Rental Requirements
Application Requirements
- Each person 18+ living in the home must submit an application, provide the required documentation, and pay a non-refundable application fee when applicable.
- Background and eviction checks will be run for each applicant 18 or older.
- Darwin uses TransUnion Resident Scores as part of the application decision
- Move in must occur within 14 days of application approval.
Rental Requirements
Income
- Gross combined income of three times the monthly rent.
Credit History
- Each market has its own Resident Score requirements for standard approvals, approvals with higher deposits, and denials.
- Bankruptcies: No open bankruptcies. Any previous bankruptcies must be discharged at least 12 months before the application submission date.
Criminal History
- The application will be denied for most categories of non-juvenile felony convictions that occurred up to seven years prior to the application date. For a complete list of criteria based on offense type and conviction results, please inquire.
- Felony convictions in the following offense categories result in auto-denials, regardless of when the offense occurred:
- Sex-related offenses
- Terrorism related offenses
- Theft by check-related offenses
- Worthless check-related offenses
Rental History
- Evictions: No evictions in the last seven years.
- No outstanding debt is owed to another landlord or property management company.
Applications with more than one applicant
Resident Score
- The TransUnion Resident Score is averaged across all applicants. The average must meet or exceed the required score requirement threshold.
Income
- The gross combined income of all applicants must meet or exceed 3 times the monthly rent.
Bankruptcies
- If any applicant has an open bankruptcy or had any bankruptcy in the last 12 months, the entire group will be declined.
Criminal Record
- If any applicant has a criminal record(s) that would result in a decline, the entire group will be declined.
Eviction
- If any applicant has an eviction record(s) that would result in a decline, the entire group will be declined.
Co-Signers / Guarantors
Requirements: Co-signers must have a minimum gross income of 5x the monthly rent and a 700+ TransUnion Resident Score.
Co-signers can be used to meet the Income and TransUnion Resident Score requirements only. Co-signers must be invited to apply and must submit a co-signer application.
A co-signer's income is not combined with the applicant’s income. Each co-signer/guarantor must individually meet or exceed the required income-to-rent ratio.
Proof of Income Documents
In addition to the standard required documentation listed below, supporting documentation may be requested to demonstrate proof of income.
Salaried Employees
We require pay stubs for the most recent one month of employment.
- Applicants paid weekly - 4 most recent pay stubs
- Applicants paid twice a month - 2 most recent pay stubs
- Applicants paid monthly - 1 most recent pay stub
Commission-based, Variable Income, or Hourly
- 3 months of most recent pay stubs
Newly Employed or Employee Transfers
Offer letter or transfer letter on company letterhead stating:
- Start date
- Dated within 15 days of application
- Title
- Salary
- HR or Supervisor Contact information - name and title, phone or email address
Self Employed or 1099 Contractor
- 2 months of most recent bank statements (applicant’s name on the account) showing the balance on each statement
- Most recent income tax return
- (For 1099 contractors only) Form 1099
Darwin will consider net income in this instance
Other Income Sources
Child Support, Alimony
- Copy of the court order/awards letter
- 2 most recent bank statements showing the amount of the deposit
SSI, Disability, Pension and Retirement
- Copy of the earnings statement/awards letter
- 2 most recent bank statements showing the amount of the deposit
Additional Income
- 1099(s)
Rules & Regulations
Application Requirements
All non emergency maintenance requests must be submitted through the Darwin online portal or through US mail.
Renter's Insurance: Landlord is not liable for any loss to Tenant's personal property due to fire, theft, water damage, or any other act of nature. Throughout the term of this lease and any renewal term(s), Tenant shall maintain renters property and liability insurance with a minimum limit of $100,000.00. Tenant's renters insurance policy shall name Landlord as an additional insured. At any time during this lease Landlord may request, and Tenant shall provide, proof of the required insurance within five (5) business days.
Equal Opportunity in Housing Statement
Our Policy
All real estate advertised herein is subject to the federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make such preference, limitation, or discrimination.
