Thank you for applying with EquityTeam! We value your time, so we've designed our application process to be quick, easy, informative, and transparent. You’ll receive email updates as your application moves through the process below:

Pre-Screen Yourself: Applicants should use this document, and our posted screening requirements/qualifications to pre-screen themselves as much as possible BEFORE applying and submitting the application fee.
Application Submission = “In-Progress”:

Applications are only accepted online (no written or in-person) through our third-party processing partner. Until all adult members of the household over 18 and co-signers complete their respective applications and pay the application fee, the Application as a whole is considered “In-Progress”.
Application charges are only $49 per adult 18 years of age and over for anyone who will live at the property, as well as Co-signors/Guarantors. Fees are collected when each adult submits their application. Charges will appear on your bank statement as RPS*INVESTOR SUPP 1100 RD. Application charges are non-refundable, unless there is already an accepted application on the unit when you applied and the property should have been removed from the market. If this occurs, we will refund the application fees or transfer it to another property. A paid application may be transferred to another EquityTeam property within 30 days from the date the first application was submitted.
To expedite your application submission, you should have all relevant ID’s, pay stubs, and other documentation available for uploading.
For speed and simplicity, we strongly encourage you to use the “link to bank account” option to verify your income. The system DOES NOT look at your outgoing transactions, it only adds up deposits.

Application/Pet or Animal Screening = “Submitted/Pending Review”:

Once all adults have paid and completed their respective applications, we’ll process the “people” application.
If you have pets/animals, we will process their screening after processing the “people” of your household.
Applications will stay in the “Pending Review” stage until they are considered “complete”. We will communicate what we need from you, it’s your job to provide it promptly within 24 hours or we may cancel your Application.

Decisions:

If multiple Applications are completed around the same time, for the same property, Manager will choose the most qualified application. If multiple applications are equally qualified, the application that was completed first will take precedence.
After Review, the application status will be:

“Approved”: Approvals are conditional until the new lease is signed and countersigned, a Holding Deposit is paid, and funds clear our account. Time is of the essence. Any requests from ET to the applicant for information or documentation must be satisfied within 2 business days or ET may move on to other applications.
“Canceled”: Applications may be canceled for various reasons, including if the property was rented to another applicant; if the applicant withdrew the application, etc.
“Declined”: If an applicant is notified they are denied, the DECISION IS FINAL, and there are exceptions. Under Section 612 of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to obtain a free copy of the report if you submit a written request to the reporting credit agency no later than 60 days after you receive notice of denial. Under Section 611 of that Act and state law, you also have the right to dispute the accuracy or completeness of any information in the report by contacting our credit processing provider. A copy of your Summary of Rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act can be found here: https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf
Reasons for Denial may include, but are not limited to:

Not meeting ET's standard criteria;
Providing false or unverifiable information;
Failing to give proper notice when vacating a property;
Poor previous landlord reference;
Frequent late payments or NSF’s to previous landlords;
Unpaid collection on a past rental property;
Eviction-related public record within the past 36 months;
If you have allowed any person(s) not on the lease to reside on the premises;
You want to operate a business out of the property (such as a daycare or pet-groomer) that would significantly increase traffic and wear/tear on the property;
Violating any of our terms of service during this application process;
Rude or unprofessional behavior or communication with ET.

ET is committed to equal housing and full compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act (FFHA). We do not discriminate against persons because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or age. We also comply with all state and local fair housing laws.

Lease Signing and Move-In:

The property will remain “available” until a signed lease agreement and holding deposit are received. Promptly after being approved, the Applicant will be sent the Lease electronically for e-signature, and has a maximum of 48 hours to sign the lease and submit a holding deposit. Time is of the essence. Failure to act promptly may result in the Application being Denied.
The move-In date will be identified on the Lease but must be within 14 days unless otherwise agreed upon.
The tenant may only move-in when:

The lease is signed by all Applicants and by ET;
All charges identified on Lease (security deposit, rent, etc) are paid in full and clear (typically 3 business days from when the payment is made);
ET emails Tenant to confirm Move-In Date.

