RENTAL SCREENING CRITERIA – City of Portland Standard Financially Responsible
OWNER’S EVALUATION PROCESS
Upon receipt of a completed application, the contents of the application are compared to the screening criteria by Owner and the Applicant is either approved or denied in compliance with all local, state and federal laws. Applicants are welcome to provide supplemental evidence to mitigate potentially negative screening results. Applicants have 30 days to appeal denied applications, during which time they may correct, refute, or explain negative information forming the basis for the denial. Applicants are also prequalified for any rental opportunities at Owner’s properties for three months following the approval date. All screening fees are waived for three months following the approved appeal, but Applicants under these circumstances will be required to certify in writing that no conditions have materially changed from those described in Agent’s approved application. If conditions have materially changed, Agent may use those changes as the basis for a denial.
OCCUPANCY POLICY
Occupancy is based on the number of bedrooms in a unit. (A bedroom is defined as a habitable room that is intended to be used primarily for sleeping purposes, contains at least 70 square feet and is configured so as to take the need for a fire exit into account).
The general rule is two persons are allowed per bedroom. Owner may adopt a more liberal occupancy standard based on factors such as size and configuration of the unit, size and configuration of the bedrooms, and whether any occupants will be infants.
GENERAL STATEMENTS
Any of the following items, or combination thereof, will be accepted to verify the name, date of birth and photo of the applicant:
Evidence of a Social Security Card (SSN)
Valid Permanent Resident Alien Registration Receipt Card
Immigrant Visa
Individual Tax payer Identification Number (TIN)
Non-immigrant Visa
Any government-issued identification regardless of expiration date; or
Any non-governmental identification or combination of identifications that would permit a reasonable verification of identity.
Each applicant will be required to qualify individually or as per specific criteria areas.
Inaccurate, incomplete or falsified information will be grounds for denial of the application.
Any applicant currently using illegal drugs will be denied. If approved for tenancy and later illegal drugs use is confirmed, termination shall result.
Any individual whose tenancy may constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of an individual, the premises, or the property of others, will be denied tenancy.
All co-signers must reside in the State of Oregon
INCOME CRITERIA
Monthly gross income must be equal to 2 times stated rent*, or 2.5 times the monthly stated rent if the monthly rent amount is below the maximum monthly rent for a household earning no more than 80 percent of the median household income as published annually by the Portland Housing Bureau. Income sources shall include, but are not limited to: wages, rent assistance (non-governmental only), and monetary public benefits and are based on the cumulative financial resources of all financially responsible applicants. Applicants failing to qualify under this section may, at Agent’s discretion, be required to secure a qualified co-signer.
*If applicant will be using local, state or federal assistance as a source of income, “stated rent” as used in this section means that portion of the rent that will be payable by applicant and excludes any portion of the rent that will be paid through the assistance program.
Twelve months of verifiable employment will be required if used as a source of income.
Applicants using self-employment income will have their records verified through the state corporation commission, and will be required to submit records to verify their income, which records may include the previous year’s tax returns.
RENTAL HISTORY
Twelve months of verifiable contractual rental history from a current unrelated, third-party landlord, or home ownership, is required. Less than twelve months verifiable rental history will require a qualified co-signer.
Three or more notices for nonpayment of rent within one year will result in denial of the application.
Three or more dishonored checks within one year will result in denial of the application.
Rental history reflecting any past due and unpaid balances to a landlord will result in a denial of the application except for unpaid rent, including rent reflected in judgments or referrals of debt to a collection agency, that accrued on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022.
Rental history including three or more noise disturbances or any other material non-compliance with the rental agreement or rules within the past two years will result in denial.
EVICTION HISTORY CRITERIA
Five years of eviction-free history is required except for general eviction judgments entered on claims that arose on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022. Eviction actions that were dismissed or resulted in a judgment for the applicant will not be considered.
CREDIT CRITERIA
Negative or adverse debt showing on consumer credit report will require a qualified co-signer(s).
Seven or more unpaid collections (not related to medical expenses) will result in denial of the application.
Bankruptcies must be fully discharged for a minimum of twelve months. Active bankruptcies will result in a denial.
RENT WELL GRADUATES
If applicant fails to meet any criteria related to credit, evictions and/or rental history, and applicant has received a certificate indicating satisfactory completion of a tenant training program such as “Rent Well”, Agent will consider whether the course content, instructor comments and any other information supplied by applicant is sufficient to demonstrate the applicant will successfully live in the complex in compliance with the Rental Agreement. Based on this information, Agent may waive strict compliance with the credit, eviction and/or rental history screening criteria for this applicant.
CRIMINAL HISTORY
Upon receipt of the rental application and screening fee, Owner will conduct a search of public records to determine whether applicant or any proposed resident or occupant has a “Conviction” (which means: charges pending as of the date of the application; a conviction, a guilty plea; or no contest plea), for any of the following crimes as provided in ORS 90.303(3): drug- related crime; person crime; sex offense; crime involving financial fraud, including identity theft and forgery; or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a tenant or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent. Owner will not consider a previous arrest that did not result in a Conviction, was dismissed, expunged, voided or invalidated, determined or adjudicated through the juvenile justice system. Owner will also not consider convictions when Applicant is participating or has completed a diversion or deferral of judgment program or for crimes that are no longer illegal in the State of Oregon.
If applicant, or any proposed occupant, has a Conviction in their past which would disqualify them under these criminal conviction criteria, and desires to submit additional information to Owner along with the application so Owner can engage in an individualized assessment (described below) upon receipt of the results of the public records search and prior to a denial, applicant should do so. Otherwise, applicant may request the review process after denial as set forth below, however, see item ( c ) under “Criminal Conviction Review Process” below regarding holding the unit.
