As a company, we do business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Law and welcome Persons of all Race, Color, Religion, Sex, Handicap, Familial Status, or National Origin.
Please read the following policies. If you feel you meet the qualification guidelines, please submit an application. We DO process all applications received. If there are multiple applications, the most qualified application will be approved (ex. higher credit score, higher income, better rental history). The reason is that we have an obligation to the property owner to find the best qualified applicant. Incomplete applications will not be considered. If more than one person is applying with the applicant, both will need to be submitted at the same time. Our application process is not first come first serve. Our process is decided on best applicants and can take anywhere between 3-5 business days.
Please be prepared to pay the application fee ($85) as outlined in the property listing. In addition to this rental application, you will also be required to provide a copy of a valid form of identification and proof of income. Copy of valid identification must be in color. Temporary identification will not be accepted.
The following is the APPLICANT CRITERIA: Including CREDIT CRITERIA, RENTAL HISTORY CRITERIA, INCOME CRITERIA, CRIMINAL CHECK and BACKGROUND POLICY and PET POLICY. By submitting your application, you are acknowledging that you have read and understand the CRITERIA and POLICIES.
Each person 18 years of age and older who will occupy the home, must complete an online application.
Our residences are non-smoking properties (incl. garage space).
Renters insurance is required to reside in our managed properties. This will be included in our Resident Benefit Package.
There is a $85.00 non-refundable processing fee for each applicant. Applications are completed online.
Currently we use Experian to determine credit score and other reporting. Scores from other sources will not be accepted.
We will obtain a credit report for each applicant. Reports supplied by applicants will not be accepted.
If you have no credit score or the report shows an N/A, the application will be denied.
The deposit amount is scaled based off your actual credit score and rental history.
If credit score is under 500, application will be denied. Credit scores between 501 and 599 will be double deposit.
An open Federal Tax Lien will cause for application denial.
Bankruptcy status and age will determine if an application is accepted with increased deposit or denied.
Eviction, broken lease or judgment within the last 5 years is an automatic denial.
Eviction or outstanding balances due to a previous landlord over 5 years old could have an increased deposit or denial.
We do not take rental verifications from family members.
Please make sure you have correct contact information for landlord.
One person must meet or exceed gross income that is 3x the monthly rent.
We will combine up to TWO gross monthly incomes which must meet or exceed 3.5x monthly rent (income must be from people occupying the home - We DO NOT accept Guarantors.
Income will be verified by the employer's HR department or, the prior month’s pay stubs with YTD calculation on check stub, to be provided with the application.
Self-employed applicants must attach 2 year’s worth of current tax returns - no exceptions. The AGI on your tax returns must reflect an amount that meets or exceeds the income requirement. Bank statements will ONLY be used to verify self-employed applicants along with tax returns.
Unverifiable income will not be considered.
Photo ID and social security card must be provided at the time the lease application is submitted and they must be in color. We will not accept temporary IDs or social security cards.
A criminal background check will be run on every applicant. Felonies involving person or property convictions are cause for automatic rejection. Review the attached list of offenses that are cause for rejection. Your application authorizes 1st Choice Property Management to perform a Criminal Background check on you.
The following offenses are cause for automatic rejection:
Arson or Destruction of Property
Burglary
Indecency with a Child
Kidnapping
Lewd Behavior
Manslaughter
Murder
Molestation
Organized Crime
Prostitution
Rape
Robbery
Sale/Manufacture of Drugs
Sex Crimes
Stalking
Terrorism
Any other offense may be cause for rejection or for special provisions to be added to your lease, such as Bad Checks would be cause for us to not accept rent payment by check.
Our Pet Policy is as follows, and this is not an agreement to allow you to have a pet. A Pet Agreement must be in place before you bring a pet on the property. We have a policy of two pet maximum per household, and all pets must have current shots. When you apply to have a Pet Agreement, a current picture of the pet must be submitted, along with their shot records, when applying through petscreening.com. Once everything is submitted, it will generate a PAW SCORE. Your monthly pet fee will be based on the paw score. The Pet Agreement is only good for that particular pet(s) and not for any subsequent pets.
