COMMON QUESTIONS
Straight answers about renting from Southern Housing. For the full screening standards, see our rental requirements.
What areas does Southern Housing rent homes in?
Southern Housing LLC rents homes in Aiken County, Barnwell County and Bamberg County, South Carolina, including Williston, Aiken, Barnwell, Blackville, Salley and Denmark. The company is based in Williston, SC and manages roughly 90 to 100 rental units, mostly single-family houses along with duplexes and small apartment buildings.
What credit score do you need to rent from Southern Housing?
A credit score of 600 or above meets the credit requirement. Applicants below 600 are not automatically declined: a verified rental reference together with documented gross monthly income of at least three times the rent can satisfy the credit requirement instead. Both are required in that case, not one or the other, and the reference must come from a landlord who is unrelated to the applicant.
Do collection accounts disqualify a rental applicant?
No. Collection accounts do not automatically disqualify an applicant at Southern Housing. Medical debt and student loans are not counted at all, and telephone and cell accounts count at half weight. Where qualifying collections total more than $1,500, or where there are five or more qualifying accounts, approval is still possible with an additional security deposit equal to one month's rent. Balances owed to a previous landlord are reviewed separately and may result in denial regardless of amount.
Does a past eviction disqualify a rental applicant?
Not automatically. An eviction judgment within the past five years is reviewed individually rather than treated as an automatic denial. Southern Housing will work with an applicant who can provide documentation from the landlord who filed the eviction; without that documentation the circumstances cannot be reviewed and the application is declined. Evictions older than five years are not considered. Raising it up front does not count against an applicant and gives them time to obtain the documentation. The two automatic denials are falsified information on the application and an unpaid balance owed to a previous landlord.
How much does it cost to apply for a Southern Housing rental?
There is a $10 application fee and a $40 background and credit screening fee, per applicant. Every adult 18 or older who will live in the home and is not a dependent submits a separate application and pays both fees.
Does Southern Housing allow pets?
Pet policies vary by property and by owner, so the individual listing states whether pets are considered. Service animals and assistance animals, including emotional support animals, are a separate matter: they are approved as a reasonable accommodation at every property regardless of the pet policy, are never charged a pet fee or pet deposit, and are not subject to breed or weight limits. Where the disability is not readily apparent, Southern Housing requests documentation from a health care provider who has personal knowledge of the applicant, including a provider seen by telehealth. Consistent with HUD Notice FHEO-2020-01, a certificate, registration, ID card or vest purchased from a website does not meet that standard on its own. The diagnosis is never requested and a decision is made within ten days. Residents remain responsible for any damage their animal causes.
How long is a Southern Housing lease?
Leases run twelve months minimum and up to twenty-four months. Smoking is not permitted at any Southern Housing property.
How do I find out when a Southern Housing home becomes available?
Current and upcoming homes are listed at southrent.com, which is the only place the company publishes availability besides its own social accounts. Renters can join the text list to be notified when a home opens up, or use the Match me to a home form to answer the same questions as the rental application and find out where they stand before paying any fees. Southern Housing can also be reached directly by call or text at (803) 508-4344.