General Application Requirements

CMS PROPERTIES AND REAL ESTATE

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS & SCREENING CRITERIA

 

Thank you for your interest in a CMS Properties and Real Estate rental home. Please review all requirements carefully before applying.

 

BEFORE YOU APPLY

• Each occupant age 18 or older must complete a separate application

• Application fee is $60 per applicant (non-refundable once processed)

• Pets must be screened and a $30 pet screening fee applies

• Applications will not be processed until all applicants have submitted and paid

• A valid Social Security Number is required for each applicant

• Applicants will create an online Applicant Portal (active for 30 days)

• All applicants must agree to these requirements before submitting

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Submission of an application, supporting documentation, or payment of an application fee does not guarantee approval.

All applications are evaluated using CMS Properties and Real Estate’s published screening criteria.

If multiple qualified applications are received, CMS may select the most qualified applicant based on:

• Qualification strength

• Application completeness

• Ability to meet requested move-in date

False or incomplete information will result in denial.

CMS Properties and Real Estate complies with all Fair Housing laws and does not discriminate based on any protected class.

HOW APPLICATIONS ARE EVALUATED

Applications are reviewed based on the following criteria:

1. Identity Verification

2. Credit History

3. Rental History

4. Income Verification

5. Employment Verification

6. Criminal Background

7. Pet Screening (if applicable)

APPLICATION COMPLETENESS

An application is considered complete when all required items are received and verified, including:

• Completed application from all adult occupants

• Payment of all application fees

• Required documentation submitted

• Identity verification completed

• Income and employment verification completed or able to be verified

• Rental history verification completed

• PetScreening completed (if applicable)

• No outstanding requests for additional information remain

Incomplete applications may be delayed or removed from consideration.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• All occupants must be disclosed on the application

• CMS generally does not accept guarantors or co-signers. Exceptions may be considered on a very limited, case-by-case basis with prior management approval and guarantor/co-signer must meet additional qualification requirements

• Maximum occupancy: three (3) unrelated adults unless otherwise stated

1. CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

The applicant providing the primary qualifying income for the household must have a minimum credit score of 580 or higher.

A credit score alone does not guarantee approval.

Credit history is evaluated for overall financial responsibility and may be denied due to:

• Collections

• Charge-offs

• Delinquent accounts

• Debt write-offs

• Landlord collections

• Evictions

• Other significant derogatory credit history

2. INCOME & EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENTS

Total gross monthly household income must be at least three (3) times the monthly rent.

If two unrelated applicants apply together, each must demonstrate income equal to at least 1.5 times the monthly rent.

Employment history should generally reflect at least six (6) months with the current employer.

ACCEPTABLE INCOME DOCUMENTATION

• Two (2) consecutive pay stubs from each employer

• Social Security, disability, retirement, or pension award letters

• Housing assistance vouchers

• Other verifiable income approved by management

PAY STUB REQUIREMENTS

Pay stubs must clearly show:

• Applicant name

• Employer name

• Pay period dates

• Gross earnings

• Year-to-date earnings

Not accepted: Screenshots of bank deposits, banking app screenshots, Venmo/Cash App/Zelle transactions, or any document that does not clearly identify both applicant and employer/source of income.

VERIFICATION & CROSS-CHECKING

CMS Properties and Real Estate may cross-verify income documentation against bank deposits, employer verification, or third-party verification tools such as Plaid.

Applicants may be required to authorize electronic income verification as part of the application process.

In some cases, additional documentation may still be required even when third-party verification is used.

CMS reserves the right to verify employment and income directly with employers.

SELF-EMPLOYED APPLICANTS

• Two (2) years of signed tax returns

• Three (3) months of personal bank statements

• Bank deposits must be consistent with reported income and may be used to verify income stability

• Profit and loss statements may be requested at management discretion

NEW EMPLOYMENT

Applicants must provide an offer letter including:

• Position

• Compensation

• Start date

• Company letterhead

• Employer signature

Employment history should generally reflect at least six (6) months with the current employer. Applicants with less than six months of employment may be considered if current employment and income can be satisfactorily verified through an offer letter, paystubs, or other income documentation acceptable to CMS Properties and Real Estate.

3. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND

Applicants must have an acceptable criminal history.

Convictions involving violent crimes, sex offenses, significant property damage, domestic violence, or drug distribution/trafficking may result in denial. Consideration may be given based on severity, nature, and age of offense where legally permitted.

4. RENTAL HISTORY

Applicants should have satisfactory rental history.

• Evictions are grounds for denial

• Current or unpaid landlord/property management collections are grounds for denial

• More than four (4) late payments in a 12-month period may result in denial

5. PET REQUIREMENTS

Not all CMS Properties allow pets. Pet approval is property-specific and may be subject to owner requirements, HOA restrictions, insurance requirements, and property rules. Breed, age, size, weight, and number-of-pet restrictions may apply.  If pets are permitted, all pets must be disclosed and complete the required PetScreening process prior to approval at https://cmsprops.petscreening.com/. Applicants must provide required pet information and documentation, including current vaccination records and rabies vaccination documentation for dogs and cats.

• Dogs and cats must be spayed or neutered unless a documented medical condition prevents the procedure or an approved exception is granted in writing.

• Applicants without pets must complete a no-pet profile through https://cmsprops.petscreening.com/ at no cost.

• Failure to disclose a pet or obtaining an unauthorized pet may be considered a lease violation.

• Additional fees or restrictions may apply depending on the property.

6. IDENTIFICATION

Valid government-issued photo ID required for all applicants 18+:

• Driver’s license

• State ID

• Passport

• Military ID

7. SMOKING POLICY

No smoking, vaping, or marijuana use permitted inside any CMS rental property.

PROPERTY VIEWING

Applicants must view the property in person or through a trusted representative prior to applying. In some cases a virtual tour may suffice. 

ADDITIONAL TERMS

• Application processing may take several business days

• $20 monthly resident amenity fee applies

• City rental taxes may apply

• CMS reserves the right to verify all information after move-in

• Misrepresentation may result in denial or lease termination

• CMS represents the property owner in all leasing matters

FINAL NOTICE

Do not submit an application unless you have read and agree to these requirements.