FAQs

How do I apply?
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Applications are accepted in person, by email, US mail and fax at our Leasing Office during regular business hours. Individuals with a disability may request Reasonable Accommodation either verbally in person, in writing, via email, or by phone to complete the application process.

What documents are required?
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  • • Government-issued photo ID or birth certificate
    •  Social Security card
    •  Proof of income (e.g., award letters, pay stubs, benefits statement)
    •  Bank statements
    •  Proof of current address or housing status
    •  Contact information for previous landlord(s), if applicable
    •  Completed rental application form
Individual Leases
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Individual leasing means peace of mind for you. Your financial responsibility is only for your space unlike many apartments or rental houses where a joint lease is signed. If a roommate moves out of Elara for any reason, you do not have to worry about having to cover their portion of rent. This is just another reason why Elara is your best option! 

Is the community only limited to seniors?
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The head of household must be at least 55 years old. However, other household members — such as grandchildren or adult children — may live in the unit if they are part of the household. For example, a grandparent with legal custody of a minor may include the child on the lease.

What does it mean to have an individual lease?
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Individual leasing means that each person is only responsible for their portion of the common areas and their bedroom. If your roommate ends up not coming back for the remainder of their term, you’re not responsible for their payment.

How many people can live in an apartment?
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Two people per bedroom plus one

What age do I have to be to live here?
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We are a 55+ community. You must be at least 55 years old to live here.

What identification do I need?
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Applicant applying for a HOME assisted unit must have aSocial Security Number for all applicants over the age of 18 and children over6 years old. A valid driver’s license/or ID will be required for all persons over the age of 18. Applicants If an Applicant does not have a valid SocialSecurity number for a Non-HOME assisted unit, a valid passport will be accepted in lieu of credit verification.

Student Status –HOME:
To be eligible for occupancy in a HOME unit, ANY household member who attends an institute of higher learning (full-time OR part-time)must meet at least one of the following qualifiers: They must be:

  • •  A dependent of the household living with a parent.
    •  is under the age of 24
    •  A veteran
    •  Married
    •  A parent with a dependent child
    •  A disabled individual who was receiving Section 8 assistance prior to November 30, 2005.

If they do not meet one of the above, the student must be either:

  • •  Independent from parents OR
    •  Have parents who are income eligible.
How much is the application fee?
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The non-refundable application fee is $15 per person over the age of 18.

What is the security deposit?
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There is a $200 (1 bedroom)/$250 (2 bedroom) refundable Security Deposit for each unit payable at the time of Move-In. All Security Deposits will be subject to the rules as outlined in the Texas Association Lease. Your Security Deposit refund (less lawful deductions) will be mailed within 30 days after vacating the unit.

What are the available lease terms?
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We offer 6-, 9-, or 12-month lease options.

What is the income limit to live at NHH Gray?
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The income limit is the maximum income you can earn to live in a program unit. These limits are released by the federal government every year and are based on what other people in your area earn. Income limits vary by the number of household members.

What are the rental rates at NHH Gray?
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The rent limit is the maximum rent the property may charge for the program units.The rent limit is a percentage of the income limit. Rent limits vary by the number of bedrooms in an apartment.

How much do I need to make per month to qualify for an apartment?
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Must have verifiable monthly earned income at least 2.5 times the monthly rental amount.

Will you check my employment history?
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Each employed applicant over the age of 18 years must provide the most recent two(2) months of consecutive pay stubs. If pay stubs are unavailable, then a third-party Verification of Employment will be obtained. Employment history for the last 12 months must be verified. Please note that Proof of employment, retirement benefits, Social Security, or disability income is required for individuals who are a part of the housing voucher program.

What if I am self-employed?
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Self-employed individuals are required to provide business book- keeping records with supporting documents which may include copies of checks, invoices, contracts, business bank statements, receipts, Profit/Loss statement, or 1099s AND a copy of the most recent year’s tax return (1040 with Schedule C), if available.Supporting documentation must be submitted even if a tax return is provided. If documents cannot be provided to support your stated income from self-employment, then your application may be denied.

What is the minimum credit score accepted?
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A minimum credit score of 550 is required. All rental history reflected in the credit report will be verified. Applicants who have skipped/left without notice, been asked to move, terminated, or non-renewed by management, or have a history of lease violations at any previous rental property will be denied.

Is there a background check?
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Yes. All applicants undergo a background check, which includes criminal history, rental history, and credit check.

