PROSPECTIVE RESIDENT SCREENING STANDARDS

Thank you for considering working with White Birch Holdings (WBH) for your housing needs. We comply with all federal, state and local fair housing laws, and do not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status or any other characteristic protected by law. In accordance with the law as well as our company policy, we do not show or offer housing accommodations according to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status of current or prospective residents. WBH welcomes all qualified Residents. Please read the following carefully as to what you will need when submitting your rental application. Eligibility for applicants for WBH will be based on the information submitted on the application. Applications will be accepted a via the online resident portal. Applicants will be selected for residency on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications accompanied by the application fee will be screened for credit, criminal and landlord histories. All household members 18 and older (and guarantor’s if applicable) must submit an application.

Applications will not be accepted if:
1.The application is not completed and signed 2.The Applicant does not meet the legal capacity to enter into a lease agreement 3.The Applicant is involved in current or past litigation, civil or criminal, with WBH or affiliates
SCREENING CRITERIA
1. Rental Application: Positive identification with a picture will be required for all household members for move-in. A complete and accurate application is required. Guarantor and/or an additional deposit (the excess of which would be refundable after one year if the tenant pays as agreed) may be required if rental and credit history do not meet the criteria below.
2. Income: Applicants must show total household income equal to 3 times the monthly rent for market rate properties and 2.5 times the monthly rent for affordable rate properties. Section 8 vouchers and other forms of assistance may or may not be accepted, depending upon each individual owners’ agreement with WBH. If the applicant is self-employed or retired, the applicant must provide proof of income and/or the ability to pay rent for the term of the lease by furnishing copies of federal income tax returns filed for the past two years, or a current certified financial statement, and/or photocopies of the applicant's three most recent bank statements.  Unemployment income is not considered income for the purposes of income screening. 
3. Credit History: Criteria to determine credit worthiness is determined below. Guarantor will be required if no credit history is established, except in cases where income is verified and is 5 times the monthly rent for market rate properties and 4 times the monthly rent for affordable rate properties. Negative credit resulting in rejection of applicant or need for additional deposit can include but is not limited to:
• Bankruptcy reported within 1 year of date of application
• Negative information reported within the last 3 years after a bankruptcy
• Involuntarily repossession within the last three (3) years
• More than two (2) unpaid collection accounts in the last three (3) years (excludes student loan and medical accounts)
• Any one lien or judgment not remedied within the past three (3) years
• Any two (2) current credit obligations which are two (2) months or more delinquent
• Any one foreclosure of real estate within the past three (3) years

4. Rental History: If no rental history is established a guarantor will be required. Rental history under 2 years may require an additional security deposit. Negative rental history resulting in rejection of application includes but is not limited to:
• Landlord reference indicating the applicant “skipped” or owes a balance for rent or damages to a current/previous landlord lease violation(s)
• Any eviction for cause
• A rental history of 3 or more late payments or 2 NSF’s in a 12 month period
• Any rental history indicating that the applicant, family member or visitor was destructive to the rental unit or surrounding area, or was responsible for disturbing the safety, security or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents.
• Any unauthorized activities or alterations to the apartment and common areas that would create an insurance risk or fire hazard
• Unsanitary living due to lack of housekeeping
• Landlord reference(s) which indicate that Applicant(s) has a history of belligerence with landlord, staff and/or neighbors.
• Breaking a lease by not fulfilling the full term of the lease unless the landlord and applicant agreed upon an early termination fee, and termination fee was paid in full to satisfy the ending of the lease
5. Criminal History: Criminal violations which will result in the rejection of the applicant includes but is not limited to:
• Conviction of a crime against persons within the past seven years
• Conviction of a crime against property within the past five years
• Drug related criminal activity: Conviction for use, manufacture, sales, distribution or possession with intent to use, manufacture, sell or distribute a controlled substance within the past five years
• Conviction for the possession of an unregistered firearm or possession of an illegal weapon within the past five years
• If the criminal history reveals that the applicant has developed a pattern of criminal behavior and/or has been involved in gang activity, and such behavior presents a real or potential threat to residents and/or property
• Any traffic violation that involves the use of any controlled substance within the past three years
• If the Applicant has been arrested for a crime but has not yet been tried, the application will be suspended pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. The application will be reconsidered, with the above guidelines applied, after legal proceedings have been concluded
6. Occupancy Guidelines: A maximum of two persons per bedroom.  No more than 3 unrelated people may occupy a rental unit. 
7. Students: Students must supply a copy of their acceptance letter to the school they will be attending, copy of scholarship/loan information (to verify use of scholarship/loans towards housing) and a copy of bank account information where rent payment will be made from. Student applicants must provide one of the follow: a social security number, an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or a copy of their student VISA.
8. Divorce or Identity Theft: All credit shown in the report issued by the credit bureau will reflect on both spouses in the absence of legal documentation that clearly separates the parties’ credit responsibilities. In the case of unfavorable credit references, the responsibility of management is limited to informing the applicant that the application has been rejected based on information obtained from the credit bureau, contact information for which will be given to the applicant. If the report contains errors, it is the applicant’s responsibility to contact the credit bureau to investigate. If errors are corrected, the applicant may reapply.

9. Reasonable Accommodation: WHB will consider all requests for reasonable accommodate in accordance with state and federal laws.  Residents requesting accommodation for Service or Emotional Support Animals will be given a Reasonable Accommodation Request Packet to be completed and returned to WBH.  

10. Smoking: All of WBH's properties are strictly non-smoking (any type of substance with open flame).  

11. Pets/Animals:  All animals must be spayed/neutered, up to date on shots, current rabies vaccine and city dog license (dogs only).  All dogs must attend the showing of the rental unit and will undergo a temperament test.  If for any reason, staff feel uncomfortable or unsafe with the animal, that will be grounds for not moving forward with the rest of the showing or rental of the unit to the prospective resident(s). Dogs under 6 months will not be considered.  Cats at least 8 weeks of age, that are fixed and are vaccinated will be considered. The max number of animals per unit is set by a varying set of rules including owner requirements, local ordinances, type of unit and size of unit.

12. Guarantors/Co-Signers:  If an applicant or applicants do not meet the required screening standards, the option of allowing a guarantor/co-signer may be offered.  The guarantor/co-signer must fill out their own rental application and meet all criteria on their own to be eligible.