Welcome to E21Rentals of Central Alabama!

We manage single and multi-family homes throughout Jefferson and Shelby county Alabama. As a full service property management company we offer complete property management services. All of our property management services are provided with low fees.

All of our property managers are licensed real estate agents and have many years of combined real estate experience. Each of our property managers is knowledgeable, professional, prompt and courteous, which is one reason our clients stay with us for so long.
 

Qualification and Application Requirements

Thank you for your interest in E21 Realty / E21 Rentals. To assist you with your decision on your new home, please review the guidelines that we use to qualify residents before completing your rental application. Please note that these are our general rental guidelines; nothing contained in these guidelines constitutes a guarantee or representation that all residents and occupants currently residing in one of our homes have met these guidelines. Owners of property make the final decisions. This document provides a general overview of our guidelines and screening requirements shown below may not include all criteria checked by the background screening company. Requirements are subject to change. We will provide you with further details, terms and conditions throughout the process. We make every effort to pre-screen applications for reasons of conditional approval prior to asking for Application fees and running credit. We do not pull credit or backgrounds without expressed consent to do so.

APPLYING

Application fees cover the cost and administration for running individual background and credit checks. Applying does not guarantee approval, nor does it constitute a lease for the home which you applied. Only if qualified will you be given the opportunity to pay a deposit and sign a lease in order to reserve a property. We receive a lot of applications, however many applicants do not receive approval, pay a deposit and/or sign a lease. We continue to accept applications until one applicant has completed all steps and reserved the property..

FAIR HOUSING

It is E21 Realty / E21 Rentals policy not to discriminate against any person because of that person’s race, color, creed or religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, military status, handicap, disability, or any other protected status. You may ask to consider any reasonable accommodation or modification you need because of a disability.

Screening Policy

Occupancy Guidelines – The following occupancy standards apply based on 2 persons per bedroom, plus one per home. 1 Bedroom = 3 Persons; 2 Bedroom = 5 Persons; 3 Bedroom = 7 Persons; 4 Bedroom = 9 Persons; 5 Bedroom = 11 Persons. These occupancy standards do not apply to anyone protected under the Federal Fair Housing Guidelines as they relate to familial status. Familial status is defined as “one or more individuals (who have not attained the age of 18 years) being domiciled with a parent or another person having legal custody of such individual or individuals; or the designee of such parent or other person having such custody, with the written permission of such parent or other person. The protections afforded against discrimination on the basis of familial status shall apply to any person who is pregnant or is in the process of securing legal custody of any individual who has not attained the age of 19 years.” We reserve the right, however, to limit occupancy in unique situations due to the physical limitations of the property (for example, limitation of the building’s sewer and electrical systems) and state and local building codes that impose their own set of minimum space requirements per occupant.

Age – All Applicants who will be responsible for paying rent must be listed as tenants on the lease, be 19 years of age or older and pay the nonrefundable Application Fee ( except as prohibited by law). All occupants 19 years of age or older who will live in the property but will not be responsible for the rent, must be included in the Application, pay the nonrefundable Application Fee (except as prohibited by law) and are required to be listed on the lease as occupants. Occupants who are younger than 19 years of age at the time that you complete the Application do not need to pay the application fee, but are required to be listed on the lease as occupants.

Credit Check – We will request a credit report on all applicants to verify credit worthiness. Credit checks are currently run through a credit bureau: We require a minimum average combined credit score for all Applicants of 500 or above (for example, if one applicant’s score is 480 and the other applicant’s score is 560, the combined average credit score is 520); however, we do not disqualify tenants solely for not having a credit history. Please note: If the average combined credit score for all Applicants is between 500 and 550, we will require minimum payment of 1 month security deposit, first month, last month’s rent, and prorated rent if applicable prior to move-in. Open collections, judgements and debt ratios may affect “stability” of ability to pay consideration. Credit minimum requirements may be waived when applicant chooses to pay entire lease terms in advance.

Criminal Background Check – A criminal background check will be conducted for each applicant and occupant aged 19 years or more. A conviction for the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance is cause for an automatic denial of an application. Criminal convictions relating to violent acts, crimes of dishonesty or breach of trust or matters of similar nature or severity may be cause for denial of an application. In addition to the nature and severity of the conviction, Landlord will consider factors including, without limitation, the amount of time that has passed since the relevant conviction and whether such conviction could reasonably be deemed to be indicative of a potential risk to safety and/or property.

