Placing the right tenant is the single most important decision in property management. We treat it that way — with thorough background research, identity verification, and a process designed to protect your investment from day one.
To Century 21® Alliance Properties, screening applicants is among the most important tasks of a high-quality, professional property manager. Identity theft and fraud are on the rise, so we continuously implement added security measures — using software equipped with high-tech identity verification and Red Flag Rule compliance to prevent imposters from reaching your property.
There is no perfect screening system, but we review and verify as much information as we can access. We balance the data we gather with the applicant's ability to pay at move-in, so we are always making an informed, documented decision on your behalf.
Every adult applicant (18+) is required to submit their own application. For each applicant with a valid SSN or ITIN and a most-recent U.S. address, we pull:
Full credit report review including open accounts, collections, payment history, and overall credit score to assess financial responsibility.
We search nationwide eviction databases, foreclosure history, and bankruptcy filings to identify applicants with a history of housing instability.
Comprehensive criminal background search including sex offender registry — run for every adult applicant without exception.
We verify employment by employer name, hire date, and gross monthly income. Self-employed applicants must provide tax returns attested by a CPA or attorney and six months of unaltered bank statements.
We contact previous landlords and verify the applicant's rental track record over the past two or more years — looking for on-time payments, lease compliance, and property condition at move-out.
Our software uses high-tech data points to verify the applicant's identity — catching fraudulent documentation and flagging inconsistencies before a lease is executed.
If an applicant presents a special request, negotiates rent, has multiple pets or a restricted breed, or has factors outside our normal approval process, we contact you directly to discuss the situation — the benefits, the risks, and the recommendation — before any decision is made.
In some cases, we may recommend a security deposit of 1.5–3× one month's rent to proceed with a borderline applicant. This is a documented caution flag — not a blanket approval — and is always communicated to you before acceptance.
We accept cosigners for applicants with limited rental or employment history who otherwise meet credit and income thresholds. Cosigners must meet a higher credit and income standard.
We negotiate leases in 12–24 month increments only. If you plan to sell or move back into the property, inform us in advance so we do not execute a term beyond your timeline.
Long-term tenants save you money by preventing costly vacancies. We build relationships with residents over time to encourage renewals — keeping your property occupied and profitable.
Our Tenant Selection Criteria is a published, legally compliant document that outlines every qualification standard we apply — credit thresholds, income requirements, rental history minimums, and more. Every applicant is evaluated against the same criteria, protecting you from Fair Housing liability and ensuring consistent, defensible decisions.
No prices are disclosed on this page. Fees associated with screening and placement are outlined in your Property Management Agreement and vary based on property specifics. Contact our team for a full overview.
Contact our team to get started — we'll walk you through the process from listing to lease.
Get a Free Consultation →