FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do I qualify to live in one of Premier's apartment homes?

I've been evicted by a previous landlord.  Can I still rent from Premier?

How do I apply for an apartment through Premier?

What is Section 42 Housing? and Do I qualify to live there?

How do I know how much my utilities will cost?

What is Renter's Insurance?  Do I need it?

Can I transfer between properties that are managed by Premier?

Can I pay my rent with a credit card?

Do you accept pets?

Is smoking permitted in Premier's apartments?

Can I use my security deposit to pay my last month's rent?

When do I get my security deposit back?

Where are you going to send my security deposit?

Do I qualify to live in one of Premier's apartment homes?

(Note: These criterion are an outline and are meant only to give prospective residents an idea of what may be considered.  Each property adjusts the guidelines slightly to account for differences in area populations.  Section 42 housing uses different criterion than the following.  Call for details.) 

Qualification for rental is based on several factors.  Many applicants who do not initially qualify are still able to rent an apartment by getting a co-signor who does qualify.  The first step in qualifying an applicant is verifying the accuracy of the information provided during the application process.  If false information is given at any point in the application process this is grounds for immediate rejection.

Housing Reference – We will contact current & previous housing providers (of a non-bias source) to confirm that you and each other applicant are in good standing.** 

To qualify, each applicant should have a history of:

Timely rental payments                                 

Abiding by lease policies/rules/regulations

Respecting neighbors & the property         

Landlords willing to re-rent or renew leases   

** Applicants without two years of verifiable housing will have the opportunity to secure a qualified co-signor, who must also meet our acceptance criteria. 

Credit Report – We will cross-reference your TransUnion credit report with information provided on your application, checking for thoroughness & accuracy.  Medical bills and student loans are not considered.

To qualify, each applicant should have:

No delinquent housing accounts

No rental judgements

No outstanding utility bills

No bankruptcy filings in the past 2 years 

Less than $3,000 past due/in collections for entire household**                           

** A co-signor may be secured if household has $3,000-5,000 past due/in collections or if any applicant has no credit.

Income Verification – We will need proof of income for all adult members residing in the unit. This may include but is not limited to, paychecks, child support, SSI (Social Security Income)**

To qualify, use the following formula:

(Gross Income of all adult applicants)  x 35%* ≥ Established Rent Amount  

* This number ranges from 30-50% depending on the property 

** Recent proof of paying similar rent could be an acceptable alternative

Conviction Records Check – We will perform a check of any criminal convictions as well as a search of the National Sex Offender Registry.

To qualify, each applicant should have:

I've been evicted by a previous landlord.  Can I still rent from Premier?

In order to qualify for residency in a Premier apartment, no tenant may have any evictions on record in the last five years.  If applicant is in the process of an eviction, the application will be held in abeyance until final court disposition. This policy may vary state by state depending on what the state permits.

How do I apply for an apartment through Premier?

When you find a property that appeals to you, call the on-site staff to set up a private showing of the available units.  If all goes well, the person who is showing you the apartment will be able to provide you with an application at that time.  Each individual that will be occupying the apartment that is over the age of 18 will need to fill out a separate application.  When the applications are completed they should be returned to the property for verification and approval.  When turning in application you will need to show a government-issued ID and put down a refundable deposit to begin processing the application.  The amount of this deposit varies from property to property; check with the on-site staff for exact amounts.  Once your application has been processed you will be contacted and informed as to whether or not your household has qualified for the desired unit. 

What is section 42 housing?

Section 42, refers to part (Sec. 42) of the Affordable Income Housing Tax Credit Program that was passed in 1986 to help provide affordable, high-quality housing to those who could not normally afford an apartment with such features.  To qualify to live in a Section 42 unit or building the household must abide by certain income requirements.  This typically means that the household's income must fall below a designated percentage of the county's median income. Each unit or building has a different cut off, so interested individuals should contact the representatives at each property separately.  Just because a household does not qualify for one Section 42 apartment, that does not mean the household will not qualify for another. 

There is much confusion regarding the difference between Section 42 and Section 8 programs.  Put as simply as possible, the difference between the two programs is to whom the government gives its money.  In Section 8, the money is given to the tenant (usually via a housing authority) in order to pay his or her rent.  In Section 42, the owner of the property receives the money (in the form of a tax credit) and in turn lowers the rent on the units for which they have received credits.  So, while the tenant must pay his or her own rent, the amount of the rent is drastically reduced.  Note:  All of our Section 42 properties also accept Section 8 vouchers!   

In calculating whether or not a household financially qualifies for Section 42 Housing, both assets and income are factored in. 

Assets include, but are not limited to: CD’s, Checking & Savings Accounts, Safety Deposits, Revocable Trusts, Bonds, Pension, Stocks, Retirement Accounts, Real Estate Equity, Personal Savings

Income includes, but is not limited to: Commission, Tips, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Wages, Child Support, Monetary Gifts

Each year, the household must recertify to ensure that they are still in compliance with the income restrictions to ensure that the limited Section 42 units are truly being used by those for whom they were intended.  However, if all original household members leave after 6 months or if another person moves in within 6 months of qualification, the whole household must be recertified.

How do I know how much my utilities will cost?

You can get past usage figures by calling the utility providers for the property.  To find out who provides service at a certain property, please call the site-manager and he or she will be able to help you. 

What is Renter's Insurance?  Do I need it?

Renters Insurance protects a tenant's belongings from any sort of loss, damage, or peril.  While the owner of the building where you live carries insurance on his or her property, that insurance does not cover any tenant's personal belongings.  We recommend that every tenant carry Renter's Insurance to protect himself and his property.  For a great article on Renter's Insurance click here: http://www.insure.com/articles/homeinsurance/renters.html

Can I transfer between properties that are managed by Premier?

Often times this option is available to our tenants but tranfers are dealt with on a case by case basis as there are MANY factors that weigh in to our ability to make this happen.  If you are currently living in a Premier apartment, please contact your on-site manager to discuss details and see if this is a possibility for you!

Can I pay my rent with a credit card?

Yes. Click the "Pay Rent" button at the top of any page on this website.

Do you accept pets?

Pets are permitted at many of our properties.  Many times the privilege of keeping a pet is offset by an increased deposit, additional monthly rent, a one-time fee, or a combination of these.  Please call the individual property to get the policies specific to that complex.

Is smoking permitted in Premier's apartments?

Each property is different regarding where tenants can and cannot smoke.  If this is important to you, please contact the properties individually to inquire as to their policies.  Please note:  Allowing tenants to smoke in their units does not eliminate those tenants' responsibility for maintaining their unit with care.  All damage to the unit will be the tenant's responsibility!

Can I use my security deposit to pay my last month's rent?

No.  This is a violation of your lease.  Security deposits are not to be used as rent payment for any portion of your lease.

When do I get my security deposit back?

Security deposits are to be returned, or notice given as to why the full security deposit will not be returned, within 21-30 (depending on the state) days after a tenant moves out.

Where are you going to send my security deposit?

If tenants have not provided a forwarding address in writing to management, security deposits will be sent to the tenants' last known address.