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Rising Tide

How to apply

Read this before you apply. It tells you exactly what we check, so you don't pay a fee for an application that can't be approved.

$50application fee, per adult 19+. Non-refundable.
3×take-home monthly income vs. rent (or equivalent assets)
600FICO. Applicants with a score under 600 are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
DepositOne month's rent standard. Applications with shortfalls may need an additional deposit.
Pick a house to apply for Open the application

What to have ready

  • A government-issued photo ID for every applicant (driver's license, state ID, or passport). Non-U.S. citizens: proof of immigration status.
  • Social Security number or ITIN.
  • Proof of income: your two most recent pay stubs, or a new-hire letter on company letterhead, last year's tax return, or the last three months of bank statements. Self-employed: last year's tax return or a bank verification plus your DBA registration.
  • Rental history with landlord contact info, or mortgage history if you've owned.
  • A checking or savings account. Every applicant must have one.

Qualification criteria

"Applicant" means anyone who will sign the lease. "Occupant" means anyone else who will live in the home. Each adult applicant pays the $50 application fee; applications aren't processed until every fee is paid and a copy of each applicant's ID is on file. Fees are used to cover screening costs and are not refunded. A house stays available until we accept a security deposit and both sides sign a lease.

Who can apply

  • The primary applicant must be 19 or older.
  • Maximum occupancy is two people per bedroom plus one per home.

Income

Net (take-home) monthly income must be at least three times the monthly rent, or you must hold liquid assets equal to at least three times the total value of the lease. We verify it with the documents above. Cash income doesn't count. Housing allowances, government-backed disability, Social Security, and retirement income count. Child support and alimony count if the order is current and you can show six months of consistent payments. If your credit is thin or you have no rental history, time on the job helps.

Credit

We pull a credit report, landlord-tenant court records, and a criminal background check on every adult applicant. Applicants with a FICO score under 600 are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Bankruptcy: a Chapter 13 is acceptable if you have been in repayment for 12 months and the payment shows on your pay stubs. Any other bankruptcy, such as Chapter 7, must be discharged.

Rental history

An eviction in the past year is a denial. Any outstanding (unpaid) judgment for a rental account is a denial. Homeowners: we look for no more than three late mortgage payments per year. No rental history at all isn't held against you.

Co-signers

A co-signer or guarantor can cover a shortfall in income, credit, or rental history, but not a criminal record. Co-signers file their own application, pay the fee, and must show monthly income of at least five times the rent. Accepted at our discretion.

Criminal history

Every applicant and every occupant 18 or older is screened. We may decline any application based on criminal history. These are automatic denials: a felony (or equivalent) involving property damage, violence, or a sexual offense; any offense requiring sex-offender registration; a felony for manufacturing or distributing controlled substances within the past seven years.

Security deposit

Due when the lease is signed. The standard security deposit is one month's rent. If your application has shortfalls (for example in credit, income, or rental history), we may ask for an additional deposit. It's refundable at move-out less damage and any unpaid balance, and can't be applied to rent.

Pets

Pets need written approval before they move in (and before you get one later). Up to four pets per home. Each approved pet carries a non-refundable $250 pet fee and $25 a month in pet rent. An unapproved pet found in the home is a $250 fee, and pet rent is added through the end of the lease. Verified assistance animals are always allowed with no fee. We may decline any animal we consider unsuitable for the home, and no chained animals. Weight and breed limits are in the lease pet addendum; these breeds and their mixes may be declined: Akita, American Bulldog, Pit Bull / American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Chow, Doberman, German Shepherd, Great Dane, Husky, Rottweiler, wolf hybrids, and similar.

Housing vouchers

We do not currently have homes that accept Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers.

Honesty

Anything false on an application is an automatic denial, forfeits any fees and deposits paid, and you can't reapply.

We no longer accept Rhino deposit insurance. If you have an existing Rhino policy from a prior Rising Tide lease, see the resident FAQ.