The Highlands Lafayette

I was extremely disappointed with my experience applying to this apartment community. I understand that every property has established qualification standards, and I fully respect their right to follow those standards. However, I did not feel that my application was given fair or well-rounded consideration.

I have approximately 30 years of positive rental history, have never had an eviction, and have never filed for bankruptcy. While I understand that my credit profile is not perfect, I was… disappointed that my overall rental history and ability to be a responsible tenant did not appear to carry any meaningful weight in the decision.

What makes this experience even more concerning to me is that I was approved by three other apartment communities in the Lafayette area. Those properties reviewed the same applicant and financial background, yet I was still able to meet their rental qualifications. That made the immediate denial from this property particularly difficult to understand.

What was also discouraging was receiving a hard denial without being offered any alternatives, such as a higher security deposit, guarantor, or another form of conditional approval. I understand that a property is not obligated to offer these options, but I would have appreciated an opportunity to discuss whether there was another way to qualify.

When I contacted the property to better understand the decision, I did not feel there was a genuine effort to consider my circumstances beyond what appeared on the screening report. As someone who has successfully rented for decades, this was one of the most discouraging apartment application experiences I have encountered.

I believe prospective residents deserve to be treated with professionalism, transparency, and consideration throughout the application process, even when an application ultimately cannot be approved. Based on my personal experience, I strongly encourage prospective applicants to ask detailed questions about the property’s screening criteria before paying application or administrative fees. Read More