GAIA Property Management

Statement of Rental Policy

Winchester Apartments

Revised: 4/16/2014

It is GAIA Property Management’s policy to offer equal housing for all people regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap status, familial status, or any other state or locally protected classifications.

Applicants for apartment homes will be accepted on a first come, first serve basis, and are subject to the availability of the particular apartment type requested. “Available” apartments include those for which we have notice that an existing resident intends to vacate on or about a certain date. Circumstances not necessarily under management’s control may delay the date of availability of an apartment which management may believe would be ready for a new resident. Whether a particular apartment is available can vary significantly within several hours or days.

To be considered for approval, all individuals 18 and older must fully complete a rental application. In the event someone under the age of 18 would like to apply for an apartment, proof of emancipation may be required to proceed. Any omissions, errors, or falsifications may result in denial of an application or terminate the right to occupy the apartment. Roommates must complete separate application, however final decision for approval will be for the apartment as a whole. People with a joint credit record may complete one application or apply separately. All applications are subject to approval through a computerized scored review from an outside application agency. Approval, Approval with Conditions, Referral or Denial is based on a review of the following criteria:

  1. Income/Employment:Income relative to rent and debt is factored into a computer scoring system. Household income must be approximately three times the monthly rent. All sources of income must be verifiable. Verification can include paycheck stubs, bank statement, statements for accounts, U.S. tax returns, etc. Must provide most recent 4 weeks of proof of income. Additional sources of verifiable income may be considered. These sources may include: child support, grants, pensions, GI benefits, disability, trust funds, social security and savings accounts. Attending school will be accepted as an alternative to being employed but applicant must still meet criteria with regards to income and credit. A guarantor may be used if a prospective resident fails to meet Income/Employment standards or is a full-time college student (enrollment documentation must be provided). The guarantor must meet all qualifying criteria, in addition to current housing obligations. Payment of full lease term by certified funds may be used to waive Income/Employment standards.

Proof of income should be supplied at time of application if at all possible, however no later than 24 hours from time of application in order to ensure no delay in the review process.

  1. Self-Employment, Retired or Unemployed: Previous year’s tax return, in addition to last two month’s bank statements will need to be provided to showcase meeting income criteria. An alternative to this is providing twelve months personal financial records.
  1. Resident History:Review of the last two years’ worth of rental history will take place on all applicants. Regardless of timeline any applicant showing an eviction, a request to vacate or lease violation will result in decline of the application. More than two (2) late payments and/or NSFs within a twelve month period is considered unsatisfactory rental history. Approved applicants with housing debt up to $1500 will be required to place an additional deposit prior to move in and show proof of a settlement agreement on that debt and make at least one payment on that agreement prior to approval with condition.
  1. Credit History: A complete credit history from a credit bureau is required. The overall evaluation of credit history is performed by a computer scoring system. This evaluation is based on factors such as the number of positive and negative lines of credit and overall debt. Certain types of credit lines (such as previous apartment payments) will be considered more heavily than others. No credit history will be viewed as an increased risk. No record with the credit bureau will require an additional security deposit.
  1. Certified Funds: Applications with a theft by check or any increased concerns on payment processing will be required to complete an additional deposit and pay via certified funds during their residency at a Gaia community, in the event their entire application is approved or approved with conditions.
  1. Deposit Amounts: Deposit amounts will be set by the third party scoring model and the items mentioned within this criteria. All required deposit amounts must be paid at move-in.
  1. Renters’ Insurance: Proof of renters’ insurance is required from at least one lease holder per apartment. The minimum personal liability coverage is $100,000.00. Please add your apartment community as a “Party of Interest” or “interested Party” to the renter’s liability policy. Proof of coverage will be required prior to move-in and again at time or renewal. You are required to have the apartment covered through your entire residency per the applicable lease contract. All residents have an option of insurance providers, however Gaia Property Management has reached out to a Renter’s Legal Liability who will offer competitive rates for coverage. Insuring personal property in addition to liability coverage is strongly advised, since in the event of an accident your personal belongings would not be covered under a liability only policy. Please reach out to your personal insurance provider to discuss in full.
  1. Criminal History: Criminal histories will be checked on all applicants over the age of 18 years. Persons with felony convictions or persons who receive deferred adjudication for felony charges dealing with violence, weapons, narcotics, theft over $500.00, or any form of a sexual misconduct and /or minors will be denied. Persons who received a felony conviction not specified in this section and that ismore than 10 years old will be considered.Persons who received a misdemeanor conviction or deferred adjudication more than (3) years old will be considered. Persons who have pending criminal litigation will not be considered until the final disposition has been reached. Persons charged or convicted of any crime involving a minor will not be accepted. Persons convicted or receiving deferred adjudication for any crime involving property, violence, sex, or narcotics or showing a pattern of repeated offenses will not be permitted to live on our property.
  1. Occupancy: All occupants must meet the criminal history standards as set forth in this document. The following occupancy standards will apply:

