Welcome to 
Shannon Ellis & Associates Realty, LLC

📌 Application Standards

Each application is reviewed individually using the screening criteria established for the property. Screening criteria may vary by property owner. Approval decisions are based on the complete application and supporting documentation. Applications may be denied or approved with additional conditions when screening results do not meet the property's requirements. Factors considered may include, but are not limited to:

• Outstanding landlord debt or unresolved rental collections
• Current eviction proceedings (where permitted by law)
• Verified material lease violations or negative landlord references
• Bankruptcy, foreclosure, or other financial history
• Credit history
• Criminal conviction history (as outlined below)
• Income and ability to satisfy lease obligations

Where appropriate, applicants may provide documentation regarding extenuating circumstances, payment arrangements, rehabilitation, or other relevant information for consideration.

📝 Submitting Your Application

To begin processing your application, each financially responsible applicant must submit:

• Government-issued photo identification
• Social Security Number or other documentation sufficient to complete required screening
• Proof of income
• Verification through PayScore (or another approved income verification provider)

Applications are processed in the order they become complete. An application is not considered complete until all required documents, verifications, and applicable fees have been received.

💳 Credit Requirements

A consumer credit report may be obtained for each financially responsible applicant. Credit history is evaluated as one component of the overall screening process and may include:

• Payment history
• Outstanding obligations
• Housing-related collections
• Bankruptcy history
• Overall credit profile

Credit history alone does not automatically result in approval or denial. Depending on the overall application, an applicant may be approved, approved with additional conditions (when permitted by law), or denied.

💼 Income Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient, verifiable income to satisfy the lease obligations. Unless otherwise stated in the property advertisement, the combined gross monthly household income should generally equal at least three (3) times the monthly rent.

Acceptable documentation includes:

• Most recent 30 days of pay stubs
• Recent bank statements
• Benefit statements
• Offer letter for new employment
• Six months of business or personal bank statements for self-employed applicants

Employment and income verification may be completed through third-party providers and/or direct employer verification.

🏡 Rental History

Applicants should provide at least two (2) years of verifiable rental or mortgage history whenever available. The review may include:

• Timely payment history
• Lease compliance
• Outstanding balances owed to prior housing providers
• Lease violations
• Property care

Applicants without prior rental history may still qualify depending on the overall application and property owner's requirements.

🔎 Criminal Background Screening

A criminal background screening may be completed for each adult applicant. Consistent with Fair Housing guidance, criminal history is evaluated individually. Arrest records not resulting in conviction, sealed records, expunged records, and juvenile adjudications are not considered. Factors considered include:

• Nature and severity of the offense
• Time elapsed since conviction or completion of sentence
• Evidence of rehabilitation
• Age at the time of the offense
• Relationship of the offense to resident safety and property protection

Certain convictions involving violence, serious property damage, weapons, or offenses that present a demonstrable risk to residents or property may result in denial following an individualized review. Applicants may provide additional information before a final decision is made.

🏠 Reservation of Property

Following application approval, an applicant may reserve the property by paying the required Reservation Fee and satisfying all lease signing requirements.

Reservation Timeline

• The Reservation Fee and executed lease must be received within 72 hours of approval unless another deadline is provided in writing.
• If the Reservation Fee and signed lease are not received by the deadline, the property may be returned to the market without further notice.
• If the anticipated move-in date is more than fourteen (14) days after approval, a Reservation Fee is required to hold the property off the market.

Reservation Fee Schedule Unless otherwise advertised:

Monthly Rent      Reservation Fee
Up to $1,499           $500
$1,500–$2,499         $750
$2,500 and above    $1,000

Management reserves the right to require a different Reservation Fee if disclosed in the property advertisement or lease documents.

Reservation Terms

• The property remains available for lease until all required documents are executed and the Reservation Fee has been received.
• The Reservation Fee will be applied toward the first month's rent at move-in.
• If the applicant fails to move in, fails to satisfy move-in requirements, withdraws after approval, or otherwise defaults under the lease before taking possession, the Reservation Fee may be retained as liquidated damages, as provided in the lease and to the extent permitted under Georgia law. The parties acknowledge that the owner's damages resulting from removing the property from the market are difficult to determine in advance, and the Reservation Fee represents a reasonable estimate of those damages and is not intended as a penalty.

Prorated Rent

If occupancy begins after the first day of the month, rent will be prorated in accordance with the lease agreement.

💵 Application Fee

Each financially responsible applicant must pay the advertised, non-refundable application fee.

The application fee covers the cost of processing the application, including:

• Consumer reports
• Income verification
• Rental verification
• Criminal background screening
• Administrative processing

Application fees are non-refundable once processing has begun, regardless of the approval decision, except where otherwise required by applicable law.

🐾 Pet Policy

Pets are considered on a property-by-property basis.  Unless otherwise advertised:

• Pet fees and deposits vary by property.
• Additional monthly pet rent may apply.
• Certain breeds, sizes, or species may be restricted.
• Some properties prohibit pets entirely.

All approved pets must comply with the lease and community rules.

❤️‍🩹 Assistance Animals

Reasonable accommodation requests for Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are reviewed in accordance with the Fair Housing Act and applicable law. Applicants may be required to provide reliable documentation when permitted by law. No pet fees, pet deposits, or pet rent will be charged for approved assistance animals.

⚖️ Equal Housing Opportunity

Shannon Ellis & Associates LLC is committed to Equal Housing Opportunity. We comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Georgia law, and all applicable local fair housing ordinances. Housing decisions are made without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable law.