Can I live here if I am a student?
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To be eligible for occupancy in a HOME unit, ANY household member who attends an institute of higher learning (full-time OR part-time) must meet at least one of the following qualifiers: They must be:

  • •  A dependent of the household living with a parent.
    •  Is under the age of 24.
    •  A veteran
    •  Married
    •  A parent with a dependent child
    •  A disabled individual who was receiving Section 8 assistance prior to November 30, 2005.

If they do not meet one of the above, the student must be either:

  • •  Independent from parents OR
    •  Have parents who are income eligible.

If a household is comprised solely of full-time students, at least one of five exceptions must be met:

  • •  Students are married and are entitled to file a joint income tax return.
    •  A Single Parent and children are full-time students, but none are dependents of another individual
    •  The household receives TANF (Not Food Stamps),and other assistance under Title IV of the Social Security Act
    •  One of the students is receiving assistance under the JTPA or similar government job training
    •  The student was previously under the care and placement responsibility of the state agency responsible for administering Foster Care
How can I find out why I was denied?
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NHHGray Applicant Denial Letter, which includes the specific reason or reasons for denial. Each notice will advise the applicant of the review and appeal procedure. If the applicant is not satisfied with the decision, the applicant may submit an appeal in writing within fourteen (14) days to the Director ofCompliance at which time it may be determined that a meeting be scheduled to review the applicant’s file.

What is your reasonable accommodation policy?
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A resident or applicant may submit a request in writing, orally or by any other equally effective means of communication to request accommodation or modification. A person with a disability need not personally make a reasonable accommodation request; the request can be made by a family member or someone else who is acting on his/her behalf.

If the disability is not obvious or otherwise known as well as the need for the request, NHH Gray may request reliable disability-related information that:

  • •  is necessary to verify that the person meets the Act's definition of disability.
    •  describes the needed accommodation; and/or shows the relationship between the person's disability and the need for the requested accommodation.
    •  A doctor or other medical professional, a peer support group, a non-medical service agency, or a reliable third party who can know about the individual's disability may also provide verification of a disability.

NHH Gray will respond to consent or deny a request for reasonable accommodation expeditiously to ensure that the resident receives a response as promptly as possible. Upon approval, the accommodation/modification will be completed promptly as well.

Are pets allowed?
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Yes. Pets are welcome, with a weight limit of 50 lbs. A one-time pet fee of $300 and monthly pet rent of $15 is required.

What is your service animal policy?
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An assistance animal is an animal that works, aids, or performs tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person's disability.The Fair Housing Act requires property owners to provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, including those who are accompanied by emotional support animals.

Assistance animals perform many disability-related functions, including but not limited to:

  • •  guiding individuals who are blind or have low vision, alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to sounds,
    •  providing protection or rescue assistance,
    •  pulling a wheelchair,
    •  fetching items,
    •  alerting persons to impending seizures,
    •  and/or provide emotional support to persons with disabilities who have a disability-related need for such support.

Residents with assistance animals will be required to comply with animal rules. If accommodation for assistance animals causes a financial and/or administrative burden on NHH Gray or are or become a danger to the safety of the other residents or staff, the assistance animal will be denied.

Do you have a waitlist?
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A Wait List will be maintained onsite for all properties. Applicants will be placed on the waitlist in chronological order. The wait lists will be opened when there are less than fifteen (15) applications and units are available or coming available. The waitlist will close either when 15 applications have been received or at the end of business after the 15th application is received.

Can I transfer apartments?
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Transfers may take place in the order of the following:

  • •  Emergency situations that arise such as fire or flood and units have been determined to be uninhabitable.
    •  Resident is a victim of Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA).
    •  ReasonableAccommodation Request.
    •  Household composition change
What type of events and activities will there be?
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The Gray will host weekly events focused on community building and wellness. Activities may include yoga, Zumba, walking clubs, arts and culture groups, and more. The schedule rotates regularly to keep things fresh and engaging for residents.

Will there be security onsite?
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Yes.The Gray is equipped with surveillance cameras, and security personnel are present at night and on weekends. In addition, our friendly and responsive staff are available onsite during regular business hours to assist residents and help ensure a safe, supportive environment.

What amenities are included?
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Amenities include the following:

  • •  Business Center
    •  Community Dining Room
    •  Dog Park
    •  Flexible Event/Activity Spaces
    •  Outdoor Courtyard with Grills
    •  Upper-Level Terrace
    •  Theatre Room
Are there elevators on site?
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Yes, we have elevators on site.

Do you have laundry facilities?
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Each apartment is equipped with a full-sized washer and dryer hookup, plus we have laundry facilities on site.

Do you have an online portal for residents?
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Yes, we have online rent payments and service requests.

What are your office hours?
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Mon–Fri 8:30 am - 5:30 pm. Saturday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Still have more questions?

Contact Us