Income – Our standard income approval requires applicants to provide proof of verifiable gross household monthly income. Total rent payment per month cannot be more than 29% of the applicants’ combined gross monthly income. Standard approval applicants will only need to pay 1 month security deposit, first month’s rent, and prorated rent, if applicable prior to move-in. Please note: Conditional approval will be granted to applicants in which total rent payment per month is between 36% and 45% of the applicants’ combined gross monthly income. Conditionally approved applicants will need to pay 1 month security deposit, first month’s rent,  last month’s rent, and prorated rent, if applicable  prior to move-in. Minimum income requirements may be waived when Applicants choose to pay entire lease terms in advance.

Rental History – If your most recent residence is a rental property, you will need to provide a copy of the lease agreement and one of the following: (i) 3 months of banks statements showing monthly rental payments, (ii) 3 months of canceled rent checks or (iii) 3 months of rent payment receipts. Applicants who are unable to verify recent rental payments will be required to pre-pay last month’s rent prior to move-in. Please note: Proof of rental payments does not apply to applicants who owned their own home for the 6 months prior to the lease term.

Guarantors – A guarantor will be required for applicants that are students and/or who cannot provide proof of verifiable income, but otherwise meet all other application requirements. Guarantor must meet the following requirements:

      Credit – Credit score of 700 or higher

      Income – Income is at least 4 times the rent

      Guarantors are restricted to family members who assume responsibility for all payments pursuant to the                Lease.

Pets / Animals – You are required to disclose in your application all pets that will reside in the property. Some properties do not allow pets. Maximum pets allowed is 2 and each pet will be approved on a case-by-case basis. Akitas, Alaskan Malamutes, Cane Corsos, Chows Chows, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Huskies, Mastiffs, Pit Bulls, Pinschers, Presa Canarios, Ridgebacks, Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Terriers, and Wolf-hybrids, and all breeds / mixed breeds of these animals are not permitted on any Premises. We have the right to restrict other breeds or specific animals at our sole discretion. Pets are subject to a one-time nonrefundable fee of $500 per pet due at move-in,except as prohibited by law. The pet fee does not apply to service animals* or for small caged animals. *A service animal is any animal that assists a person with a physical or mental impairment. A service animal is not a pet. A resident may not keep more than two 20-gallon or larger aquariums in the home Applicants may be asked to provide a photograph and veterinary records showing that vaccinations are current for each pet Resident(s) will abide by the rules and regulations of any applicable Homeowners’ Association (HOA) and/or local ordinances as it relates to pet and breed restrictions

Smoking Policy – Smoking is strictly prohibited inside any unit, unless approved by owner in writing prior to move in subject to non-refundable smoking fee.

AUTOMATIC DECLINES

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We base our decision on standard criteria including rental and credit history, ability to pay rent and background check results. We will decline applicants for any of

the following:

Prior Evictions within three (1) years of application

Average combined credit score for all Applicants is below 500

Identity cannot be verified

Income cannot be verified

Insufficient income – Total rent payment per month is more than 40% of the applicants’ combined verifiable gross monthly income

Any landlord collection in the past 3 years

Overdue debt of $5000 or more, including balances on outstanding civil judgments (does not include student loans or medical bills/debt)

A conviction for the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance

Registered Sex Offenders

Misrepresentation (s) or falsifications of application

APPLICATION PROCESS

1. Complete Lease Questionnaire or Application to be PreQualified for Viewings

2. All Applicants View Property

3. All Applicants meet in office to sign Lease Offer, Have Credit & Backgrounds Pulled, and pay Application Fees, upfront rents, Security Deposits, and special fees, if applicable

4. Lease offer is sent to owner for final approval

5. Once final approval is met, we can schedule walk thru and move in per lease contract terms

PROOF OF INCOME DOCUMENTS NEEDED

• 1099 - If self-employed / business owner – Most recent tax return and 6 months bank statement summary.
• If from pension / disability / child support / Section 8 and or any other benefit – (i)Court approved settlement documents and/or government benefit documentation, such as vouchers, and (ii) 6 months bank statement summary
• W2 - If employed by a company – Recent pay stubs to verify your monthly income and employment. Two (2) if paid twice per month or four (4) if paid weekly.