RENTAL APPLICATION CRITERIA

1. Welcome

Thank you for considering a home with PMI South Atlanta. Each adult 18 years or older must submit a separate application. The application fee is $65 per adult, non-refundable. PMI South Atlanta evaluates applications using a standardized scoring system combined with required pass/fail checks to ensure fair, consistent, and non-discriminatory screening practices.

If you have any questions, please contact us:

We comply with all federal, state, and local Fair Housing laws.

2. How Applications Are Processed

Applications are not first-come, first-served — they are evaluated when complete. Complete means all documents submitted, identity verification completed, income verification completed, PetScreening completed, and all fees paid.

Applications are processed Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM. We continue accepting applications until an approved applicant pays the Reservation Fee, and the property is only reserved once the Reservation Fee has cleared.

No portion of any application is reviewed until every adult applicant has submitted all required items.

3. Who Must Apply

All occupants age 18 or older must submit a separate application and pay the application fee.

4. Maximum Occupancy

PMI South Atlanta follows a standard occupancy guideline of 2 persons per bedroom + 1 additional occupant.
(Example: a 2-bedroom home = up to 5 occupants.)

Final occupancy limits are also determined based on unit size, total livable square footage, layout/configuration, and applicable safety or housing codes. PMI South Atlanta reserves the right to adjust occupancy based on these factors to remain compliant with HUD Fair Housing guidelines.

5. Identity Verification

Identity verification is required for all adult applicants. This category is not scored.

Applications may be denied for:

  • Unverifiable identity
  • Mismatched information
  • Altered or suspicious documents
  • Failure to complete ID scan/selfie verification

6. Reference Requirement

Applicants must provide two (2) references who can speak to their character, rental history, or reliability. References must be non-relatives; family members are not accepted as references. Incomplete or unverifiable references may delay or affect the application decision.

7. Household Evaluation

Applications are evaluated based on:

Scored Categories

  • Income & Employment Stability
  • Credit Profile & Debt Responsibility
  • Rental History & Housing Stability
  • Pet Risk Assessment (PetScreening Paw Score)

Pass/Fail Requirements

  • Identity Verification
  • Criminal Background Check

8. Screening Criteria

A. Credit Review

Credit is evaluated for overall financial responsibility.
A credit score alone does not determine approval or denial.

Applications may be denied for:

  • A credit file that cannot be verified
  • A frozen credit file that is not lifted for processing
  • Missing, incomplete, or unverifiable credit information

Applicants with frozen credit files must temporarily lift the freeze with all credit bureaus before screening can proceed.

PMI South Atlanta does not consider medical debt or student loan debt—whether positive, negative, in collections, or past due—when evaluating an applicant’s credit history or determining creditworthiness. These items are excluded from all credit-related screening decisions.

B. Income Requirements, Employment Types, and Required Documentation

Household combined gross income must equal at least 3× the monthly rent.
Income must be stable, consistent, and verifiable.
Applications may be denied for unverifiable or inconsistent income.

Additional Acceptable Income Sources

PMI South Atlanta accepts all lawful, verifiable income sources including SSI, SSDI, child support, alimony, retirement income, pension benefits, and other government-issued or court-ordered payments. These income types must be documented and consistent. Acceptable documentation may include award letters, benefit statements, court orders, bank statement deposit history, or other official verification.

W-2 Employees

  • One month of recent pay stubs
  • Two (2) months of bank statements
  • Employer/HR verification
  • Completion of income verification / Unless Opted Out

New Hires (Offer Letter Applicants)

  • Offer letter with start date within 30 days
  • Employer verification
  • Bank statements not required

Cash-Paid or Cashed-Check Workers

  • Employer verification
  • One supporting document (cashed check receipts, check-cashing records, wage ledger, YTD earnings summary)
  • Two (2) months of bank statements required if deposits exist
  • If no deposits exist → verification + supporting documents still required
  • If income cannot be verified → declined

Self-Employed Applicants

  • Minimum 6 months in business
  • 12+ months preferred (scores stronger)
  • Three (3) to six (6) months of business or personal bank statements required
  • Supporting documents (1099s, contracts, invoices, YTD summaries) may be required

C. Rental History Requirement

Applicants must provide a complete residential history for the past two (2) years. PMI South Atlanta may verify information with current and prior landlords, as well as any addresses that appear on consumer reports or public records, even if not listed on the application.