If you have any questions, email us at leasing@equityteam.com

Respectfully,

EquityTeam Leasing

REQUIREMENTS

HOUSEHOLD/CO-SIGNERS. ANIMALS/PETS. OTHER CHARGES

Occupants & Co-Signers are Applicants

All occupants 18 or older will be required to provide proof of a government-issued photo ID and submit to a background and credit screening. Co-signers not occupying the property still must apply, pay application charges, provide proof of income, and qualify as any other applicant.

Animals & Pets

We love pets! Allowing pets is at the discretion of the Manager, and may vary per property, but in general, our policy is:

no more than 2 pets per household
If the property is a multi-family building, each pet should be less than 30lbs
In a single-family building, animals should be less than 100lbs each
Honesty and cooperation are crucial. Our Pet Policies are strictly enforced. Applicants who misrepresent their animals, and/or violate our pet policies will have their application terminated immediately.

Pet Applications & Digital Pet Profiles:

In order to ensure ALL of our residents understand our pet and animal-related policies, we require all adults in the household to complete an online profile with our third-party PetScreening service.

This process ensures we have standardized pet and animal-related policy acknowledgments, and more accurate records to create greater mutual accountability. If you are unable to complete a profile online and need help doing so, please contact us.

There are three profile types to choose from:

No pet/co-owner of a pet:

No charge.
Set up your profile and acknowledge our policies and you're done.

Pet(s):

Submit Pet application; receive a Digital Pet Profile & FIDO score (updated annually).
Manager will approve/deny pet(s) and will base any pet charges off of the FIDO score
Minimal annual charge (paid directly to our third-party PetScreening partner) as low as $20 if paid by ACH; $25 if paid by credit card. Pricing is subject to change.

Assistance Animal:

No charge.
Animals are thoroughly vetted as legitimate “Service” or “Support” animals following HUD/FHAct guidelines.
Processing time is typically 3-5 business days

Digital Pet Profile Benefits:

Household Pet and Assistance Animal Profile holders receive a 12-month digital pet profile which can be shared with groomers, pet daycares, pet sitters, hotels, veterinarian facilities, other landlords, and more. If the pet/animal vaccination details have the expiration dates individually listed, during the 12-month period, PetScreening will send the pet/animal owner a friendly reminder to update their vaccination records.

“Pet” Charges:

Approved pets are subject to the following charges:

Pet Onboarding: equal to one month Pet Rent Charge
Pet Rent Charge: based on FIDO score, between $19-$39 per month (subject to change. See Lease)

Restricted Animals:

Due to Owner’s property insurance limitations and other factors, the following animals will be denied unless an exception is granted (case-by-case) and if approved, additional insurance is obtained:

Dog Breeds: Pit Bull Terriers, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, Staffordshire Terriers, German Shepherds, Chows, Bull Mastiffs, Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Wolf - Dog Hybrids, Great Danes, St Bernards, Akita, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Farm and Ranch animals, Any attack, non-domesticated or guard dog, Any non-domestic or exotic animal, A mixed breed which includes any of the above, and any animal that has a history of bits and attacks.
Any poisonous, dangerous, endangered species or otherwise unauthorized animal.
No aquariums larger than 10 gallons.
No ferrets, reptiles, or rodents.

