What if I have bad credit?

We are primarily concerned about evictions and debts owed to landlords. If your credit is poor enough to raise concerns, you may still be able to qualify by paying a higher deposit.

We recommend downloading your Credit Karma reports (instructions available on the application page) to review your credit and address history. We will review this report and may ask questions about any previous addresses not listed on your application or any debts in collections. By preparing ahead, you can address potential concerns—this is like an open-book test!

I have rental assistance, SSI, HUD, etc.

We accept all forms of rental assistance, regardless of the provider. Legitimate income sources, including disability, social security, unemployment compensation, or others, are also acceptable. Please provide verifiable documentation or vouchers with your application in place of pay stubs. These will be included in your income evaluation.

Important Note: While we accept various forms of payment, your funding source may impose conditions that could disqualify you. Please ensure their requirements align with ours, as we list our financial expectations on our listings page. We are unable to modify our terms to meet funding source qualifications.

HUD Applicants

To ensure a smooth process, follow these steps:

1. Contact your caseworker: Identify the listing you’re applying for and share the terms, such as rent, deposit, and included utilities.
2. Obtain a pre-approval letter: This is an informal document confirming their willingness to fund the rental. It often specifies the number of bedrooms allowed, funding contributions, utility requirements, and any restrictions on your contributions.
3. Submit your application to us: Along with your supporting documents, include the information provided by your caseworker.
4. HUD processing: Once your application is approved by us, HUD begins their process, which includes a home inspection and landlord application. After the property passes inspection, HUD issues a formal voucher to confirm funding.
5. Move-in preparation: After HUD approval, pay the move-in invoice, sign the lease, and receive your keys.

Note: A general HUD voucher does not guarantee funding for a specific property. Funding approval is only confirmed after the inspection and formal voucher issuance.

What if I have a pet that isn’t allowed?

If the listing states a pet is not allowed, it’s still worth asking. Exceptions may be made for applicants with excellent rental histories and quality references. Offering a higher deposit might also help. However, please confirm with us before applying to avoid misunderstandings.

What if I have an eviction on my record?

If you have an eviction on record, it won’t necessarily disqualify you. However, we will need to contact the landlord involved to understand the circumstances. Please include that landlord in the Previous Landlord Reference section of your application so we can gather both perspectives. Without this reference check, we may assume the worst.

Why won’t my application submit?

The most common reason applications fail to submit is due to missing information. If this happens:

1. Look for an error message at the top of the form.
2. Check for highlighted fields (often in red) that require attention.
3. Ensure any numeric-only fields don’t contain characters like commas or dashes.

Once all fields are correctly completed, your application should submit without issues.

How long does it take to know if I’m approved?

Connect Property Management is known for fast processing. If you submit all required documents with your application, you could be approved the same day—especially if everything is received early in the business day.

Our team typically reviews applications within one business day. You will receive email updates throughout the process.

What does the application process look like?

1. Submit an application for every adult occupant.
2. Provide all supporting documents as outlined on the rental application page. Exceptions can be made depending on circumstances, which we’ll discuss via email if needed.
3. Watch your email for updates and notifications throughout the process.
4. Once we have everything, we will begin the review phase. All applications and documents for all adult occupants must be received before this can start.
5. During the review, we may request additional information to address questions.
6. Once the review is complete, we will make a determination and email you the results:
   • If denied: We’ll explain the reasons.
   • If approved: You’ll move to the next phase, where we’ll draft a lease and a move-in invoice.
7. After reviewing and agreeing to the terms, sign the lease and pay the move-in invoice.
8. Upon completion of these steps, you’ll meet with us to receive your keys.

Note: The property remains available for other applicants until the lease is signed and payment is made.

Why are your application fees so low?

Connect Property Management has not increased application fees since 2013. While costs have risen over time, we’ve streamlined parts of the process to keep your expenses minimal. We also share some financial responsibility, ensuring we both have “skin in the game.”

Can I send a different credit report?

We require a specific credit report format to maintain low application fees. Exceptions may be made, but they could result in higher costs.

Can I hand-deliver documents or get application assistance?

Our application process is designed to be self-service and remote to minimize costs. If you require in-person assistance or document handoffs, we can accommodate you but must charge for the additional time.

What about service animals, ESAs, and pet fees?

We differentiate between service animals and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) based on federal and local regulations:

• Service Animals: Must be prescribed by a doctor for critical services and are exempt from pet fees. Documentation from your doctor is required.
• ESAs: Do not qualify for fee exemptions. Unfortunately, due to frequent scams, we cannot waive pet fees for ESAs.

Additional Information

Applications are assessed holistically, comparing all applicants to select the most qualified tenants. If there’s low competition, we may approve applications requiring policy exceptions or with lower overall scores.

For the best chance of approval, understand the application expectations, consider your competition, and prepare thoroughly. If you have questions about the property’s interest level, feel free to reach out to us.