Qualifications | Sagamore Apartments

UAG Rental Criteria

Purpose

United Apartment Group is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local fair housing laws. It is our policy to offer apartments for rent to the public without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, handicap, or any other state or locally protected classification. All applicants and co-applicants must be 18 and over unless protected by familial status per the Fair Housing amendment. All adult applicants must complete a standardized rental application provided by United Apartment Group. The application must include accurate and complete information regarding the applicant's identity, income, and rental history. Incomplete or falsified applications will not be considered.

United Apartment Group uses verifiable information provided by an applicant and the Leasing Desk Screening program to determine whether an applicant qualifies and what, if any conditions may apply. Our Rental Criteria Policy outlines the guidelines we follow when evaluating applicants for housing in our community. Please note that these criteria are subject to change, and the information provided here does not guarantee qualification or representation of all current residents' compliance with these requirements. There may be residents and occupants who have resided here prior to these requirements going into effect. Additionally, our ability to verify compliance with these criteria is dependent on the information received from applicant reporting services.

Application Fees, Administrative Fees, and Deposits

As part of our application process, please note that an application fee is required for all applicants aged 18 and older. Additionally, non-refundable administrative fee may also be required when processing a new lease. Deposits are determined by the size of the apartment you are applying for and may increase to the equivalent of one month's rent based on your screening results.

Other Fees

Additional fees may apply at the community you are applying to. These fees are separate from the monthly rent and will be listed during the quote process and documented on the lease contract at the time of move in. These fees can include, but are not limited to, pet rent, trash service, extermination, cable/internet, property liability, etc. In addition, if the property utilizes a third party for billing certain utilities, an administrative fee may be applied which will reflect on the billing statement and/or the lease contract.

Income/Employment History

To qualify for housing at our community, all applicants must have a combined verifiable income source in a gross amount of no less than three times the resident paid portion of rent. If the combined gross income is less than three times the resident paid portion, additional conditions may apply, including an opportunity fee, additional deposit, guarantor, or other arrangements. We accept the following forms of acceptable proof of income:

Paycheck Stubs: Four consecutive paycheck stubs for each applicant.
Job Offer: A job offer on a company letterhead with contact information specifying the salary.
Tax Return or W-2: The most recent tax return or W-2 form.
Bank Statements: Consecutive or the most recent three months of bank statements.
Court-Directed Payments: Documentation of child support or alimony payments when directed by a court.
Other Sources of Income: Documentation of grants, pensions, trust funds, GI benefits, disability payments, or social security

United Apartment Group reserves the right to request additional documentation or verification if necessary to assess the applicant's income qualifications.

Rental/Mortgage History

All applicants aged 18 and over must sign the lease agreement. It is necessary to have a current verifiable rental or mortgage payment history of at least six months. Failure to meet this requirement, including previous evictions or foreclosures, may result in denial of the application and forfeiture of any fees paid. Applicants with less than six months of rental or mortgage history, or those who are first-time renters, may be subject to additional conditions, such as an opportunity fee, additional deposit, securing a guarantor, or other arrangements.

To meet the rental/mortgage history requirement, applicants should fulfill the following criteria:

Lease Term Fulfilled: Applicants must have completed the full term of their previous lease agreements without any early terminations or unresolved issues.
No Lease Violations: Applicants should have a history of complying with lease terms, including timely rent payments and adherence to community rules and regulations.
Residence in Satisfactory Condition: Previous rental residences should have been left in a satisfactory condition, taking into account reasonable wear and tear.
Proper Notice to Vacate: Applicants must have provided proper notice to vacate their previous rental residence in accordance with the terms of their lease agreement or applicable laws.

Failure to meet any of these criteria may result in additional requirements or conditions imposed on the applicant.

Credit History

All applicants are required to have an established retail credit history in good standing. Applicants with a lack of established credit or negative credit may be subject to additional conditions, such as an opportunity fee, additional deposit, securing a guarantor, or other arrangements.

The following factors are reviewed to determine credit eligibility:

FICO Score: The applicant's FICO score is considered in evaluating their creditworthiness. A higher score generally indicates better credit management.
Check Writing History: The applicant's check writing history is reviewed to assess their reliability in meeting financial obligations.
Evictions: Any history of evictions may be taken into account during the credit evaluation process.
Judgments: The presence of any judgments against the applicant may be considered in the credit assessment.
Liens: The existence of any liens may be taken into consideration as part of the credit evaluation.
Write-offs: Any accounts that have been written off by creditors may impact the credit assessment.
Balance Owed to Rental Community or Mortgage Company: Outstanding balances owed to previous rental communities or mortgage companies, regardless of the date, may be considered as negative credit.
Unresolved Bankruptcy: Unresolved bankruptcy, regardless of the date, may be viewed as negative credit.

Please note that the above credit history requirements are subject to change and may vary based on local and state laws, as well as community-specific guidelines.

Criminal History

A criminal background check will be conducted for each applicant who is 18 years of age or older. We review applicants based on all other rental criteria before considering their criminal history. Applicants with felony convictions or serious misdemeanor convictions for crimes against persons or property, drugs, assaults, weapons, or crimes of a sexual nature may result in the denial of their application. Our review process may involve additional paperwork to further assess the nature of the crime. Conditional approvals may be considered, taking into account factors such as the type of criminal conduct, the age of the conviction, and the individual's history after the conviction.

