Application Fee
Each applicant 18 years of age or older who will occupy the property must submit a separate rental application, regardless of whether the applicant will be financially responsible for the lease.
The application fee is $67.00 per applicant. Application fees and any refunds will be handled in accordance with applicable Maryland and local law.
If the property is no longer available before your application is processed, your application will not be processed and your application fee will be refunded.
By submitting an application, you authorize Chambers Theory Property Management and its screening providers to verify the information provided and obtain consumer reports and other information necessary to evaluate your application.
Reusable Tenant Screening Reports
Maryland law permits applicants to obtain a qualifying reusable tenant screening report prepared within the previous 30 days by a consumer reporting agency. Maryland landlords are required to notify prospective tenants whether they accept reusable tenant screening reports.
Chambers Theory does not accept reusable tenant screening reports.
Resident Screening Criteria
Chambers Theory Property Management is committed to Equal Housing Opportunity. All applications are evaluated in accordance with applicable federal, Maryland, and local fair housing laws. Applications are reviewed using consistent screening standards; however, no single factor automatically guarantees approval or denial. Each application is evaluated based on the totality of the information lawfully available for consideration.
Identification
Each applicant must:
- Be at least 18 years of age or have a legally authorized co-applicant or guarantor, where permitted.
- Submit a complete application.
- Provide valid government-issued photo identification, front and back.
- Authorize Chambers Theory Property Management to verify information contained within the application.
Income & Employment Verification
Applicants must demonstrate sufficient, verifiable income to satisfy the rental obligation.
- Monthly rent generally should not exceed 35% of the household's total gross monthly qualifying income, unless otherwise specified for a particular property or as required by applicable law.
- Income may be verified through recent pay stubs, employer verification, tax returns, retirement benefits, military LES statements, offer letters, government benefits, housing assistance, or other acceptable documentation.
- Self-employed applicants may be required to provide additional supporting documentation.
- Bank statements alone are generally not accepted as primary proof of income, although they may be reviewed as supplemental documentation when appropriate.
- All lawful sources of income will be considered in accordance with Maryland fair housing law.
Maryland's definition of protected "source of income" expressly includes employment, government or private assistance, rental assistance and housing vouchers, gifts, inheritance, pensions, annuities, alimony, child support, and certain other lawful sources.
Applicants Receiving Housing Assistance or Rental Subsidies
Chambers Theory Property Management accepts lawful housing assistance, including Housing Choice Vouchers and other qualifying rental subsidies, in accordance with Maryland law.
For applicants receiving an income-based housing subsidy, income qualification will be based upon the applicant's responsibility for the portion of rent and utilities not covered by the subsidy, using substantially equivalent qualification standards to those applied to applicants without a subsidy.
Credit History
A consumer credit report may be obtained and reviewed. Where permitted by applicable law, factors considered may include:
- Payment history
- Outstanding debt obligations
- Length and depth of credit history
- Collections
- Judgments
- Bankruptcies
- Overall credit profile
- Credit score, where applicable
There is no single minimum credit score that automatically guarantees approval or denial. Credit history is evaluated as part of the overall application and is considered only to the extent permitted by federal, Maryland, and applicable local law.
Applicants receiving qualifying income-based housing subsidies are evaluated pursuant to the additional Maryland requirements described above.
Rental History
Rental history may be verified with current and previous housing providers. Factors considered may include:
- Timely payment of rent
- Lease compliance
- Property care and maintenance
- Outstanding balances owed to previous housing providers
- Previous material lease violations
- Eviction history, to the extent permitted by applicable law
Criminal History Screening
Effective October 1, 2026, Maryland law significantly limits when and how criminal history may be considered during the residential application process.
Chambers Theory Property Management does not make general inquiries into an applicant's criminal history before extending a conditional offer of tenancy, except for limited inquiries expressly permitted by Maryland law.
If a criminal history records check is conducted after a conditional offer, Chambers Theory will:
- Apply the screening process consistently to prospective tenants;
- Consider only criminal history information that Maryland law permits housing providers to consider;
- Conduct an individualized assessment where required;
- Allow the applicant an opportunity to identify inaccuracies in the criminal history information;
- Consider evidence of rehabilitation and mitigating circumstances as required by law; and
- Provide notices and an opportunity to respond as required by Maryland law.
Maryland's Fair Chance Housing Act also prohibits covered housing providers from asking applicants to submit to drug or alcohol testing or requesting records from substance-use treatment programs.
Occupancy Standards
Occupancy limits are determined in accordance with applicable federal, Maryland, county and municipal law and the size and characteristics of the dwelling.
Pets
If pets are permitted at the property:
- Pet Screening through our approved provider is required.
- A pet profile fee may apply, where permitted by law.
- Monthly pet rent and/or other applicable pet charges may apply where permitted by Maryland and local law.
- Assistance Animals are evaluated in accordance with applicable fair housing laws and are not treated as pets or subject to pet fees or pet rent.
Certain Maryland jurisdictions, including Montgomery County, impose additional restrictions on pet deposits, pet fees and other charges. Property-specific charges will therefore be disclosed in accordance with applicable law.
Additional Lease Costs
If approved, tenants should generally anticipate the following costs prior to occupancy, subject to the particular property and applicable Maryland or local law:
- Security Deposit
- First Month's Rent
- Resident Benefits Package, if applicable and permitted
- Pest Share, if applicable and permitted
- Pet Rent or other pet charges, if applicable and permitted
- Condominium or association charges applicable to the tenancy, if any
All property-specific charges will be disclosed prior to execution of the lease.
Montgomery County Properties
Properties located in Montgomery County are subject to additional County requirements.
Montgomery County requires landlords to include the County's Criminal History and Credit Screening Addendum with rental applications. The County states that this requirement has applied since July 30, 2024.
Application fees and other charges for Montgomery County properties are also subject to County-specific limitations. For certain rent-stabilized units, the application fee is limited to $25 or the actual documented cost of the credit check and other screening costs, whichever applies under the County's requirements.
Applicants to Montgomery County properties will receive any additional disclosures or forms required by Montgomery County law.
Additional Information
Additional documentation may be requested to verify information provided during the application process.
Submission of an application does not guarantee approval or reservation of a property. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing, a property remains available until a lease has been fully executed and all required funds have been received.
Applicants are encouraged to review all lease terms, property-specific requirements, association requirements, and additional disclosures before signing a lease agreement.
Screening requirements may differ where federal, state or local law imposes additional protections or restrictions.
Equal Housing Opportunity
Chambers Theory Property Management is an Equal Housing Opportunity housing provider.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, source of income, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, Maryland, county, or municipal law. Maryland expressly protects source of income, including qualifying housing subsidies and vouchers.
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