Other Charges

In addition to rent and the deposit, there are other reasonable charges related to a lease and/or property. While we'd like to include a full list here, it's simply not possible because each property may be different. See the property listing, or ask your Leasing Agent for a list of the charges related to the property you're applying for to learn more. For example (prices subject to change):

a $99 admin charge each time a new lease is created;
a Tenant Benefit Package of $29 per month which includes a Tenant Liability Policy; Tenant Personal Property Policy; Quarterly Furnace Filters, Free ACH payment processing; and more.
utilities may be an additional charge in the lease

CREDIT HISTORY

An unsatisfactory credit report is one that reflects past or current bad debts, late payments, or unpaid utility bills that prevent transfer of utilities, liens, judgments, or bankruptcies. Bankruptcies must be at least 6 months from discharged date. Any bankruptcy that has not been discharged will result in automatic denial. Discharged bankruptcies from the last seven (7) years may require a higher deposit. If an applicant is rejected for poor credit history, the applicant will be given the contact information of the credit reporting agency that provided the credit report (but not the contents of the credit report). An applicant rejected for unsatisfactory credit is encouraged to obtain a copy of the credit report from the reporting agency, correct any erroneous information and resubmit an application.

Poor credit score is NOT an automatic denial unless it's below 450. See “DECISIONS & RISK MITIGATION”

CIVIL JUDGEMENTS & CRIMINAL HISTORY

Background checks will check for civil judgments and criminal history. Negative factors that may result in your Application being declined include:

Criminal

Felonies involving crimes against children, sex-related offenses, homicide, kidnapping, drug sale, manufacturing, or distribution, or any felonies within the past 5 years.
For misdemeanors offenses involving crimes against persons, property, or animals, financial crimes;(e.g. bad check, identity theft, fraud), and other drug, prostitution, and/or weapons-related offenses within the past 3 years.

Civil

Civil judgments less than 3 years old.

Applicants with these factors are encouraged to email us about their history before paying the Application fee.

These criteria do not constitute a guarantee or representation that residents or occupants currently residing in one of our homes have not been convicted of, or subject to, deferred adjudication for a felony, certain misdemeanors, or sex offenses requiring registration under applicable law. Resident or occupants may have resided in one of our homes prior to implementation of this policy, and our ability to verify this information is limited to the information available to us by the applicants and credit reporting services. Residents or occupants who are convicted of any of the foregoing after this Lease Application, may be subject to forfeiture of Lease Application Fees or eviction if conviction occurs after move-in.

INCOME & EMPLOYMENT

Incomes from the 2 highest-earning adults will be used to determine total household net income. A non-occupying co-signer may be added if needed. Total household net income needs to be a minimum of 2.5 times the monthly rental amount (3.5x if using a cosigner).

ALL sources of income must be disclosed at the time the application is submitted, including any assistance if applicable.

Current Income (Personal; not household)

List all sources of CURRENT income that can be proven via:

Pay stubs: 2 most recent or minimum last 30 days.
Offer Letter: If an applicant just started employment or will be starting new employment (transfer or relocation).
W2-Tipped Employees: Tipped Employees may income qualify based on paycheck stubs or W2’s. At times tipped employees may include tips on their regular pay stubs or a lump sum added to their W2 at the end of the year. If the applicant does not qualify based on their pay stubs they may income qualify based on their annual W2.
Self-employed W2 or 1099 may need to verify income with minimum of 90 days bank statements.
Savings Account currently showing equal to or greater than 2.5 times the amount of the entire lease.
School Disbursement check (Student Loan) & I20 Form - Loans must be accepted and are no longer pending.
SSI / Disability / Retirement Award letter.
Unemployment- The total must be equal to or greater than three times the amount of the entire lease for the following 12 months of unemployment income.
Military Income- Base income, including housing and food income, may be used to income qualify.
Child support & alimony is NOT an acceptable form of income but may be used on a CASE BY CASE basis.

Minimum 1 year of verifiable employment history at your current job. If in the same line of work, but different jobs within the previous year, income verification will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You must be a permanent employee (not temporary or probationary). If you are self-employed, retired or not employed, you must provide proof of ability to pay the rent.