For properties conducting out-of-network (OON) screening for criminal searches, we offer provisional approval screening. This screening option allows applicants to move in on a contingency basis while the OON results are pending. We understand that provisional approval screening allows applicants to secure housing while awaiting the OON results. However, it is important to recognize that final approval is contingent upon the outcome of the criminal records search. If the screening reveals declinable criminal records, the application may be rejected, and the associated fees and deposits will be retained. Additionally, the right of occupancy may be terminated. An additional cost will be associated with out of network screening, which will be charged to the applicant.

Please note that the above policy regarding criminal history is subject to change and may vary based on local and state laws, as well as community-specific guidelines.

Guarantors/Co-Signers

A guarantor or co-signer may be considered for applicants who lack employment/income, rental history, or satisfactory credit. The guarantor/co-signer must complete an application and meet all the qualifications listed above, with the qualifying income increased to five times the monthly market rent.

Please note that the consideration of a guarantor/co-signer is subject to approval and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The requirements for a guarantor/co-signer may vary based on local and state laws, as well as community-specific guidelines.

Non-Us Citizens/Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals and non-US citizens may be required to complete a supplemental rental application designed for non-US citizens. In addition to the standard rental application requirements, they must provide valid and current documentation from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and a valid photo ID (i.e., passport, driver's license, US identification card, or identification card from their home country).

Please note that the specific documentation and requirements for non-US citizens may vary based on the individual's immigration status, local and state laws, as well as community-specific guidelines. We encourage applicants to contact our community directly for more detailed information regarding their specific circumstances.

Occupancy Guidelines/Standards

To ensure comfortable and safe living conditions, we have established occupancy guidelines for our apartments. The maximum number of occupants permitted in an apartment shall not exceed two individuals per bedroom. However, we make an exception for newborns who are less than 12 months old at the time of rental.

Waiting list

We may maintain a waiting list for prospective residents when our apartment units are currently occupied or unavailable. The waiting list allows interested individuals to express their desire for residency and be notified when suitable units become available. As units become available that match an applicant's preferences, our leasing team will contact the individuals on the waiting list. Notification may occur via phone, email, or other specified communication methods provided on the waiting list application.

Electronic Payments

At United Apartment Group, we have implemented a policy requiring electronic funds for monthly rental payments. Our management office does not accept checks, cash, or money orders for rent payment. Instead, we have provided a convenient resident portal on our community website for residents to make their rental payments electronically. Within the resident portal, you will have the option to make your payment using accepted electronic payment methods, such as credit cards, debit cards, or electronic bank transfers. In addition, the option to pay using eMoney Orders is also available. This feature is useful for people who do not use bank accounts or credit cards to pay their fees. eMoney Orders give our residents a secure, convenient, and cost-effective method of making payments. A convenience fee will be assessed.

Identity Verification

All applicants and guarantors who are 18 years of age or older are required to provide a valid government-issued photo identification document. This can include a passport, driver's license, state ID card, or any other official identification document issued by a recognized government authority.

Protecting your privacy is important to us. Our privacy policy outlines how we handle and safeguard your personal information. If you would like to review our privacy policy, please feel free to request a copy from our management office.

Pet Policy

If the community accepts pets, a pet agreement must be completed and filed with our management office before bringing a pet into the apartment. This agreement outlines the responsibilities and expectations related to pet ownership within our community. The following canine breeds are not accepted: Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Huskies, Malamutes, Akitas, WolfHybrids, St. Bernard’s, Great Danes, Chows, Bull Mastiffs, and Standard Poodles. However, if you have proper documentation in advance that your pet is a service animal and have requested reasonable accommodation, exceptions may be considered. We allow a maximum of two pets per apartment. If you have more than one pet, additional fees and deposits will apply.

Please consult our management office regarding the pet policy and for the specific fees, deposits, and/or rent associated with the pet policy, including having multiple pets.

Service animals that assist persons with disabilities are classified as auxiliary aides and are therefore exempt from the Pet Policy, the refundable pet deposit, and any weight or size limitations. Additionally, owners of service animals are required to complete the Registration Form and the Alternate Responsible Party Agreement for our property records

Utilities

The utilities applicable to your apartment will be stipulated in the lease contract. Proof of utility account numbers and transfer can be requested by management prior to lease signing.

Reasonable Accommodations

If a current resident or applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for their unit or direct path access, they should submit their request in writing to the management office for review. Other methods of request, such as verbal in-person requests, email requests, or phone requests, will also be accepted as reasonable accommodation if requested by the applicant or resident. In such cases, you will receive a notification within 10 days of the decision regarding your request. If your request is denied, you have the option to request further review by upper management. A decision will be reached, and you will be notified within 10 days of that decision.

The property is committed to identifying and eliminating situations or procedures that create barriers to equal housing opportunity for all. In accordance with Section 504, the property will make reasonable accommodations for individuals with handicaps or disabilities, whether they are applicants or residents. This accommodation may include adjustments to how policies, procedures, or services are administered.

However, it is important to note that in providing reasonable accommodations or performing structural modifications for otherwise qualified individuals with disabilities, the property is not obligated to:

Make structural alterations that require the removal or alteration of load-bearing structures.
Provide support services that are not already part of its housing programs.
Take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of the program or service.
Take any action that would result in an undue financial and administrative burden on the Property, including situations of structural impracticality as defined in the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS).

Equal Housing Opportunity

At United Apartment Group, we are committed to providing equal housing opportunities to all individuals. We conduct our business in accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Laws, including Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Community Development Act of 1974. Our commitment to equal housing opportunities means that all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics, have an equal chance to apply for secure housing in our community. We treat all applicants and residents fairly and with respect throughout the application process and residency.