Frequently Asked Prospective Resident Questions

+ WHAT ARE YOUR RENTAL CRITERIA?

EACH resident over the age of 18 must submit a separate rental application and meet the following criteria:

  • Credit score of at least 640 with no accounts in collections.
    • We use Experian Vantage Score 3.0
    • If your credit is between 600 and 639 you can be approved with an additional security deposit
    • If you have no credit history you can also be approved with a double security deposit
  • Verifiable employment and/ or the combined income of lease holders must be 3x the monthly rental amount.
    • We require one month’s worth of paystubs starting from your most recent pay period
    • If you are relocating for a new job the signed offer letter will be accepted
    • If you are self employed please reach out before applying so we can discuss what proof may be acceptable
  • Positive landlord references from the past 3 years
    • A pattern of late payments, damages withheld from security deposits, or failure to pay can result in a denial
    • If you currently own your home we will use the mortgage payment history on your credit report
  • Acceptable criminal background check
    • If you have any criminal history that will appear on your background check please feel free to reach out to us for more detailed information regarding our polices.

Should you have specific questions about any of these criteria or how we process your application, please give us a call and we are happy to discuss in more detail.

+ WHAT IF I HAVE FILED FOR BANKRUPTCY?

If you have filed for bankruptcy recently enough that it shows on your credit report you must meet all other criteria (credit, rental, income, background) and will have to pay a double security deposit to proceed.

+ WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I CAN'T COMPLETE THE ONLINE APPLICATION BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE A TRADITIONAL JOB (RETIRED/STUDENT) OR RENTAL HISTORY?

Please attempt to complete the application as best as possible. You may have to put something slightly different in the required fields. For example:

  • If you are retired for employment you should list what you are getting monthly from any retirement or pension accounts. You can put your own contact information, but must upload documentation for proof of the amounts you list here.
  • If you are a student you may list student as your employment, $0.01 for your income, and yourself as the contact. Proof of full time student enrollment (a transcript) must be uploaded as part of your documentation.
  • If you own your own home you can put your address and yourself as your landlord and just explain you own it. We will check your mortgage payment history instead of rental history.

+ WHAT IF I HAVE A HOUSING VOUCHER?

  • Do you accept Vouchers?
    • Some of BPM’s properties accept vouchers and others do not, as they are exempt. It is best practice to call us if you have a voucher to determine if a property you are interested in accepts vouchers. Please call our office before applying.
  • How does BPM screen for income if I don’t make 3x the monthly rent?
    • We need to have proof that you make 3x your portion of monthly rent. The organization who issued you your voucher should be able to tell you how much you’ll be expected to pay per month.
  • Do I have to pass screening criteria?
    • Yes, BPM still screens each resident over the age of 18 for proof of income (see question #2), credit score, positive landlord references and an acceptable criminal background check.
  • Once I apply, do I need to submit anything extra?
    • Yes, the issuer of your voucher should have provided you with paperwork to submit to us, including a Request for Tenancy Approval, a Tenancy Addendum, and (Albemarle County voucher holders, only) a Unit Evaluation Form. Please share these with us so that we can process your application.

+ IS THE APPLICATION FEE REFUNDABLE?

Application fees are not refundable. There may be other applications pending. Please call us before applying to confirm a property's availability.

+ HOW DO I SCHEDULE A TOUR?

We are only offering in person tours once you have a completed and approved application. Prior to applying we can offer you a pre-recorded video tour so that you can better see the layout and size of the home.

+ HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO REVIEW AND SIGN THE LEASE?

Once your application is approved, a lease will be sent out to you for review and signature. You will be asked to indicate, within 1 business day of approval, if you would like to tour the property. If you do wish to tour the property, it must be toured within three business days of approval. If you do not or cannot within three business days of approval, you can sign the lease and the sight unseen addendum. Regardless of your tour preference, the lease must be signed and the security deposit paid within four business days of approval.

+ WHEN IS MY SECURITY DEPOSIT DUE?

Your security deposit is due at lease signing. Your lease will not be countersigned by our team until that is received.

+ DO YOU EVER MAKE EXCEPTIONS TO YOUR PET POLICIES?

We get this question a lot and the answer is no. Our owners have set their own pet policies and very rarely change their mind. It’s best to assume the pet policy listed is firm.

+ DO YOU HAVE A RESTRICTED BREEDS LIST?

Braden Property does not allow the following breeds:

  • Pit Bull
  • Mastiff
  • Rottweiler
  • Alaskan Malamute
  • Siberian Husky
  • Doberman Pinscher
  • Akita
  • Chow
  • German Shepherd
  • Great Dane
  • Staffordshire Terrier
  • Pitbull Terrier
  • Bulldog
  • Wolf Hybrid

Or a dog that is reasonably determined by Braden Property Management to be a mix of any of these.