EFF: 2 persons 1BR: 2 persons 2BR:4 persons 3BR: 6 persons

  1. Foreign Nationals: Foreign nationals will be required to complete a supplemental rental application for non-US citizens. Foreign nationals living or working in the United States must provide either a valid Social Security Number or a valid passport with stamped identification of entry date into the United States. Income will be verified with letter of intent, work visa, work petition or verification of funds in a United States Bank. If income cannot be verified, the lease must be paid in full with United States funds.
  1. Guarantors: Guarantors will be accepted for applicants who are full-time students. Only one guarantor per apartment is allowed. Guarantors must have a gross monthly income of five times the rental rate. Verifiable income requirements apply as stated in Income section of the criteria. The Guarantor application is considered the agreement to the financial responsibilities of the lease in most states and therefore the Guarantor is not required to sign the actual lease contract.
  1. Animals:Exotic and poisonous animals as well as caged animals are not allowed. There is a maximum of 2 pet(s) per apartment allowed and not to exceed a combined weight of 150 pounds. Animals must be no less than (6) months of age. Additional monthly pet rent will be charged. Aggressive breeds will not be allowed, includes mixed breeds with any of the below restrictions.

Restricted Animal List (not all inclusive and service/companion animals may not be subject)

Aggressive Breeds: Akita Inu, Alaskan Malamutes, American Bandogge, American Bulldog, Basenji, Boew Boel,Bull Terrier, Cane Corso, Caucasian, Chow Chow, Dalmation, Doberman Pinschers, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, German Shepherd, Gull Dong, Huskies,Olde English Bulldog, Perro de Presa Canario, Pittbull, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Tosa Inu, Wolf Hybrid

Poisonous Animals: spiders, snakes

Exotic Animals: iguana, ferret, sugar gliders, snakes

Caged Animals: bunnies,rats,hedgehogs,hamsters

Please note that these are our current rental standards, and nothing in these requirements shall constitute or guarantee or be a representation by our community that all residents and occupants currently residing in our community have met these requirements. There may be residents and occupants who have resided here prior to these requirements going into effect. Additionally, our ability to verify whether these requirements are met is limited to the information we received from various reporting services. We make a reasonable effort to screen our residents and do not allow those with particular criminal history to reside on property. Even with a reasonable effort to screen persons with criminal histories, it is still possible for a resident to move someone in with them, without our knowledge, or, our source for criminal checks may haveincorrect, erroneous or incomplete information. We request residents to report to the Rental Office any known persons with criminal histories, or persons involved in criminal activity, who reside on the property.

I have read and understand the entire leasing policy. Additionally, my signature is a sign that I meet these qualifying standards and have truthfully answered all questions. Further,I understand that falsification of rental application information or failure to meet the requirements set forth therein will lead to denial of rental and the deposit will be retained as liquidated damages. I give the Apartments or its Agents permission to verify all information on the Application, including criminal history, residency, employment, and all other information.

Application is not available to be processed until all required application, administrative and deposit funds are secured, the leasing criteria is signed by all parties and all applications have been completed and returned in full. Per state laws the application fee must be provided in separate payment and will be deposited immediately once all previously mentioned items have been provided.

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