The applicants’ total gross monthly income must equal at least three times the monthly rent. Applicants must be able to prove at least one year of employment immediately preceding the date of the application. If applicants have been full time students at any time within the previous year, management will require a lease guarantor. If applicants are unemployed, proof of an alternate source of income is required. If the applicant is self-employed, a verifiable tax statement showing earnings from the previous year must be provided. Income may be proven in several different ways; 1) the two most recent consecutive paystubs from employer 2) an offer letter on company letterhead that is verifiable 3) last year’s taxes including copies of the IRS W-2 or 1099 Forms 4) a letter from a tax accountant on company letterhead stating total monthly and annual earnings 5) substantial funds in liquid accounts that can be verified on institutional letterhead.

Every applicant must have satisfactory rental and/or mortgage payment history. If applicants have ever been evicted or sued for any lease violation, the rental application will be rejected. A history of late payments will also be grounds for rejection. Rent payments are due on the first of the month.

If an applicant has ever been asked to leave any residence (including military housing) due to financial or other misconduct, the application will be rejected.

Every applicant’s credit record must currently be satisfactory.

If any of the applicants have ever been convicted of a felony, the application may be rejected. If convicted of a misdemeanor involving dishonesty, drug or sex offenses or violence within the past five years, the application may be rejected.

If the applicants do not meet one or more of the above criteria, a third party to guarantee the lease may be accepted. The guarantor must pass the same application and screening process that every other applicant must pass except that management will deduct the guarantor’s own housing costs before applying his or her income to our income standard.

If any of the provided information is falsified, the application will be denied and or/ occupancy terminated.

Apartments become available when they are deemed ready for move-in. A vacant apartment will not be deemed available until it has been cleaned, resident prepared and certified by the Property Manager. The list of available apartments is updated as each apartment becomes available. An apartment that was unavailable in the morning may become available later the same day as make-ready work is completed.

All persons over the age of 18 residing in an apartment are considered parties to the lease and must qualify financially.

Every roommate must complete an application. Each applicant will be separately qualified. The income requirement may be combined.

To prevent overcrowding and undue stress on plumbing and other building systems, there are restrictions on the number of people who may reside in an apartment. In determining these restrictions, this firm will adhere to all applicable Fair Housing laws. Two persons per bedroom is allowed.

Every apartment application is evaluated in the following manner:

• Applicant submits a rental application, answering all questions on the application form, and authorizes the employment history, rental history, and credit and criminal background checks via signature and date.
• Applicant pays the nonrefundable application fee.
• From applicants’ responses to the application questions, management will determine whether the applicants qualify for the requested apartment.
• Management will check each applicant’s credit report, employment history and rental references to confirm that all meet our rental criteria. If the applicant(s) meet the criteria, the application will be approved.

This process takes one to two days. Available apartments will be rented to applicants in order that the respective applications are approved. Please complete your application expediently so you do not miss out on the next apartment.

Applicants once approved must supply proof of renters insurance to the rental office. The coverage amounts for renters insurance must be a minimum of $300,000 liability coverage and $20,000 personal content coverage. Resident must agree to list Hickory Cottages Apartments as an interested third party on their policy. Residents may also take out renters insurance through the leasing center.