Rental application information

Credit Scores and History

Having a good Credit Score is one of best ways to get approved.  700+ will give your application a big boost.  But we approve a lot of people in the 600+ range as well.  Once you’re in the 500’s, especially, the low 500’s, you should expect to need a co-signer.  Scores in the 500’s or lower often lead to rejected applications.  If you don’t have a credit score at all, we’ll consider any history you have and whether it’s positive or negative.

Criminal history and screening report disputes

Criminal-history information is considered during application screening. Before paying the application fee, contact your local Axiom team with questions about how a conviction or other record may affect eligibility and whether reconsideration is available.

If a screening report contains inaccurate or incomplete information, you may dispute it with the company that prepared the report. If your application is denied or other adverse action is taken based on a consumer report, you have rights to notice, to request the report, and to dispute inaccurate information. You may request a free copy from the reporting company within 60 days of receiving the adverse-action notice. Learn about screening-report rights from the CFPB (opens in a new tab).

Every adult age 18 or older who will occupy the home must submit an application.

Income and Affordability

Axiom cares about affordability and will not allow tenants to occupy a space they likely will not be able to afford after a couple of months.  As such, we require proof of stated income on the application.  This proof can be done via providing 2 recent pay stubs, or proof from an employer of income and wages.  If your household income (meaning all adult income in the home combined) is less than 2X the rent, this will hurt your score.  If you have very low credit, it won’t automatically disqualify you, but when combined with average credit, you’ll either need a co-signer or risk rejection of your application.

Pets and Service Animals

Service animals are not treated as pets, but as accommodations.  To have a service animal, Applicants must provide  a medical needs form by a qualified professional for each service animal requested.  You can see a sample form provided by HUD at https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_7399.DOC.  Service animals are allowed on all properties for no additional charges or deposits.  Pets are only allowed at properties that allow pets and usually do pay an additional monthly charge and fees.  All animals, whether pets or service animals must not pose a risk or disturbance to other humans or animals.  We do an aggressive animal test, where the animal owner must stay in the building, but temporarily leave their animal in the car while we approach the car.  If the animal behaves aggressively in the absence of the owner, your application will be rejected even if you’re approved on all other criteria.  All animals including both pets and service animals must be registered with the city and be up to date on vaccinations before a lease can be signed.

Past Evictions or Foreclosures

For evictions or foreclosures that have happened in the last 7 years, you won’t automatically be disqualified, but it will hurt your application score.  Only those with high credit scores and good income usually qualify without any other consideration required.  Be prepared to explain your foreclosure or eviction and for evictions know that we will chat with your past Landlord to verify your story as well.  

Landlord Reference

Landlord references are not required on your application.  But if you’ve rented from a professional property management company that’s been in business for more than a year, and you would like to have your good history included in your application review, you can bump your application score a little by having your prior Landlord fill out a reference form of good rental history for you.   Note- only professional property management company references are permitted and we will verify the company before accepting the submitted Landlord form.  Due to inability to verify management practices of private landlords, we are not able to accept their references.

Availability

Completing an application is not a guarantee that you will receive the apartment you are specifically looking for. Your application will work for any of our apartments. Once you are approved you will be given the opportunity to select an apartment. With many apartments and many applicants, time is of the essence. Our availability changes on a daily basis. Many complexes have extremely similar apartments available in them. An apartment is reserved for you once you have signed the lease and paid the deposit.