Applicants are not required to list addresses older than two years; however, verified rental issues from older addresses—such as unpaid balances, lease violations, or evictions—may still be considered. Missing, inconsistent, or unverifiable residency may delay or affect the application decision.

Applications may be denied for:

  • Evictions in the last 2 years
  • Rental-related debt over $1,000
  • Major lease violations

Factors reviewed include:

  • Late or returned payments
  • Rental stability
  • Landlord references

D. Criminal Background Check

Applications may be denied for:

  • Violent crimes
  • Property crimes
  • Sexual offenses
  • Serious recent drug-related offenses

E. Pets / PetScreening

All applicants (with or without pets) must complete PetScreening: https://pmisouthatlanta.petscreening.com

Monthly Pet Fees:

  • 5 Paws = $25/mo
  • 4 Paws = $30/mo
  • 3 Paws = $40/mo
  • 2 Paws = $50/mo
  • 1 Paw = $75/mo

Breed restrictions may apply.

F. Security Deposit

The standard deposit equals 1× monthly rent.
The deposit may increase based on scoring, but cannot exceed 2× monthly rent, per Georgia law.

G. Resident Benefits Package (RBP) — $36/month

Includes:

  • HVAC filter delivery
  • Utility concierge
  • Resident rewards
  • Online portal and payments
  • Vetted vendor network
  • 24/7 maintenance reporting
  • Credit reporting
  • Home-buying assistance
  • One late fee forgiveness per lease term

RBP is required for all tenants.

H. Housing Vouchers / Section 8 Applicants

PMI South Atlanta accepts Housing Choice Vouchers and all lawful rental assistance programs.

Screening Requirements

  • Identity verification
  • Credit review
  • Rental history
  • Criminal background check
  • PetScreening (if applicable)

Income Requirement

  • Income must equal 3× the tenant-paid portion
  • Applicants with a $0 tenant portion are exempt from income requirements
  • Income may be reviewed to confirm ability to maintain utilities or non-rent obligations

Documentation Required

  • Valid voucher
  • Rent Portion Letter (if available)
  • Caseworker contact information

Inspection Requirement

  • Move-in occurs only after the unit passes inspection
  • Applicant presence not required unless mandated
  • PMI is not required to hold a unit indefinitely due to inspection delays

I. Guarantor (Income Only)

A guarantor may be accepted only to support an applicant who does not meet the income requirement (3× rent).
Guarantors cannot be used to overcome credit, rental history, criminal, identity, or any other disqualifying factor.
All applicants must independently meet all non-income screening requirements.

Guarantor Requirements

  • Minimum 700+ credit score
  • Gross monthly income ≥ 5× rent
  • Established credit history
  • Stable, verifiable income

Guarantor Role & Agreement

A guarantor is a non-occupant with no rights to reside in the home. The guarantor accepts full financial responsibility for all rent, fees, damages, unpaid utilities, and all other lease obligations for the full term and any renewals unless released in writing. The guarantor signs the Guarantor Agreement Addendum, which outlines and confirms their financial responsibilities. Guarantors are jointly and severally liable, meaning PMI South Atlanta may seek payment from the tenant, the guarantor, or both.

9. Approval & Move-In Process

A. Reservation Fee

A non-refundable Reservation Fee equal to 1× monthly rent is required to reserve the property.
The property is not considered reserved until payment clears.

Accepted Payment Methods

  • Money order
  • Cashier’s check
  • Wire transfer (2–3 days to clear; required for long-distance/out-of-state applicants; PMI approval required)

Drop-Off Location

PMI South Atlanta
101 Kenwood Rd, Suite 36
Fayetteville, GA 30214

B. Move-In Funds

All funds must clear before keys are released:

  • Reservation Fee (if not already cleared)
  • Security Deposit
  • Lease Initiation Fee ($150)
  • First Month of RBP ($36)
  • Pet fees (if applicable)

No keys will be released until all funds have cleared.

C. Utility Setup

Applicants must provide proof that utilities are scheduled to begin on or before the lease start date.

D. Lease Start & Move-In Timeline

The lease start date must be within 30 days of paying the Reservation Fee.
If an applicant cancels after paying the Reservation Fee, it is forfeited.
If the applicant proceeds, rent begins on the lease start date, whether or not they physically move in that day.

E. Early Key Release (Optional — Up to 48 Hours Before Lease Start)

Early Key Release may be approved if:

  • Lease is fully signed
  • All funds have cleared
  • Utilities are scheduled
  • Owner approval is obtained
  • Early Key Release Addendum is signed