JMZ Blog › Renter Guides
To apply for a rental home or apartment in Metro Detroit, find a listing you qualify for, read the selection criteria, gather your photo ID, proof of income, and rental history, have every adult over 18 submit an application, and be ready to pay the move-in amount if you are approved. Being prepared matters, because at JMZ the first qualified, complete application is the one accepted.
This guide walks through the process for homes and apartments managed by JMZ Management across Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, Livingston, and Washtenaw counties. Other landlords may use different rules, so always read the criteria on the listing you apply for.
Start with the rent you can comfortably afford, then search. Single-family homes are listed on JMZ's available homes search, and apartments at the Z communities are on the available apartments search. Note the rent, deposit, pet policy, available date, and which utilities you would pay. Pet policies vary by property, so check each listing.
Before you pay anything, read JMZ's tenant selection criteria. It explains how applications are reviewed. A few points renters often find reassuring:
JMZ follows Fair Housing laws and has experience working with housing vouchers.
Have these ready before you start the application:
If you are new to the area or had a gap in renting, be ready to explain it. A short, honest note is better than a blank space.
A few tips make documents easier to review. Use recent pay stubs rather than older ones, include every income source you want counted, and make sure scans or photos are clear and show the full page. If you are self-employed or starting a new job, gather whatever shows your income most clearly, such as bank statements or a signed offer letter, and ask the leasing team what they will accept.
Each resident over 18 must complete a separate application, even if one person earns most of the income. Most properties look at combined gross income for the household, which must be at least 3 times the monthly rent. The application fee is stated in each property listing, so check it there before you apply.
Open the listing you want and click Apply Now. The how to apply page walks through each part of the process. Double-check names, dates, phone numbers, and email addresses before you submit; a wrong landlord phone number can slow everything down.
Because the first qualified, complete applicant is accepted, it pays to submit everything at once rather than adding documents later.
After you apply, watch your phone and email. If the leasing team asks a question or needs one more document, a same-day reply keeps your application moving. Let your past landlords know they may get a call, so they can respond quickly too.
If you are approved, you will be told the full move-in amount, which must be paid in certified funds. JMZ also asks for proof of renter's insurance. Then plan the move itself: utilities, address changes, and a walkthrough of the home. The moving checklists help you keep track. At move-in, note and photograph anything that is not in good condition so the record is clear later.
Most JMZ properties require combined gross household income of at least 3 times the monthly rent. All sources of income count toward that total.
Possibly, because at JMZ credit is one factor among several. Rental history is the most important item JMZ checks, so a strong record with past landlords helps.
Yes, each resident over 18 completes a separate application. Their income can be combined to meet the household requirement.
The application fee is stated in each property listing. Check the listing before you apply.
You will be told the full move-in amount after approval, and it must be paid in certified funds. JMZ also asks for proof of renter's insurance before move-in.
Ready to find your next home? Browse available homes, available apartments, or the Z apartment communities, then apply from the listing. Questions? Call JMZ Management at 248-284-6990.