Screening Criteria
In an effort to promote a great residential experience, all applicants are carefully screened. Unless otherwise disclosed, the following policies and procedures shall govern our application and screening process.
Fair Housing Statement
Be Kind Property Management leases and manages all of our properties in compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations and will not discriminate against tenants in selection or treatment on the basis of race, national origin, color, marital status, ancestry, political ideology, caste, parental status, immigration or citizenship status, pregnancy outcomes, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, creed, use of service animal, religion, participation in a subsidy program, source of income, age, military or veteran status, or any other protected class or status.
Reasonable Accommodations
We will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please contact us if you have a disability which may make completing this application, accessing or using the rental property, or adhering to the lease terms and conditions challenging. All reasonable accommodations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may require a formal request and supporting documentation for review and approval.
Pet Policy
Each property has its own pet policy. Please review the advertisement, contact the office or review your lease document for details.
All pets, emotional support animals and service animals must be screened prior to approval. Please see our Animal & Pet Screening Policy.
Comprehensive Reusable Tenant Screening Reports
We do not accept comprehensive reusable tenant screening reports as defined by and pursuant to RCW 59.18.257.
Screening Policy Notice
In the applicant screening process, we will obtain a consumer credit report and/or an investigative consumer report which include, without limitation, accessing court records and information regarding the applicant’s creditworthiness, income, employment, and rental history, and which may include information as to the applicant’s reputation, characteristics, and mode of living. Income plus verified credit history will be entered into a credit scoring model to determine whether to approve, conditionally approve, or deny an application. Unfavorable accounts which will negatively influence the credit score include, but are not limited to: collections, charge-off, repossession, and current recent delinquency. Open bankruptcies, or bankruptcies discharged and/or closed within the past 12 months, a prior eviction or eviction judgment in the past five (5) years, will result in an automatic denial of an application.
Right to Consumer Report and Dispute Inaccurate Information
If you are an applicant, you have a right to a free copy of your report from the reporting agency if you request it no later than 60 days after you receive this notice. In addition, if you find that any information contained in the report you receive is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to dispute the matter with the reporting agency that provided the report:
Equifax
PO BOX 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
800-685-1111
www.equifax.com
or through CREDIT REPORTING SERVICES, LLC at 2443 FILLMORE ST # 380-5257 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94115 or at 707-773-7750.
Completed Application
An application is not considered complete until all required information has been fully submitted that enables us to obtain a consumer credit report, verify income or assets, run a criminal background check and contact current and former landlords.
When a household contains more than one adult, all household applicants must have submitted a complete application, supporting documentation and paid an application fee before any of the household’s applications will be processed.
Application Fee
Each adult must submit a completed application, provide supporting documentation and pay a $60 application fee. Application fees are not refundable.
Application Acceptance & Processing Timeline
Applications are processed on a “first-in-time” basis, where the first household with fully submitted application(s), supporting documentation and paid application fee(s) will be screened first. Additional applications will be accepted as backups. If another household is approved for the rental home and backup applications are not processed, the backups’ application fee(s) will be refunded.
If the applicant wishes to supply additional information to mitigate, explain or justify a negative report or adverse action or if additional information is requested on an otherwise already completed application, the applicant shall have a maximum of 72 hours to reply and furnish the information or we may deny the application and move on to process the next applicant in line.
If approved, the applicant shall have 48 hours to accept our lease offer or we may move on and process the next applicant household.
Complete applications are typically processed in 1-3 business days.
Income Requirement
A combined gross monthly household income of at least three times (3x) the monthly rent is required. In calculating the income required, recurring subsidies shall be subtracted from the rent amount. Only legal, verifiable, reliable and consistent income shall be considered.
We do not discriminate against sources of income, including but not limited to: child support, alimony, spousal support, housing subsidies and other forms of income are acceptable if legal, verifiable, reliable and consistent.
Self-employed applicants may satisfy this requirement by providing tax returns for the previous calendar year and the last three months of bank statements showing legal, verifiable, reliable and consistent income equal to three times the monthly rent.
Applicants may also satisfy this component with legal and verifiable liquid assets, in a US financial institution, held in their own name and directly under their control, totaling an amount equal to at least three years of rent.
Applicants who gross less than the required income (or alternative qualification method), but at least two and one half times (2.5x) the monthly rent may still be considered with a qualified co-signer.
Consumer Credit Report Requirement
A credit score of 620 or higher is preferred.
Applicants with more than two 30-day late payments or one 60-day late payment in the last 12 months will be denied.
Applicants with no credit or some credit issues may still qualify with a co-signer.
Applicants are not required to use a social security number and may contact our office so we can assist in obtaining a consumer credit report using other methods.
Criminal History
Applicants with a history of violence or financial crimes within the last seven years will be denied. An individualized assessment or review will be conducted as needed.
Seattle Fair Chance Housing Ordinance
In the City of Seattle an applicant’s criminal history shall not be considered as part of the application process, except that they shall be screened against the sex offender registry and denied if the offense was committed as an adult and there is a legitimate business reason to deny the application.
Rental History
Applicants must provide at least two years of rental history. Evictions within the past five (5) years may be grounds for denial unless lawful justification or mitigating circumstances are provided.
Co-Signer(s)
In certain circumstances a co-signer may be authorized. Please note that the income and credit requirements for co-signers are more stringent than applicant-occupants.
A maximum of one co-signer is allowed per financially responsible adult.
Co-signers must reside in the State of Washington.
Co-signers will assume full joint and several liability for the lease.
Co-signers must have a legal, verifiable, reliable and consistent gross monthly income of at least seven times (7x) the monthly rent.
Self-employed co-signer applicants may satisfy the income requirement by providing tax returns for the previous two (2) calendar years and the last four (4) months of bank statements showing legal, verifiable, reliable and consistent income equal to seven times (7x) the monthly rent.
Co-signers can also meet the income criteria with legal and verifiable liquid assets, in a US financial institution, held in their own name and directly under their control, totaling an amount equal to at least five (5) years of rent.
Identification
Valid government-issued photo ID is required for all adult applicants.
Occupancy Standard
A maximum of two persons per bedroom plus one additional person (e.g., three people in a 1-bedroom or five people in a 2-bedroom).
Adverse Action Policy
If your application is denied based on credit, background, or rental history, you will receive an Adverse Action Notice outlining your rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
By submitting an application, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to the above screening criteria.