How We Screen Tenants

Great properties deserve great residents. This article explains our tenant screening process so you know how we protect your investment, your neighbors, and your peace of mind.

A robust screening process reduces late payments, excessive wear and tear, and costly turnover. It doesn’t eliminate all risk—but it significantly improves the odds of a smooth, long-term tenancy.

• We’re aiming for responsible, stable residents, not perfection.

• We look at the whole picture: income, credit, rental history, and background.

• We follow fair housing laws and apply criteria consistently to all applicants.

1. Income & Employment

   1. We verify household income against the rent amount (commonly using 3x rent as a guideline).

   2. We review documentation like pay stubs, tax returns, or benefit awards.

   3. We confirm employment or other reliable sources of income when appropriate.

2. Credit Profile

   1. We review the overall credit report, focusing on:

      1. Housing-related debts,

      2. Utility collections, and

      3. A pattern of late payments or charge-offs.

   2. We may approve applicants with imperfect credit if other factors are strong.

3. Rental History

   1. We contact current and past landlords (where available) to ask about:

      1. On-time payments,

      2. Property condition,

      3. Lease compliance, and

      4. Notice given when moving out.

   2. Recent evictions or outstanding balances with previous landlords are major red flags.

4. Background Checks

   1. We run background screenings consistent with the law, reviewing certain criminal history items for risk to people and property.

   2. We consider context and timing rather than automatically rejecting based on a single item.

5. Occupancy & Household Composition

   1. We follow local occupancy rules and look at whether the property is a good fit for the proposed household size.

6. Pets, Service Animals, and ESAs

   1. We follow your pet preferences within legal constraints.

   2. We handle service animals and ESAs in compliance with fair housing laws.

Oregon law requires landlords to treat vouchers and other subsidies as a valid source of income. We fully comply with this rule and screen voucher holders using the same written criteria we apply to all applicants.

Here’s how screening works for subsidy programs:

When an applicant has a voucher, we evaluate only their portion of the rent, not the full contract rent.

For example:

• Rent: $1,800

• Voucher covers: $1,300

• Applicant portion: $500

We apply our income guideline (commonly 3x rent) to the $500, not the full $1,800.

We continue to evaluate:

• Rental history

• Credit profile

• Background checks

• Household composition

• Pets or assistance animals (per fair housing law)

Voucher holders must still meet the same non-discriminatory criteria as any other applicant.

We coordinate the required inspections, complete the paperwork, manage communication with the housing authority, and keep everything compliant. You don’t need to learn the program or manage any of the extra steps — we take care of it.

• Reduces the likelihood of chronic late payment or non-payment.

• Reduces wear-and-tear from misuse or overcrowding.

• Lowers the risk of conflicts with neighbors or community rules.

• How We Onboard Your Property – What we set up before placing a tenant.

• Owner Responsibilities – Your role in setting the property up for success.

• Furlo Property Management Responsibilities – What you can expect from us.

• Property Inspections – How we check on the property after a tenant moves in.