Tenant screening is a process used mostly by landlords and property managers in order to make the right decision about their potential tenants. Tenant screening provides with all the information you need to know: the ability to pay, meet requirements of the lease, information about past actions and former leases. Many property owners have made tenant screening reports a part of their approval system to help gather the information they need to make an informed decision.
Getting a Process in Place:
There is a lot to gain by looking at what successful landlords and property managers do during their leasing and decision-making process. The first commonality is they have specific qualifying criteria mapped out. They usually have an informative document that tells the applicant what they need to have in order to get approved and they provide each applicant with a copy of the criteria before they apply. Below is an example of some qualifying criteria policies:
Income Requirements:
- Applicant - Pay stubs = 3 times the monthly rent amount
Bank Statements = account balance must have 5 times the monthly rent
- Guarantor - Pay stubs = 4 times the monthly rent amount
Bank statements = 10 times the monthly rent amount
- Pay last three months of rent in addition to first month’s rent in advance
Sources for Proof of income:
- Most recent 3 pay stubs
- Bank Statements - most recent 3 bank statements
- Guarantor form - must guarantee 100% of the monthly rent amount and have signed by a notary.
- Taxes - a copy of the previous years’ tax returns
- Offer letter - your future employer can provide a letter on company letterhead that states the applicant's start date and salary. This document needs to be dated and signed.
Guarantor Requirements:
- A guarantor must make an income of at least 4 times the monthly market rent
- Must provide proof of income or provide proof of personal financial worth of at least 4 times the monthly rent amount
- Minimum employment of one year at current job
Rental History:
- Evictions within the last 10 years = declined
- Landlords will be contacted for references and a history of late payments, NSF checks, causing blatant disturbances or apartment damage will disqualify any applicant.
Criminal History:
- Any applicant who hides their criminal history on the application - declined
- Any applicant with a record of a violent crime(s) will be automatically declined
- Any applicant with a terrorism related conviction or charge will be automatically declined
- Any applicant with a record of a non-violent felony within the past 5 years will be reviewed
- Misdemeanors against persons or property, including, which have occurred within the past 5 years will not be accepted
- Any person convicted of crimes of a sexual nature, designated as a sexual predator/offender, or under consideration by any court for being declared a sexual predator/offender will not be accepted.
Foreign Applicants:
- Must fill out regular application and the Supplemental Rental Application For Non-U.S. Citizens’
- Must provide proof of foreign citizenship
- Provide written verification of employment
- Provide proof of income
- Provide one of the following:
- Alien number from form I-551
- Case number from form I-485
- Expiration date and form number for form I-94
- USCIS receipt for replacement of one of the above with verification by USCISof your entitlement to the document
- Provide I-10 number
Occupancy Limits:
- Not to exceed 2 people per apartment bedroom (efficiency and studio apartments are considered a 1 bedroom for occupancy purposes)
- Apartments with dens can accommodate one additional person
- Additional tenants will result in an upcharge of $100 per tenant per month
- People over the age of twenty-four months old will be included in the occupancy number for the apartment
Animal Requirements:
- Animals must be at least 1 year of age
- Provide proof of current vaccinations
- Proof of weight when fully grown
- Proof the pet is spayed or neutered
- A maximum of 2 acceptable pets are allowed per apartment
- A photo of the pet
- The following breeds of dogs and animal types are prohibited and will not be accepted:
- Pit Bull
- Terriers
- Chows
- Doberman Pinscher
- Rottweilers
- Huskies
- Any other breed generally considered aggressive or deemed aggressive by state and local officials
- Other prohibited animals: rodents, rabbits, ferrets, snakes, reptiles, fish and aquariums larger than 20 gallons
DISCLAIMER: The above rental qualifying criteria are for general consideration and are not for any specific use. All states have specific landlord tenant laws and residential application requirements. These rental qualifying criteria have not been reviewed or approved for state specific use. This information must be used at Landlord's risk only. TenantCloud makes absolutely no representations regarding the legal effect of using these criteria to qualify applicants.
Screening Applicants:
After setting your qualifying criteria policies, the next step is to run a screening check for the applicant. TenantCloud offers three screening services for convenience.
Checkr provides a basic background check that validates the applicant's social security number, address history and checks to see if the applicant is on the sex offender list, terrorist watchlist and performs a national criminal search for $19.95.
There are three background screenings offered through RentPrep. The first is the Basic package that validates the applicant’s social security number and address history. It also provides their eviction history and searches for bankruptcies as well as any outstanding judgments and liens. It costs $18.95.
The second package offered by RentPrep is the Pro package, worth $22.95. It includes everything in the Basic package plus U.S. criminal history, sex offender, and Global Homeland security searches.
The third package offered by RentPrep is the Platinum package. It includes everything in the Basic and Pro package plus they will make phone calls on your behalf to verify employment as well as current and past residence history. It will cost you $34.95.
Many landlords charge an application fee to applicants that will cover the cost of running the background report. TenantCloud users are able to purchase screening reports of applicants and then charge an application fee to prospective tenants online. They can also require the tenant to pay for the background check directly, so no need to charge an application fee. To set up your preference go to settings in your account where you can activate your landlord website, create the customizable online rental application and start screening your tenants today!
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