Check to see if you match the qualifications of a Clemson apartment, like those at Clemson Edge!
Are you searching for Clemson off-campus housing for the upcoming year? Do you want to be able to walk to campus or see Old Main from your window? Or would you like to be closer to Hartwell Village? Before you begin your search, knowing where you stand in terms of qualifying for a housing community is important.
Qualifications For Off-campus Clemson housing
For starters, Clemson apartments will only allow you to sign a lease if you are at least 18 years old. However, if you are a young Tiger looking to rent an apartment, speak with the apartment management team and see if you could have a parent or guardian co-sign for you.
Additionally, the leasing process will ask you to provide numerous documents so that they can run a background check. This may include proof of income, a license, a guarantor, and more. Many apartments near Clemson will ask that your proof of income be at least three times the monthly rent. This is a security measure to make sure that you will likely be able to make your monthly rent payments on time. It will consider things such as the credit score of the applicant and the guarantor. Additional application fees or security deposits may also be required to complete the lease agreement.
Apartment Guarantors
Most college students' income statements will not be sufficient to qualify for the apartment on their own. This is where the guarantor comes into play. Guarantors may be parents or guardians, extended familial relatives, or reliable friends. The apartment communities need a backup option in case there are payment issues. The guarantor will also need to submit their documentation to go through the background check, which will allow them to co-sign the lease with you. For more information, take a look at Investopedia's definition of a guarantor.
What to do if you or your guarantor don't qualify?
Depending on your Clemson off-campus housing, there may be other options available if you or your guarantor do not pass the initial screening. Some of the potential paths may be switching your original guarantor to someone else or paying the complete rent upfront. If neither of these works for your situation, you can look at other apartments in the Clemson area that have cheaper rent prices, utilities, amenities or other factors.