In order to rent a unit, all adults who will be living in the unit, as well as anyone co-signing the lease, will need to fill out an application. We need a completed and signed application from each adult before we can begin processing the application. There is no application fee.
We use a tenant screening service which provides us with a tenant score for the entire group. If your score is below our threshold for acceptance, you will be turned down. If you wish to apply again using a larger security deposit, you may do so but you will have to pay the processing fees for the second screening, as we are unfortunately not able to reprocess with different numbers without paying for a second screening. Since we do not compute your score, we cannot provide information on why your score was below the threshold, but we can put you in contact with the company that provides us with the number and report, and they can provide you with a free copy of the report.
We generally process applications in batches every few days. If there are multiple applicants for a unit in a batch, we will offer the unit to the applicant with the highest score first. If you are unable to sign a lease promptly, the unit may be offered to an alternate applicant. It is to your advantage to get your application in quickly and to be available to sign a lease promptly on acceptance. If you can provide proof of employment with your application, that may also speed the process along as it can be difficult to get verification of employment from some employers. You may also be able to speak with your supervisor directly to authorize him or her to verify this information.
The security deposit is due at the time the lease is signed. The first month's rent is also due at signing if the lease is to start immediately. If the lease will start more than two weeks after the lease signing, you can pay the first month's rent at time of move-in. A blank lease is available for you to look over.
Tenants are responsible for securing utility services. Electric service is with Progress Energy (formerly CP&L), water service is with Chatham County Utilities, and phone service and DSL internet is typically provided by AT&T. Satellite television and internet service are available and utilized by most tenants, although the wooded nature of the lots can interfere with reception and no guarantees are made regarding the ability to obtain service. Private trash pickup is available, but most tenants choose to drop off their trash at the nearby county drop-off site (free).
Please note that if you choose to get satellite television or internet service, you will need to get a letter of permission to give to the service provider before installation. It is your responsibility to make sure that the satellite dish is not installed on the roof, and that if additional cable outlets are needed, they are installed appropriately. Please check with your property manager if you have any questions. Due to the wooded nature of the lots, we cannot guarantee satellite dish sightlines, though tenants are generally able to get good reception.
Pets are allowed, on a case-by-case basis. Generally, cats will be accepted. Dogs must be well-behaved and well-cared for. Dogs are not allowed to roam unsupervised. Fencing in an area behind your unit is acceptable if the fencing is secure, well-installed, attractive, and does not block access to the crawlspace. Dogs may not bark continuously or excessively.