Rental Criteria
Found a SmartEgg rental that you’re interested in applying to? Read through our qualifying criteria below and submit your application when you’re ready to apply.
Qualifying Criteria
- Fill out your online application here. All applicants 18 years and over must submit an application.
- Lease applications must be complete, accurate and truthful. If an applicant intentionally omits required information, the applicant may be rejected on that basis alone.
- We accept the best qualified applicants, which means that we take multiple applications for a given property. We won't proactively tell you if another application has been submitted but if you ask us, we will tell you.
- With your online application, submit $85 per applicant 18 years or over, which is also paid online. The application fee is non-refundable.
- Monthly income for all applicants over 18 must be 3 times the rent. If an applicant needs a guarantor to qualify, the guarantor's monthly income must be 6 times the rent. The guarantor must also submit their own application and pay the $85 fee.
- Income must be verified. Acceptable sources of proof: pay stubs, written verification from income source, most recent W-2 or 1040, 3 months of personal bank statements. If applicant is relying on a new employment position, applicant must provide a letter of intent from the new employer.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 1 year satisfactory rental or mortgage payment history. Satisfactory history is defined as no more than 3 late payments not to exceed 15 days past due, or no more than 1 returned check. The resident must have given proper notice to vacate and have no outstanding financial obligations to previous landlord. Broken leases and evictions within a 10-year period will not be accepted unless applicant has paid off debt to previous landlord or worked out payment arrangements prior to submitting application.
- All applicants must have an acceptable credit history. If your credit score is below 600 FICO you must have a co-signer that has a credit score above 700 FICO and satisfy all the additional qualification requirements. If bankruptcy has been declared, we require the bankruptcy to be discharged and new positive credit established. Existing credit must be at least 50% positive.
- Criminal history: 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.
- Where pets are accepted, tenants must fill out a pet application for each pet. Cost is $30/pet. This fee is waived for service and emotional support animals. Pet deposits range from $350–500, as determined by SmartEgg. Restrictions to pet types, breeds or sizes may apply unless it is a service or emotional support animal. Pets refers to any type of mammal, reptile, bird, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate (e.g., spiders).
- - NOTE: Applicants without animals must confirm this by filling out the pet application (no cost).
- A property is considered leased when 1) applicants for the property have been approved, 2) the lease has been signed by all parties, and 3) all monies owed have been paid in full. Once the lease has been sent for signature, approved applicants must sign the lease and pay monies owed within 48 hours or else approval may be withdrawn. Until these criteria have been met, the property continues to be available for lease and will be marketed.
Fee Disclosure
Application Fees
- $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.
- $20 pet application per pet. There is no fee for a service or emotional support animal.
Fees Due 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 full 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.