**We will accept all sources of income assistance including vouchers, various non-profit groups, co-signors, and guarantors. However, we will NOT sign any third-party agreements, we will NOT agree to modify our lease, and we will NOT submit to third-party inspections as a condition of enforcing the lease or paying rent. Applicants are fully responsible for confirming these terms are acceptable to the assistance provider before submitting their application. No refunds will be given for applications that end up being denied b/c the assistance provider does not approve of these terms or the rental amount. **

“INCOME BONUS CREDITS” may be used to offset credit score deficiencies. See “DECISIONS & RISK MITIGATION”

RESIDENCY HISTORY

List the places you've lived over the past 2 years. Residency must be verifiable for at least 1 year whether you rented or owned. Any evictions or evictions filed within the past 3 years can be grounds for denial. Foreclosures less than 6 months will result in denial. We WILL contact past landlords. If we're unable to verify with a previous landlord, we reserve the right to deny the application.

DECISIONS

The information included throughout this Application provides the basis upon which ET will approve applications and collectively represents our "Approval Standards". Our system automatically approves and denies based on these preset criteria as much as it can. Manager may modify or override automated decisions if the Manager believes there is sufficient evidence to do so in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.

RISK MITIGATION

Manager's experience has shown that when Applications fall short of Manager's optimal "Approval Standards" there are increased risks of returned payments, partial payments, defaults, etc., which increase the risk and workload for Manager. To offset this, the Manager may choose to offer the Applicants a Risk Mitigation Offer. These offers may include additional fees, extra security deposit, advanced rent payments, etc. Risk Mitigation is offered on a CASE BY CASE basis and at the discretion of the Manager.

Credit

Applicants must meet the “Combined Average Credit Score”(CACS = average score of all adult occupants) based on the RENT-to-CACS scale below, or will incur a monthly surcharge calculated as $0.50 for every point needed to meet the CACS for the unit (maximum charge per month is $39)

$1,000+ rent per month = 675+ CACS
$800 - $999 rent per month = 600+ CACS
$799 and lower rent per month = 525+ CACS

For example, if a household's CACS is 650 with 2 occupants (600+700=1350/2 = 650 CACS) and the unit rents for $1100 per month, the minimum CACS for that unit is 675. The applicant will need 25 points to meet the CACS. 25 points needed x $.50 per point = $12.5 monthly Risk Mitigation surcharge (assuming there are no "Income Bonus Points").

Income Bonus Points

Income is important to us. Our income criteria is combined income from the top TWO adult occupants must be a minimum of 2.5x rent (3.5x rent if non-occupying co-signer is needed). Applications where CI is 4x rent or more may receive bonus points to be used to raise their CACS (if needed).

Bonus points calculations: (combined monthly income / monthly rent) x 10. Example: $5,000 combined monthly income / $1,200 monthly rent = 4.16 x 10 = 41.6 Bonus Points to use toward improving CACS.

Ending Risk Mitigation

Tenant may request that Risk Mitigation Charges stop after 24 consecutive on-time payments in full. Manager has complete discretion to approve or deny this request.

APPLICATION TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Parties: Applicant is defined herein. ET (EquityTeam) is a licensed broker in Ohio and has signed agreement with the Owner of Record to act as their Agent in all business dealings as they pertain to the rental property Applicant is applying to lease. "Owner", "Manager" or "Landlord" is used herein to represent either the Owner of Record or ET, or both collectively. Please contact a Realtor or attorney if you have any questions about your rights concerning the application or leasing of this property.

2. Applicant Representations: Manager relies on the information given above to be completed and accurate in order to act upon your application in a timely manner. Any false statements, misrepresentations, inaccurate information or failure to supply the data requested within 24 hours may serve as a rejection of your application OR grounds for an eviction action if later discovered to be false, misrepresented, inaccurate or incomplete information. Applicant warrants that all of the representations in this application are true and correct. Applicant also understands that information provided on this application shall survive approval of this application and execution of a lease agreement and if at any time it is determined that any such representations may have been false or incorrect, then same may be the basis for a default to exist as in the case of any other default that may be defined by the lease or Ohio law.

