Rental in Co-op -- Board Approval

They check you out as though you were buying an apartment in the bldg.

So, if my credit is almost perfect (790), I'm making well over 40x rent (about 60x) and have great references. I can easily explain the Housing Court thing -- it was settled and paid within 2 days of settlement. Will this be a huge red flag?

Sounds like you'd be oky. If your credit is great that says you are responsible, I'm sure there was a good reason for the housing Court. They should be open and listen, IF it comes up. It depends on the building, I'm on my board and we've given people with specific situations (past poor credit, independant contractors without steady pay but good reserve)a chance with a purchase where there is more at stake. Ultimately in a rental situation the owner will have to cover the maintance/mortgage if the tenant defaults.
Good Luck!

Thanks :) In my case, I am living in a "luxury" bldg. I had a serious rodent infestation -- up to 12 a week on glue traps (all over the apt., but mostly in the kitchen area. I tried to work it out w/ management, but they didn't think it was a huge problem. After about 5 months, I started witholding rent in an separate account. In the end, they were fined and finally pulled out my kitchen -- which I asked them to do from the start. There was an approximate hole in the wall under kitchen sink (12" x 40"). Anyway, I have tons of pictures and responses from management. Ultimately we settled on an abatment and I paid within two days.
What do you think?

I forgot to add: all my previous landlords have great things to say about me. My last apartment, my landlord came by the day I was moving and wrote my a check for the security deposit and bought my a/c. Prior to that, I moved and my super/management company allowed me to use my security deposit as last month's rent.I was there for almost 5 years and they said my apartment was so clean that they would just repaint (apartment white) and that it would be rented within days. So, needless to add, I am a very responsible and diplomatic person.

When you do your application package for the co-op, perhaps you can get letters of recommendation from some of those previous landlords.

You sound like you would be a very responsible tenant. If it comes up about Housing Court...explain what happened. Any reasonable board will approve you. ENJOY YOUR NEW APARTMENT...RODANT FREE.