It is the policy of Darwin Homes to comply with Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended, (commonly known as the Fair Housing Act) by ensuring that all units are available to all persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, and sex. Darwin Homes understands further that local ordinances may include other protected classes. This policy means that among other things, our company, and all of our agents and employees that have responsibility for renting, managing, or administering any dwelling units must not discriminate in any aspect of the rental of dwellings against qualified applicants or tenants because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, or additional protected classes as instituted on a state or local level. Our agents and employees may not:
- Refuse to rent, or negotiate for the rental of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny, a dwelling to any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex or additional protected classes as instituted on a state or local level;
- Discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, or additional protected classes as instituted on a state or local level;
- Make, print, or publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or advertisement, with respect to the rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, or additional protected classes as instituted on a state or local level; or
- Represent to persons because of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, familial status, sex, or additional protected classes as instituted on a state or local level that any dwelling is not available for inspection or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available.
This Policy prohibits any form of harassment or discrimination based on any of the protected classes identified above. Words or conduct that are related to any protected category, and are offensive to a recipient or reasonable person, based on a person’s’ protected status, are prohibited and a violation of policy.
Applicants, residents, and employees are encouraged to report any violation of this Policy to a supervisor or other officer or manager of the Company for investigation and appropriate action. No retaliatory action will be taken against any person who reasonably and in good faith reports words or conduct which he or she believes may violate this Policy. No retaliatory action will be taken against any individual who in good faith assists or participates in any investigation, proceeding, or hearing relating to a harassment or discrimination complaint.
Any action taken by an agent or employee that results in unequal service, treatment, or behavior to applicants or tenants on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, or additional protected classes as instituted on a state or local level may constitute a violation of state and federal fair housing laws.
The Law
When it comes to buying, selling or leasing a home or renting property, several state and federal laws were enacted to ensure the equal opportunity in housing for all people. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property. Moreover, the Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United States, making illegal any discrimination in the sale, lease or rental of housing, or making housing otherwise unavailable, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
Other laws also impact the purchase, sale or lease of a home or renting an apartment. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations and commercial facilities. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program.
In addition, state and local laws often provide broader coverage and prohibit discrimination based on additional classes not covered by federal law.
As a home seller or landlord you have a responsibility and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. You cannot instruct the licensed broker or salesperson acting as your agent to convey for you any limitations in the sale or rental because the real estate professional is bound by law not to discriminate. Agents in a real estate transaction also are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. They are prohibited from complying with a request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental. Moreover, a home seller or landlord cannot establish discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental, deny that housing is available, or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national original.
As someone seeking to purchase a home or rent an apartment, you have the right to expect that housing will be available to you without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. This includes the right to expect equal professional service, the opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices, no discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing, no discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing, reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities, and to be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights.
IF YOU SUSPECT DISCRIMINATION
Despite our zero tolerance policy, much of the information regarding real estate and related matters in this Web Site is provided by third parties or via hyperlink to third party sites. As such, there may be an instance of potential discrimination by these third parties that we are not yet aware of. If you suspect discrimination by one of these sites, please contact our staff at [email protected].
Complaints alleging discrimination in housing may be filed with the nearest office of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), or by calling HUD’s toll free number, 1-800-669-9777 (voice), or 1-800-543-8294 (TDD).
You can contact HUD on the internet at http://www.hud.gov/.
Pet Policy
For the most accurate info on pet requirements for specific properties, please email [email protected] to confirm.
Overview
Darwin has a standard pet policy, but some homes do not allow pets at all. Other homes may have additional requirements, such as weight restrictions, animal type restrictions (no cats or dogs, if the owner has allergies), or a limit on the number of pets allowed if it’s below our standard.
If homes allow pets there’s a few policy for it. Limit of 4 pets per property
Deposits & Fees
Darwin requires a refundable pet deposit, and in some cases, a non-refundable fee per pet.
Specific requirements can be found on the home listing and lease.
Note: If your pet is an ESA (with supporting documentation), this fee will be waived.
Pet agreement will contain the following requirements
[If applicable] Tenant will have carpets professionally (no self-service rental machines) cleaned after move-out and before surrender of property. Tenant must turn in copy of invoice as proof of carpet cleaning.
Tenant will have home professionally treated for fleas. Tenant must turn in copy of invoice as proof of flea treatment.
Note: These rules will still apply to you even if your pets are ESAs.
The following dog breeds are not allowed:
- Akita
- American Bandogge Mastiff
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Boerboel
- Chow Chow
- Doberman
- English Bull Terrier
- Kyi Apso
- Mastiff
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Presa Canario
- Rottweiler
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Wolf Hybrid
One of the following must be submitted for each pet:
Color photo of the tenant AND the pet (together in the same photo); entire pet must be visible in the frame, OR
Vet records indicating breed, age, weight of the pet along with the tenant’s name