A single conviction for any of the following, subject to the results of any review process, shall be grounds for denial of the Rental Application.
Felonies involving: murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, kidnapping, child sex crimes, or manufacturing or distribution of a controlled substance.
Felonies not listed above involving: drug-related crime; person crime; sex offense; crime involving financial fraud, including identify theft and forgery; or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a tenant or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of the residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent, where the date of disposition has occurred in the last 7 years
Misdemeanors involving: drug related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, domestic violence, violation of a restraining order, stalking, weapons, criminal impersonation, possession of burglary tools, financial fraud crimes, where the date of disposition has occurred in the last 5 years.
Misdemeanors not listed above involving: theft, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, property crimes or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a tenant or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the [remises of the residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent, where the date of disposition has occurred in the last 3 years.
Conviction of any crime that requires lifetime registration as a sex offender, or for which applicant is currently registered as a sex offender, will result in denial.
Criminal Conviction Review Process:
Owner will engage in an individualized assessment of the applicant’s or other proposed occupant’s, Convictions if applicant has satisfied all other criteria (the denial was based solely on one or more convictions) and:
Applicant has submitted supporting documentation prior to the public records search; or
Applicant was denied based on failure to satisfy these criminal criteria and has submitted a written request along with supporting documentation. Supporting documentation may include:
Letter from parole or probation office;
Letter from caseworker, therapist, counselor, etc.;
Certifications of treatments/rehab programs;
Letter from employer, teacher, etc.;
Certification of trainings completed;
Proof of employment; and
Statement of the applicant.
Owner will:
Consider relevant individualized evidence of mitigating factors, which may include: the facts or circumstances surrounding the criminal conduct; the age of the convicted person at the time of the conduct; time since the criminal conduct; time since release from incarceration or completion of parole; evidence that the individual has maintained a good tenant history before and/or after the conviction or conduct; and evidence or rehabilitation efforts. Owner may request additional information and may consider whether there have been multiple Convictions as part of this process.
Notify applicant of the results of Owner’s review within a reasonable time after receipt of all required information.
Hold the unit for which the application was received for a reasonable time under all the circumstances to complete the review unless prior to receipt of applicant’s written request (if made after denial) the unit was committed to another applicant.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
PETS:
Most of our properties will consider pets on a case-by-case basis. The final decision to approve your pet(s) is always the property owner. The following breeds are prohibited due to insurance limitations on liability: Pit Bulls, Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, Dalmations, Doberman or German Pinschers, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Huskies, Malamutes, Great Danes, St. Bernards, Akitas, American Bulldogs, Presa Canario, Catahoulas, Beaucerons, Cane Corsos, Dogo Argentinos, Dingos, and Wolf Breeds. We do not allow any cross breeds related to any of the above breeds.
SMOKING POLICY:
All of our units are smoke-free. No smoking is allowed on the premises, including the garage. For multi-family units, smoking must be off of the main premises and a minimum of 10 feet away from the property.
MARIJUANA:
The growing or smoking of marijuana is prohibited in all of our properties.
DISABLED ACCESSIBILITY
All persons with a disability have a right to request and be provided a reasonable accommodation or modification at any time, from application through to termination/eviction. Please review the Portland Housing Bureau “Right to Request a Modification or Accommodation Notice Required Under Portland City Code Title 30.01.086.C.3.B”
APPROVAL OF APPLICATION
If application is approved and a Rental Agreement is executed, the following verbiage is part of the Rental Agreement
Tenants will be charged a $50 non-compliance fee for the following violations of their Rental Agreement after one written warning, and a $50 non-compliance fee plus 5% of the monthly rent for all subsequent non-compliance.
Late payment of utility or service charge owed to Owner,
Failure to clean up pet waste, garbage, rubbish, or other waste anywhere on the premises except inside tenant’s dwelling.
Parking violations and improper use of motor vehicles on the premises.
Smoking in a clearly designated no-smoking unit or area of the premises.
Keeping an unauthorized pet capable of causing damages to persons or property. (The fee for a second or any subsequent noncompliance under this subparagraph may not exceed $250. A landlord may not assess this fee before 48 hours after the required warning notice to the tenant).
OTHER INFO and FEES
LATE FEE: Rent is DUE on the 5th of each month and late if not paid by the end of day (5:00 PM) on the 5th.
Late fee is 5.0% of Monthly Rent charged each 5 days of delinquency
$35 charge for dishonored/NSF check, plus bank charges
$250 for tampering with a smoke alarm and/or Carbon Monoxide Detector
Your application will not be processed without the correct funds and all documentation attached!
If you feel you are qualified for the property after reading the Rental Criteria, please follow these instructions:
Your application will not be processed without the correct funds and all current documentation attached.
Reliable and legal documentation and telephone numbers are required to verify income.
If employed, you will need to submit a copy of your last year’s W-2 or two (2) of your most recent pay stubs.
If self-employed, applicants must provide the most recent tax returns and 3 months bank statements.
Complete an Application to Rent
Complete Tenant Information Release Form
Provide supplemental evidence as needed.
Applications will be contacted within 3 business days as to the status of their application.
The Open Application Period begins at least 72 hours after the notice of unit availability is posted, and applications are processed in the order received. Preference for accessible units is given to applicants with mobility disabilities.
If applications are received before the Open Application Period, they are subject to an 8-hour penalty and processed in the order received.
Once you have been approved, you will have 72 hours to execute the lease agreement. An application is considered complete once all necessary documentation has been supplied, every applicant who is over 18 and will be residing in the home has applied, and all processing fees have been paid.
~~ M&M Properties does not discriminate based on: race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, disability or source of income. We comply with all Federal, State and local laws concerning Fair Housing. ~~