🌐Rental Qualifications & Application Policies

At Alta Vista Properties, we are committed to a fair, consistent, and transparent application process. The following criteria are used to evaluate all applicants. Our goal is to ensure a strong fit for both residents and property owners while complying with all applicable Fair Housing laws.


Application Requirements

  • All occupants 18 years of age or older must:
  • Submit a completed rental application
  • Pay the application fee
  • Provide a valid government-issued photo ID
  • Applications must be complete and accurate to be considered
  • Any missing, incomplete, or false information may result in denial
  • Applications are processed in the order received once fully complete


Income & Employment Requirements

  • Applicants must have verifiable gross income of at least 2.75 times the monthly rent
  • All income must be verifiable through documentation such as:
  • Most recent pay stubs
  • W-2 forms or tax returns
  • Bank statements (if applicable)
  • Government-issued income statements (SSI, SSDI, etc.)
  • Self-employed applicants may be required to provide additional documentation
  • Income must be stable, ongoing, and sufficient to meet lease obligations


Credit Criteria

A credit and background screening will be completed for all applicants. Approval is based on the overall credit profile, including:

  • Credit score
  • Payment history
  • Debt obligations
  • Collections and judgments

General Credit Guidelines:

  • Properties renting for $2,001 and above → 700+ credit score preferred
  • Properties renting for $2,000 and below → 670+ credit score preferred
  • Applicants not meeting these thresholds may be denied or considered for conditional approval (see below)


Conditional Approval

In certain cases, applicants who do not fully meet standard criteria may be considered for conditional approval.

Conditions may include:

  • A qualified co-signer:
  • Minimum 680 credit score
  • Verifiable income of at least 4x the rent
  • Increased security deposit (where permitted by law)

Conditional approvals are not guaranteed and are subject to owner approval.


Rental History Requirements

  • A minimum of 3 years of verifiable rental or homeownership history is required
  • Rental references must be from independent, non-related parties
  • Applicants must demonstrate:
  • Timely rent payments
  • Compliance with lease terms
  • Proper care of the property

Negative rental history may result in denial, including:

  • Late or missed rent payments
  • Lease violations
  • Property damage
  • Outstanding balances to landlords
  • Negative landlord references


Eviction Policy

  • Any prior eviction is grounds for automatic denial of the application


Debt & Financial Obligations

  • Outstanding debts to landlords or utility companies must be paid in full prior to approval
  • Significant unpaid collections may result in denial
  • High debt-to-income ratios may also impact approval


Pet Policy (Mandatory Screening)

  • All applicants are required to complete a PetScreening profile, regardless of whether they have pets
  • This applies to:
  • Pet owners
  • Applicants with assistance or service animals
  • Applicants with no pets (must submit a “No Pet” profile)
  • Pet approval is subject to:
  • Property-specific restrictions
  • Owner approval
  • Additional rent and/or deposit (if applicable and permitted by law)


Resident Benefits Package (RBP)

All approved residents are required to enroll in a Resident Benefits Package (RBP) for $39.95 per month.

The RBP may include:

  • Liability insurance or renters insurance options
  • Credit-building services (optional participation)
  • Resident rewards program
  • Identity protection services
  • Pest Control ($)
  • High Speed Internet ($)

The RBP is a required component of the lease agreement.


Renters Insurance Requirement

  • Tenants are required to maintain liability insurance coverage throughout the lease term
  • This requirement may be satisfied by:
  • Enrollment in the RBP insurance program, or
  • Providing proof of a third-party policy that meets all lease requirements


Section 8 / Housing Assistance

  • Applicants using housing assistance programs must provide a valid housing voucher at the time of application
  • The voucher must clearly indicate the maximum approved rental amount
  • Applications without required documentation will be considered incomplete


Application Review & Approval

Applications are evaluated based on the applicant’s overall profile, including:

  • Income qualification
  • Credit history
  • Rental history
  • Financial obligations

Meeting minimum qualification criteria does not guarantee approval.


Automatic Denial Criteria

Applications will be denied if any of the following are present:

  • Prior eviction
  • Incomplete or unverifiable application
  • False or misleading information
  • Outstanding landlord debt
  • Significant unpaid collections
  • Negative or unverifiable rental history
  • Criminal history that does not meet screening criteria (as permitted by law)


Move-In & Lease Execution Requirements

  • Approved applicants must:
  • Sign the lease agreement
  • Submit required deposits
  • Complete all onboarding steps
    within 24 hours of approval
  • Move-in date must be within approximately 15 days of application date unless otherwise approved


Additional Policies

  • All properties are non-smoking unless otherwise stated
  • Advertised rent is non-negotiable
  • Harassment, excessive communication, or abusive behavior toward staff will result in denial
  • Applicants must comply with all local, state, and federal Fair Housing laws


Equal Housing Opportunity

Alta Vista Properties is committed to compliance with all Fair Housing laws. All applicants are evaluated using consistent criteria without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, familial status, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.


Questions?

For additional details or clarification regarding our application process, please contact our office prior to submitting your application.