Property Management Blog

How We Screen Your Rental Applicants

How We Screen Your Rental Applicants

It's every landlord's worst nightmare. You think you have found the perfect tenant, only to realize that you must evict them. Instead of having a successful landlord experience, you face a potentially expensive and lengthy legal process.

Thankfully, performing a thorough tenant criminal background check on a tenant can significantly reduce the risk of needing to evict them. When you let experienced property managers perform the tenant screening process, you give yourself an edge in finding top-quality tenants.

Fair Housing

We always comply with the Fair Housing Act and Oregon Fair Housing laws. These laws give all individuals an equal opportunity to housing and protect them against discrimination because they are members of a protected class.

Credit Check

A credit check gives an overview of an applicant's financial status, responsibility, and stability. It is one of the essential elements in our tenant background procedures. A credit check will provide several pieces of information that help to create a whole picture of who the applicant is.

  • Payment history
  • Collection accounts
  • Current and past employers
  • Bankruptcy public records and collections
  • Credit mix
  • Length of credit history
  • Amounts owed
  • Address history

Debt-to-Income Ratio

An applicant's debt-to-income ratio tells a more accurate story about their ability to afford the monthly rent. While a potential tenant may have adequate income, their debt may leave them with an inadequate amount. We use a standardized formula to determine acceptable thresholds for applicant approval.

Criminal History Check

Oregon landlord statutes limit what landlords can consider when checking a criminal history. Enacted in 2022, the Fair Chance Housing Act protects applicants from rejection based on their criminal history. There are exceptions to this that allow landlords to reject applicants for certain convictions.

  • Drug-related crimes
  • Sex offenses
  • Financial fraud
  • Crimes impacting rental property safety

Employment Verification

Our team verifies the employment information an applicant provides. This establishes their stability. We confirm they are with an employer long-term and have the necessary income to afford the monthly rent.

Eviction History Check

As part of the background check process, we check an applicant's eviction history. This includes checking their credit report for any evictions on record. We also call previous landlords to verify the information provided by the applicant and confirm their behavior as a tenant.

Pet Ownership

As the property owner, you can decide whether or not to allow pets in your rental property. We can screen applicants in accordance with your restrictions or guidelines.

However, we also guide property owners on complying with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) laws. These laws protect individuals with service animals who are not treated as pets.

Improve Your Tenant Criminal Background Checks

When you have a thorough tenant screening process, you have a complete holistic picture of who the person is. This helps you make better decisions about who you approve for your rental. At PropM, Inc., we use a credit report, tenant criminal background check, criminal history, employment verification, and debt-to-income ratio to find the best tenant for each rental property.

Place better quality tenants in your rental properties with our expert tenant screening process.

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