreening for each pet.

Do you allow pit bulls?

We at SmartEgg welcome all breeds but, unfortunately, sometimes the landlord’s insurance policy has breed restrictions, which we must follow. Please contact us to find out if your pet/s will be accepted.

Do you allow service or emotional support animals?

Yes we do (with very rare exceptions). We have you fill out a pet application at PetScreening.com to confirm your animal is a legitimate support animal and once confirmed, your animal will be added to the lease as an occupant. Support animals are not considered pets and, as such, no pet deposits are charged, but you will still be responsible for any damage caused by your animal (should that happen).

Do you accept housing vouchers/section 8?

No, we do not accept housing vouchers at this time.

How long can we hold a property that we’ve been approved for?

You have 48 hours to sign the lease and pay the monies owed. If this is not completed within the given timeframe, the rental listing remains active, allowing others to apply and get approved.

If I don’t get approved, can I apply again later?

If you don’t qualify for one property, you may qualify for another. Please contact us to discuss the possibility of approving you for a different property. Once we have your application on file, you won’t need to fill out another one as long as it’s within 3 months.

Can I get a refund on my application fee if I’m not approved or change my mind about applying?

No, we do not provide refunds once your application has been processed. Please know, however, that we review your application before processing the fees to determine if you will qualify. If you won’t, we’ll let you know and won’t charge the fee.

Can I get a copy of my credit report?

As this information is confidential between us and TransUnion, we aren’t allowed to provide you with a copy of your credit report, but you are welcome to dispute your credit with TransUnion if you believe it is incorrect.

If I have a felony, will you still rent to me?

We abide by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Office of General Counsel Guidance on the Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions.” Criminal records must contain no convictions for felonies for crimes within the past 7 years involving violence against persons, damage or destruction of property, manufacture or distribution of controlled substances and no sexual offenses ever.

Can I find out if I’ll be approved before I apply?

You’re welcome to contact us to discuss your qualifications to see if they will match for a given property. We of course can’t guarantee you’ll be approved for a property until you apply and we do a thorough application review and determine if you’re the best applicant. But we may be able to tell you up front if you won’t qualify.

Can I use my own appliances even though the landlord is providing them?

The answer is usually yes—please call us to discuss. If you do use your own appliances, you will be responsible for storing the landlord’s appliances and reinstalling them upon move-out.

Do you require renters insurance?

Yes. All of our tenants are required to have renters insurance. We make it easy for our tenants by providing a master renter’s insurance policy that is highly rated and provides excellent protection. You will be automatically enrolled as our tenant unless you provide us with your own renters insurance policy. To register your own policy and make sure you have the required protections, please go here.

Applicant FAQs

Applicant FAQ

Bill Spencer, Broker

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