3. Manager Errors and Omissions: Unit information listed on our website (i.e., bedroom count, bathroom count, square footage, rent amount, etc.) is deemed reliable but not guaranteed accurate. Applicant is responsible for verifying all information prior to execution of the lease. We encourage all tenants to verify schools, allowable pets, expected features, or any HOA concerns prior to signing a lease agreement. Any information posted in the advertisement does NOT constitute a written agreement or guarantee of the facts stated. Demographic Data: https://www.neighborhoodscout.com Sex Offenders: http://www.city-data.com/so/so-Cincinnati-Ohio.html

4. Authorization to Run & Review Credit: In compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, I understand that a consumer credit report will be made which may include information as to my character, general reputation, personal characteristics and mode of living. The nature and scope of the investigation requested may include information obtained through personal interviews concerning residence verification, marital status, number of dependents, employment, occupation, habits, reputation and mode of living and the applicant/tenant expressly acknowledges and confirms that the Landlord shall have a continuing right to obtain current credit information as the Landlord deems appropriate in order to update the applicant's file and/or to pursue collection from the application, all as the Landlord may deem necessary. By completing this application, Applicant is authorizing the use of any credit reporting/screening agencies to verify credit, and validate all information recorded above. Further, by completing this application, Applicant has authorized the Manager and the credit reporting agencies to later exchange credit information and access your credit report in the event of a default of the lease agreement for collection or skip tracing purposes.

5. Time is of the Essence During Processing: Applicant agrees to submit to Manager all required verification documents within 24 hours of applying. Once approved, an Applicant must sign the lease and submit their full security deposit within 48 hours of receiving the Lease electronically or they will lose their reservation of the property. The property will remain "available" until a signed lease agreement and security deposit are in place.

6. Governing Law : All parties expressly agree the ONLY jurisdiction for litigation related to this Agreement is Hamilton County, Ohio.

7. Fair Housing: Fair Housing Statement Ohio Revised Code 4735.55 It is illegal, pursuant to the Ohio Fair Housing Law, Division (H) of Section 4112.02 of the Revised Code and the Federal Fair Housing law, 42 U.S.C.A. 3601, as amended, to refuse to sell, transfer, assign, rent, lease, sublease or finance housing accommodations, refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of housing accommodations, or otherwise deny or make unavailable housing accommodations because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status as defined in section 4112.01 of the Revised Code, ancestry, military status as defined in that section, disability as defined in that section, or national origin or to so discriminate in advertising the sale or rental of housing, in the financing of housing, or in the provision of real estate brokerage services. It is also illegal, for profit, to induce or attempt to induce a person to sell or rent a dwelling by representations regarding the entry into the neighborhood of a person or persons belonging to one of the protected classes.

8. Defamation and Professional Conduct: Parties mutually agree, that as additional consideration, specifically the mutuality of this clause, to communicate in a professional manner, and not defame the other party, privately or publicly. Should a dispute arise, parties agree to the following resolution process, in order: 1) attempt to work it out privately between them; 2) Open a case with the BBB; 3) Legal action. This provision relates to defamation regarding: (1) this agreement; (2) any parties performance under this agreement; (3) the lease agreement to which this provision is an addendum to; (4) any duty or obligation of or by the property manager that relates to the management of this property. Parties mutually agree that damages for failure to comply with this provision shall be liquidated at three hundred dollars ($300) per day for each defaming comment publicly viewable (to anyone other than the author) not removed within 48 hours of request. Parties further agree that enforcement of this provision is appropriate through a temporary restraining order and/or injunctions and permanent injunctions. The parties to this agreement agree that this provision shall survive the termination, expiration or cancellation of the application and/or Lease.

EXAMPLE LEASE CLAUSES

OTHER (FOR REFERENCE ONLY):

1. Rent & Security Deposit: ET has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy toward late rent. Rent is due the 1st, late the 2nd of each month. Late fees (typically 10% of amount owed) will accrue until paid. Paying rent is easy using multiple methods, including the preferred method of free ACH; CASH IS NOT ACCEPTED. Security Deposit will be equal to one month's rent.

