| RENTER RESOURCES · SOUTHCOAST PROPERTIES What You Need to Get Approved for a Rental Home in Savannah A step-by-step guide to the documents, fees, and timeline — so your application moves fast instead of sitting in a pile. |
The homes that check every box tend to go fast — well-priced Savannah-area rentals often lease within weeks. The renters who move fastest aren’t necessarily the ones with the best applications — they’re the ones who show up prepared. Here’s exactly what to have ready.
01 Proof of Income
Your gross monthly household income must be at least three times the monthly rent, counted collectively across everyone applying together. For a $1,900/month home, that means roughly $5,700/month in combined verifiable income.
Acceptable proof usually includes:
- Your two most recent pay stubs, or
- An offer letter on company letterhead if you’re starting a new job (common for relocating Hyundai Metaplant workers, military families, or new hires at Gulfstream and the Port), or
- Two to three months of bank statements if you’re self-employed or a 1099 contractor
| Relocating before your first paycheck? A signed offer letter or military orders (PCS orders, LES) are typically enough to move your application forward — no need to wait for your first pay stub. |
02 Rental History
Be ready to provide your current and previous landlord’s contact information, plus your address history for the past 2–3 years. If this is your first time renting on your own, a co-signer or additional documentation — like a letter from a previous landlord, or proof of on-time mortgage payments — can help fill that gap.
03 Credit Check Consent
We check credit as part of every application. There’s no single hard cutoff score — your credit is weighed together with your income to determine your security deposit, which typically ranges from half of one month’s rent up to two full months’ rent. Stronger credit and income generally mean a lower deposit.
| Two things disqualify an application outright, regardless of credit: a prior eviction, or an outstanding balance owed to another rental company. |
If your credit is thin — recent movers, recent grads, first-time renters — it won’t disqualify you the way an eviction or unpaid balance would, but a co-signer may be required.
04 Application Fee
Covers the cost of the credit, income, and rental history check for each applicant.
| $75 PER APPLICANT, 18+ | Non-refundable ONCE SUBMITTED |
05 Pet Information
One real advantage of renting a single-family home instead of an apartment: pet policies tend to be more flexible, and a real yard makes a real difference. Not every property is pet-friendly — it depends on the owner. Where pets are approved:
- Maximum of two pets per home
- No dogs over 40 pounds; Rottweilers, Dobermans, and pit bull-type breeds are not approved at any property, no exceptions
- Pet fee: $300 non-refundable for one pet, $450 for two (subject to change per property)
- Service and support animals are exempt from fees and restrictions, with proper documentation
Have breed, weight, age, and vaccination records ready at application time — it prevents delays later.
06 A Co-Signer, If Needed
If you don’t meet the income or credit requirements on your own, a co-signer can strengthen your application. They sign the lease and are equally responsible for all lease terms.
| Important: a co-signer cannot offset a negative rental history. Applicants with a prior eviction or unpaid balance to a rental company can’t use a co-signer to work around it. |
07 How the Process Works
- Apply online at callsouthcoast.com — every applicant 18 or older submits their own application.
- Pay the $75 application fee per applicant.
- Place a holding fee of half of one month’s rent to secure the home while your application is processed — applied directly toward your security deposit on move-in day.
- Our team reaches out to verify income, credit, and rental history. Approval typically takes 24–48 hours.
- Once approved, a non-refundable $200 Administrative Fee is due, and we’ll confirm your deposit and send your move-in details and Lease Agreement.
| Holding fee cancellation policy: cancel within 72 hours and your holding fee is fully refunded (the application fee is non-refundable). Cancel after 72 hours, or don’t move forward after approval, and the holding fee and other paid fees are forfeited. |
After You’re Approved
You’ll get access to our online renter portal — pay rent, set up autopay, view your lease, check your balance, and submit maintenance requests. If something comes up after hours, SouthCoast offers 24-hour emergency service, nights, weekends, and holidays.
| Ready to Apply? SouthCoast Properties manages single-family rental homes across Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, and Effingham counties — from Savannah and Pooler to Richmond Hill, Rincon, and Hinesville. Our team, including Spanish-language leasing support, is here to walk you through the process from application to move-in. Browse listings & apply at callsouthcoast.com → |
SouthCoast Properties does business in accordance with all federal, state, and local fair housing laws and ordinances.
Bill Hendry, Broker/Co-Owner of SouthCoast Properties (GA Lic. #316284), has managed Savannah-area rental homes since 2006 — currently ~450 properties across Chatham, Bryan, Liberty, and Effingham counties. Not a CPA or financial advisor; figures shown are illustrative.
