Rental Qualification Criteria

Last Modified: April 7, 2025

Thinking about moving in?

We’re thrilled that you’d like to live in a Dweck community! To qualify for an apartment, you must meet the following criteria. If you have any questions, please reach out to us via the Contact Us page on this website.

Occupancy Requirements

Communities abide by the occupancy restrictions of applicable laws in the locality/state where the community is located. Communities generally allow two persons per bedroom plus one additional person per apartment. Dens may be considered bedrooms. Efficiency or studio apartment occupancy may not exceed two persons. Applications that reflect a number of occupants in excess of our occupancy requirements will not be accepted. If these occupancy standards are exceeded during the term of the lease, the resident will be required, at the end of the lease term, to either: 1) transfer to a larger apartment; or 2) move out, unless applicable fair housing laws provide otherwise.

*Occupancy requirements may vary by state/county/city where the community is located. Please contact the specific community leasing office for details.

Income Requirements

The applicant(s)’ gross monthly income should be at least 3x the monthly rental amount. In other words, monthly rent should not exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of the applicant(s)’ gross monthly income. All permanent verifiable legal sources of income/funds, including child support, social security, retirement, dividends, interest, pensions, Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 rental subsidy, are considered “income.” Applicants not meeting the income requirements may:

Obtain a guarantor who meets the guarantor guidelines, or
Obtain a co-resident who qualifies for the FULL lease term amount

Total rent is the maximum rent amount you may qualify for based on your verifiable income amount, including any additional rent, parking, storage, pet rent, etc. Proof of income documentation is required for all applicants immediately following the application submission for any apartment home.

Guarantor Guidelines

Guarantor(s) may only be used if the applicant does not meet the income requirement above. Guarantor(s) cannot be used if the Applicant’s Criminal Criteria is in the “REJECT” recommendation.

Guarantors may only be used if the applicant does not meet the income requirement above, and if the applicant passes the background check. Guarantors are only screened for income (not background) and do not have automatic rights to access the apartment home. A guarantor must have an individual gross monthly income which is equal to or greater than 4x the monthly apartment rent. All permanent verifiable legal sources of income are considered “income” – see above for acceptable proof of income documentation.

Guarantors must have a Social Security number and pay the application fee in order to be considered. Upon approval, guarantors must complete a Lease Contract Guaranty form either 1) in the presence of a Dweck team member or 2) they must have the form notarized with the original paperwork returned to us.

Guarantor(s) must complete an Apartment Application, pay the Application Fee, and sign the Guaranty form in the lease package once the full application is approved.

Credit and Criminal Background Investigation

A professional third-party reporting agency will secure a credit report, conduct a civil courts and rental history check, as well as complete a criminal background investigation. This screening is a soft credit check and will not affect your credit score. For questions regarding your specific application, you may contact RentGrow at 1-800-736-8476.

The deposit due at application becomes the standard move-in deposit upon approval of the application. An applicant’s additional deposit (if approved), outside of the property’s standard deposit, ranges from 1 to 2 times the monthly rent amount, based on credit history, and is due at or prior to moving in.

If it is a conditional approval, which includes not having established any credit history, 1 months’ deposit will be due in Maryland and 2 months’ deposit will be due in Virginia.

Applicants without an SSN must provide proof of identity with a Visa which must not expire until after the expiration of the lease term.

Provide documentation of their Immigrant status, which is a permanent visa for someone that has been given the right to live in the US.
Provide documentation of their Nonimmigrant Visa, which is a temporary visa, such as a student, tourist, diplomat, or businessperson.

All applicants and all occupants 18 years of age and older must submit an application authorizing Landlord to perform a criminal background check. The application may be denied at any time based on a history of particular criminal convictions or deferred adjudication as established by the particular community’s policy and in compliance with applicable fair housing laws.

Certain criteria such as a criminal conviction, rental history issues, outstanding apartment debt, civil court debt and utility debt may also result in an automatic decline.

Fraudulent Applications

Fraudulent applications will be immediately rejected, and the applicant will be barred from submitting any subsequent applications. If the applicant is approved and moves in and we then determine the application was fraudulent, then we will terminate the lease pursuant to applicable law.

Equal Housing Opportunity Pledge

Dweck Properties is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider committed to compliance with all federal, state, and local fair housing laws. We will provide housing without discrimination or limitation on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law, including age, sexual orientation, gender identity, source of funds, military status, and other protected classes. Dweck will always make reasonable accommodations to its policies and modifications to its properties, where necessary to allow individuals with disabilities the opportunity to use and enjoy the property.