For renters
Rental criteria
These are the standards every Minmosa application is measured against. They are published so you can decide whether to apply before paying anything.
Minmosa Realty applies the same written criteria to every application, in the order applications are received. We comply with the federal Fair Housing Act and North Carolina fair housing law, and do not consider race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability in any decision.
Who must apply
Every adult 18 or older who will live in the home submits a separate application and is screened individually. A co-signer may be considered where income falls short but the rest of the application is strong.
Income
Combined gross household income of at least three times the monthly rent, verifiable through pay stubs, an offer letter, tax returns, benefit statements, or bank records. Income from employment, self-employment, benefits, retirement and documented support is all counted the same way.
Credit
We review credit as part of the whole picture rather than against a single cut-off score. Unpaid balances owed to a previous landlord, and open housing or utility collections, carry the most weight. Medical debt is not counted against an applicant.
Rental history
Two years of verifiable rental or mortgage history with rent paid on time, and no eviction judgment in the past five years. First-time renters are welcome to apply; we will ask for additional references instead of prior landlord history.
Background screening
A criminal background check is run on each adult applicant. We consider the nature and age of any offense and its bearing on the tenancy, rather than applying a blanket exclusion. Applicants are given the opportunity to explain any record before a decision is made.
Occupancy
Two people per bedroom, plus one, is the standard limit for our homes.
Pets
Pets are considered home by home, and each listing states its policy. Where pets are welcome there is a pet fee and a modest monthly pet rent. Assistance animals are not pets: they are never refused on the basis of a pet policy and are never charged a pet fee or pet rent.
Smoking
All Minmosa homes are non-smoking, indoors and in any attached structure.
Deposits and fees
The security deposit for each home is stated on its listing page and is typically equal to one month’s rent. Deposits are held in accordance with the North Carolina Tenant Security Deposit Act. The application fee is disclosed before you start an application.
Reasons an application may be declined
- Income below the stated threshold with no qualifying co-signer
- An unpaid balance owed to a previous landlord
- An eviction judgment within the past five years
- Materially false or unverifiable information on the application
If we decline an application in whole or in part because of information in a consumer report, you will receive an adverse action notice naming the agency that supplied it, as required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.