Opens in a new tab

Rental Criteria

How We Review a Rental Application

We want you to know how an application is reviewed before you apply. These are the standards we normally apply to the homes we lease. A listing may state additional requirements for that home.

How to Apply

Every Adult Applicant Provides:

  • A separate application for each person age 18 or older
  • A valid government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of monthly income
  • Three years of residential history
  • Contact information for rental references

What We Review:

  • The full credit report, not only the score
  • Income and employment
  • Rental history and landlord references
  • Eviction filings in court records
  • Criminal background, the sex offender registry and the federal OFAC list

Income:

  • Most homes require a combined gross household income of at least three times the monthly rent.
  • Income is verified with pay stubs or other proof of income.
  • A lawful source of income counts. Michigan law has protected source of income since April 2, 2025.
  • For a household with a housing voucher, the voucher counts toward household income.

Credit:

  • A credit score of 630 or higher is our usual minimum.
  • We review the entire credit history, not only the score.
  • No bankruptcy within the last seven years.
  • No open judgments.

Rental History and Evictions:

  • We contact prior landlords listed on the application.
  • No evictions within the past ten years.
  • Late payments or a negative landlord reference are reviewed case by case.
  • We may ask for documents that explain it. Without them, the application is denied.

Background Check:

  • We run local and national criminal background checks.
  • We search the sex offender registry.
  • Results are reviewed in line with federal, state and local law, and some records can lead to a denial.
  • An application with false information is denied.

Co-Signers and Occupancy:

  • Co-signers are accepted.
  • A co-signer completes an application and is reviewed against the same criteria.
  • Occupancy is limited to two people per bedroom.
  • Every adult who will live in the home must be on the application.

Pets:

  • Pet policies vary by property. Check the listing for the home you want.
  • Limits on size, breed and number may apply. Pet charges depend on breed and size.
  • Every pet must be approved in writing before move-in.
  • Assistance animals are not pets and are not subject to pet rules.

These are our usual guidelines. They are the standards we normally apply. They can differ case by case, or for a specific property at the owner’s request. We do not discriminate. Zamzam Property Management follows the federal Fair Housing Act and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Read more about the Fair Housing Act.

After You Apply

We Review It

Applications are reviewed in the order received: first come, first served. A review typically takes 24 to 48 hours once the application is complete.

If You Are Approved

You sign the lease. The first month’s rent and the security deposit are received before you move in.

Move-In Day

We walk the home with you and record its condition. See how move-in and move-out work.

Ready to apply? See how to apply, browse available homes and available apartments, or read the tenant FAQ.