When I rented my apartment, my credit wasn't good either and they required two months security and one month's rent in advance. No problem. I asked about cats and they said fine. I've been here 9 years already and have had cats come and go, because of me being in rescue. The girls in the management office often call me with rescue issues, which I don't mind. It's a win-win situation in my case.

I once lived in a complex where the 2 kids (ages 4& 6) upstairs were not allowed outside to play in the huge, beautiful courtyard, so they played "ring around the rose" in the living room till all hours of the night. The noise was awful. My first "red flag" should've been when the landlord said, "Oh, and the kids upstairs are quiet and go to bed early so there shouldn't be a problem." Yeah right. Not only did they NOT go to bed early, the mother's boyfriend got a puppy and tied it to the railing in the common areas of the building, allowing it to bark incessantly. I called the cops on the advice of the landlord. She told the cop, "I pay taxes AND YOUR SALARY and you can't tell me what to do." I would avoid coming home at night until the kids went to bed, the noise was so bad.

It's sad that irresponsible people ruin it for the good people who abide by the laws. I wish you much luck in finding a place to live. There is SOMEPLACE out there waiting for you!!!