✅ Tenant Screening Checklist Generator — Result
Generated on June 27, 2026 · Generate your own →
Tenant Screening Checklist
Single Family Home | New York | Rent: $2,000/mo
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⚖️ Fair Housing Compliance Reminder
IMPORTANT: Federal, State, and New York City (if applicable) Fair Housing laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status, disability, and source of income.
* Consistency is Key: Apply the exact same screening criteria to every applicant without exception.
* Source of Income: In New York, you cannot discriminate against applicants using Section 8, HUD Vouchers, or other public assistance. Their total income (including the voucher) must meet your 2.5x requirement.
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📋 Required Application Documents
Collect the following from every adult (18+) intending to reside in the home:
- [ ] Completed and signed Written Rental Application.
- [ ] Government-issued Photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport).
- [ ] Proof of Income (Last 30 days of paystubs OR last 2 years of tax returns if self-employed).
- [ ] Last 2 months of bank statements (to verify cash reserves and rent payment history).
- [ ] Contact information for current and previous landlords (minimum 2-year history).
- [ ] Written authorization to run credit and background checks.
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💰 Income & Employment Verification
* Minimum Income Requirement: $5,000/month (Gross household income).
* Acceptable Sources: W-2 wages, 1099 income, social security, disability, child support, alimony, and housing vouchers.
* Verification Steps:
1. Cross-reference paystub totals with bank statement deposits.
2. Call the employer to verify current employment status and position (do not ask about future job security).
* Self-Employed/Freelancers: Must provide 1040 tax returns from the last 2 years. Look for "Adjusted Gross Income" to ensure it meets the $60,000/year threshold.
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🏦 Credit Check Criteria
* Minimum Target Score: 650 (Standard for Single Family Homes).
* What to Look For:
* Consistent on-time payment history.
* Low debt-to-income ratio.
* Disqualifying Items:
* Open bankruptcies.
* Unpaid utility collections.
* Recent evictions or money judgments from previous landlords.
* Acceptable Red Flags: High medical debt or student loans (at the landlord's discretion, provided rent-to-income remains healthy).
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📜 Rental History Verification
*Verify the last 24 months of residency.*
Landlord Reference Script:
1. "Can you confirm [Applicant Name] rented from [Date] to [Date]?"
2. "What was the monthly rent amount?"
3. "Did the tenant consistently pay rent on time?"
4. "Were there any lease violations or complaints from neighbors?"
5. "Did the tenant maintain the property/landscaping well?" (Crucial for SFH).
6. "Did the tenant provide proper notice to vacate?"
7. "Would you rent to this person again? (The most important question)."
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🔍 Background Check Guidelines (New York Specific)
* New York State Law: Under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, application fees are capped at $20.00 (or the actual cost of the background check, whichever is less).
* Criminal Records: In New York, you should not have a "blanket ban" on criminal convictions. You must consider the nature and severity of the offense and how long ago it occurred.
* Eviction History: While you can check records, New York law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to a tenant solely because they were involved in a past landlord-tenant legal dispute.
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🐾 Pet Screening Steps
Policy: Cats Only
- [ ] Limit: Maximum of [X] cats (Suggested: 2).
- [ ] Documentation: Proof of current vaccinations and spay/neuter records.
- [ ] Photo: Keep a photo of the cat(s) on file.
- [ ] ESA Exception: Under the Fair Housing Act, Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not considered "pets." If a tenant has a valid ESA letter from a healthcare professional, you cannot charge a pet fee/deposit or deny them based on the "Cats Only" policy.
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📝 Decision Matrix
| Criteria | Pass (Green) | Conditional (Yellow) | Deny (Red) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Income | > 3x Rent | 2.5x - 2.9x Rent | < 2.5x Rent |
| Credit Score | 700+ | 620 - 699 | Below 600 |
| Rental History | Positive / 2+ years | First-time renter | Recent Eviction / Bad Ref |
| Background | Clean | Minor/Old non-violent | Recent Violent/Fraud |
* Pass: Standard Security Deposit (1 month in NY).
* Conditional: May require a qualified Co-signer/Guarantor (must earn 80x the rent in NYC/Suburbs). *Note: In NY, you cannot ask for more than 1 month’s rent for security.*
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✍️ Approval / Denial Process
1. Approval: Send a formal Approval Letter. Require the security deposit and signed lease within 24–48 hours to take the property off the market.
2. Denial: You must provide an Adverse Action Notice if the denial was based on a credit report. This notice must include the contact info of the credit reporting agency used.
3. **Communication
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