Recommended Assistance Animals (i.e. service/emotional/companion/etc.) accommodation requests are NOT subject to pet deposits or pet fees.
Pet breeds that are commonly considered aggressive will only be considered based on the individual landlords property insurance guidelines. The yard must be picked up at least twice weekly. Fences will be maintained by the tenant to insure the pet remains in the yard. Pets will not be allowed loose outside of the backyard. No dogs will be allowed in a home that does not have a fenced yard.
Apply all Pets or fill out the (no Pet form) at: https://1stchoicepm.petscreening.com/
Pet Fee (Paid Monthly with Rent)
-Dogs and Cats: Based upon Paw Score
-If an applicant has all 5 paws, $35 monthly fee per pet.
-If an applicant has 4 paws, $45 monthly fee per pet.
-If an applicant has 3 paws, $55 monthly fee per pet.
-If an applicant has 2 paws, $65 monthly fee per pet.
-If an applicant has 1 paw, $75 monthly fee per pet.
-Small pets $10 fee per month. Farm/Exoctic breed animals, case by case.
(Bird, Rabbit, hamster/gerbil/Guinea Pig, Reptile) (Fish Tank $10 per tank)
All Residents are required to maintain property damage liability insurance on behalf of the landlord and property manager. Coverage is required in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for damage to both landlord’s and third party’s property with the provisions covering at least the perils of fire, smoke, explosion, accidental water discharge and sewer backup. 1st Choice Property Management shall be named as an Interested Party on Resident’s policy. Such policy shall be written as a policy not contributing with and not in excess of coverage that landlord may carry, and must waive all rights of subrogation against landlord and property manager. It is agreed that the landlord carries insurance for its protection and that the Resident is not a beneficiary of such insurance. Residents shall be responsible to the Landlord for all costs of repair for damages as stated in the Lease Agreement regardless of existing landlord Insurance.
There are two ways to satisfy this requirement:
-$100,000 Resident Liability Insurance Coverage Provided Under the 1st Choice Master Policy.
-$20,000 Renter’s personal property including theft Provided Under the 1st Choice Master Policy.
-$10,000 Bodily Injury Liability Protection Provided Under the 1st Choice Master Policy
Residents may OPT OUT of being enrolled in 1st Choice Property Management Resident Liability Insurance by providing written proof to the following three items PRIOR to the signing of this lease agreement:
Failure to Maintain Insurance: If the Resident’s coverage for their self-directed Resident liability insurance is lapsed by either non-payment or non-renewal, 1st Choice Property Management will place that Resident under this program by default for an additional cost of $20 per month plus a $75 set up fee.
$35/mo (Insurance Opt-out) $55/mo (Insurance Opt-in) - Included with ALL 1st Choice Property Management Residential Agreements is a Resident Benefits Package.
***Resident Benefit Package is REQUIRED with all lease agreements with 1st Choice. Tenants Benefit Packages will be billed on a monthly basis.
Below is a list and description of the benefits included in this package. It will be advertised specifically for each property and included in all Lease Agreements.
CONDITION OF MOVE-IN:
All utility accounts must be transferred into the residents’ name as of the date of possession. We will have canceled all utility service by the move in date.
If, after reading the above and reviewing our Credit, Rental, Income, Criminal and Pet Criteria, you consider yourself qualified under these guidelines, please understand the following:
We will not process your application without the correct funds and all documentation being submitted together. Your application will be held in an incomplete status or denied.
Once we notify you that your application has been approved, you will have TWO business days to bring the full Security Deposit in secured funds to our office and sign the lease or we will move on to the next qualified applicant. Only Cashier's Checks, or Money Orders will be accepted.
Ask us about our Deposit Alternative Program!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE CALL US AT 817-281-1300.
