Fair & Consistent Screening Practices

Landlords may screen travelers to protect their property and other occupants. Screening must be fair, consistent, and not based on protected characteristics, such as, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or family status. 

For more information, you can review our Fair Housing & Gender Discrimination Policy.

To keep your screening process fair,

• Use neutral, business-related criteria, like income and employment, rental history, and credit or background checks, where allowed
• Apply the same criteria to every applicant.
• Clearly explain your requirements.

Steps for Consistent Screening

1. Write down your criteria

   Define income requirements, required documents, how you use references, and whether you use credit or background checks.

2. Use the same process for everyone

   Ask the same questions, request the same documents, and follow the same review steps.

3. Keep communication neutral

   Focus on the property and your neutral criteria, not on who the traveler is.

4. Document your decisions briefly

   For example: “Application declined because income documentation did not meet stated minimum,” rather than vague reasons like “not a good fit.”

Acceptable Screening Criteria

• Income and employment

  • Minimum income (for example, around 3x monthly rent).

  • Proof such as pay stubs, assignment letters, contracts, or benefits letters.

• Rental history

  • References from prior landlords or property managers.

  • Focus on on-time payments, property care, and rule-respecting.

• Credit checks (where allowed)

  • Clear, written minimum standards (e.g., no recent serious delinquencies).

  • If you accept alternatives (co‑signer, additional documentation), offer those options to everyone.

• Background checks (where allowed)

  • Focus on recent, relevant issues that impact safety or property, not any criminal record at all.

  • Follow local rules about what you can and cannot consider.

• Occupancy limits

  • Reasonable limits based on unit size and local safety codes, not on judgments about families or kids.

• Use the Tenant Screening Tool: Furnished Finder, in partnership with TransUnion SmartMove, assists landlords in securely screening tenants. Personal details are protected and not shared with third parties. 

Tenant Screening Message Templates

Pre‑screening message

Thanks for your interest in the property. We use the same screening criteria for all travelers: income verification, rental references, and (where allowed) credit/background checks.

To move forward, please send:

• Proof of income (such as recent pay stubs or an assignment/contract letter)

• Contact information for your last 1–2 landlords or property managers

• Your consent if a credit/background check is required in your area

Neutral decline

Thank you for applying. Based on our standard criteria that we apply to all applicants, we’re not able to approve this application at this time because [brief, neutral reason tied to your criteria, e.g., “income below stated minimum”].

If you have additional documentation you’d like us to consider, you’re welcome to share it.