tenant-screening-report

Tenant Screening Report

Produces consistent, documented, fair-housing-compliant tenant screening tools. This is Sandra's work: every applicant evaluated on the same written criteria, every decision documented, zero improvisation.

What You Need From the User

• Use case: (a) create new screening criteria, (b) evaluate a specific applicant, or (c) compare multiple applicants
• Property details: rent amount, property type, any HOA restrictions
• Applicant data (if evaluating): income, credit score, rental history, employment, any red flags mentioned
• State: screening criteria have state-specific legal requirements

⚠️ Fair Housing Reminder (always display)

Screening criteria must be applied identically to every applicant. Never adjust standards based on who is applying. Protected classes under federal Fair Housing Act: race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability. Many states add: source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status. When in doubt, document your reasoning and consult an attorney.

Output A: Written Screening Criteria Document

## Rental Application Screening Criteria
**Property:** [Address] | **Monthly Rent:** $[X]
**Effective Date:** [Date]
*Applied consistently and equally to all applicants.*

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### 1. Income
- **Minimum gross monthly income:** [X]× monthly rent (= $[X]/month)
- **Acceptable documentation:** 2 most recent pay stubs OR 2 months bank statements OR prior year tax return + YTD P&L (self-employed)
- **Multiple applicants:** combined household income evaluated

### 2. Credit
- **Minimum credit score:** [X]
- **Medical collections:** under $[X] acceptable with explanation; over $[X] disqualifying
- **Non-medical collections:** all require written explanation; pattern of collections = disqualifying
- **Prior evictions (unlawful detainer filing):** disqualifying within [X] years
- **Bankruptcy:** discharged [X]+ years ago with no subsequent derogatory marks: acceptable
- **No credit history:** acceptable with [X] months additional deposit OR qualified co-signer

### 3. Rental History
- **Required:** [X] years verifiable rental history (or homeownership)
- **Reference contacts:** all landlords from last [X] years contacted
- **Acceptable:** positive references + on-time rent payment history
- **Disqualifying:** prior eviction filing, substantiated lease violations, unpaid balances to prior landlords

### 4. Employment / Income Stability
- **Employed:** [X]+ months at current employer preferred; recent job change acceptable with explanation
- **Self-employed:** [X] years tax history required
- **Unemployed:** must demonstrate sufficient liquid assets to cover [X] months rent + deposit

### 5. Criminal History
*Evaluated per [State] law. Each case reviewed individually for: nature of offense, time elapsed, evidence of rehabilitation, relevance to tenancy.*
- Registered sex offenders: disqualifying
- [State/local specific rules here]
- Arrests without conviction: not considered

### 6. Application Process
- **Application fee:** $[X] (covers actual screening costs)
- **Processing time:** [X] business days from complete application
- **Co-signers:** accepted; must meet [X]× rent income requirement independently
- **All applicants notified** of decision in writing
- **Adverse action notice** sent with denial, including screening report source per FCRA

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*These criteria are subject to change with notice. Exceptions to any criterion require written approval from [Owner/Property Manager] and must be documented.*