How We Screen Your Rental Applicants

At Lawless Real Estate Services, we believe that placing the right tenant is far more important than placing the fastest tenant. Taking the time to thoroughly screen applicants upfront creates a smoother, more profitable experience for everyone — and helps you avoid the costly headaches that come from poor tenant placement. We don’t rely on credit scores alone. Every application is evaluated holistically to determine reliability, financial stability, and rental history. This balanced approach has consistently helped us place high-quality residents who pay on time, respect the property, and stay longer — protecting your investment from the start.

At Lawless Real Estate Services, we follow consistent, objective screening standards designed to balance speed, compliance, and sound judgment.

Comprehensive Application Review

We conduct a thorough review of every adult applicant, utilizing a full, detailed credit report that includes the highest available FICO scoring—not just a numerical score. Our evaluation considers overall credit behavior, payment history, outstanding debt, and debt-to-income ratios.

Rental & Eviction History

Applicants are screened for prior evictions, rental history, and landlord references. We assess patterns of timely payments, lease compliance, and overall tenancy behavior to identify applicants best suited for long-term occupancy.

Employment & Income Verification

Income verification is required for all applicants.

• Applicants must meet a combined gross monthly income of 3 times the monthly rent (combined income must come from occupants).
• Employer or HR verification and recent pay stubs are required for employed applicants.
• Self-employed applicants must provide two years of tax returns showing adjusted gross income that meets or exceeds income requirements.
• Unverifiable income is not considered.
• Guarantors are not accepted.

Criminal Background Screening

A full criminal background check is conducted on every adult applicant.

• A felony is not automatically disqualifying.
• Convictions involving harm to a person or destruction of property result in automatic denial.
• Other criminal history may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with Fair Housing laws and applicable regulations.

Fair Housing–Compliant Rental Criteria

All screening decisions are based on written, consistent criteria including credit history, income requirements, identification verification, rental history, and background screening. Our policies are applied uniformly to ensure compliance with Fair Housing standards and local regulations.

Our Screening Philosophy

Our objective is not just to fill a vacancy—but to place a tenant who is financially qualified, responsible, and positioned for long-term success in the home. This proven and carefully structured approach helps minimize turnover, reduce risk, and protect the condition and performance of your property.