2. No Smoking in the Unit

3. Occupants and Vehicles Allowed At/on Property: The maximum occupancy for our properties is two (2) persons per bedroom. ET allows up to 1 vehicle per bedroom per property unless stated otherwise, subject to HOA/local municipality approval, where applicable. Applicant/tenant must confirm with the HOA/local municipality the number of vehicles allowed at/on the property prior to lease execution where applicable.

4. Utilities: Tenant is responsible for verifying all Tenant-responsible utilities, the transfer of utilities before move in, and any utility charges billed to Owner of Record during the term of the lease. ET may request tenant to verify utilities in their name.

5. Resident Benefits Package: Included with ALL lease agreements for a charge of $29 per month is the Tenant Benefits Package which includes: - Renters Insurance that covers $10k of your personal belongings, plus $100k in liability coverage - Online Resident Portal for making payments, reporting repairs, etc. - Quarterly HVAC filter delivery - 24/7/365 maintenance & repair hotline - Free recurring ACH e-payments - Utility Concierge.

6. Inspections: ET conducts bi-annual inspections of the properties we manage. We take pictures of the interior and exterior of the home. The reason for these inspections is to identify preventative maintenance that is needed, make sure your home is safe and working properly, and to help our Owner's feel connected to their property.

7. Disabled Accessibility: Any concerns should be submitted in writing to ET. We must obtain Owner approval to allow modification of the premises. All modifications are at the expense of the disabled person, and the disabled person must agree to restore the premises, at their own expense to the pre-modified condition (provided the modification would affect the use and enjoyment of the premises for future residents). We require written proposals detailing the extent of the work to be done, approval from the landlord before modifications are made, appropriate building permits with required licenses made available for the landlord's inspection, and a restoration deposit may be required per Fair Housing guidelines.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By submitting this application, applicant(s) hereby agrees to Landlord's Approval Guidelines, Terms and Conditions and gives consent to allow the owner, manager, or his/her/their agent (hereinafter "Landlord") to obtain credit information, criminal history and related information regarding the applicant's) for the purpose of determining whether or not to enter into a lease with the applicant(s). Applicant(s) understand that Landlord shall have a continuing right to review applicant's credit information, rental application, payment history, occupancy history, criminal background history and related information for account review purposes and for improving application methods. By checking this box applicant(s) hereby declares that all information provided on this Rental Application is complete, true, and correct to the best of his/her/their knowledge. Applicant(s) hereby authorizes the owner, manager, or his/her/their agent (hereinafter "Landlord") to verify any information at any time contained in this application, including but not limited to, verification of current residency and employment. This application is for preliminary screening use only and does not obligate Landlord to execute a rental agreement or deliver possession of the premises. Applicant(s) further acknowledges that any false information contained herein will void this application and terminate any rental agreement. By checking this box applicant(s) hereby consent to allow the owner, manager, or his/her/their agent (hereinafter "Landlord") to obtain credit information, criminal history and related information regarding the applicant(s) for the purpose of determining whether or not to enter into a lease with the applicant(s). Applicant(s) understand that Landlord shall have a continuing right to review applicant's credit information, rental application, payment history, occupancy history, criminal background history and related information for account review purposes and for improving application methods. By checking this box applicant(s) hereby declares that all information provided on this Rental Application is complete, true, and correct to the best of his/her/their knowledge. Applicant(s) hereby authorizes the owner, manager, or his/her/their agent (hereinafter "Landlord") to verify any information at any time contained in this application, including but not limited to, verification of current residency and employment. This application is for preliminary screening use only and does not obligate Landlord to execute a rental agreement or deliver possession of the premises. Applicant(s) further acknowledges that any false or fraudulent information contained herein will void this application and terminate any rental agreement.**

ET Application Terms & Conditions 20240502