The Tru Diligence Tenant Screening Process — What We Check and Why

A bad tenant is the most expensive thing that can happen to a rental property owner. Eviction costs, property damage, lost rent, legal fees — a single bad placement can wipe out an entire year of cash flow.

That's why tenant screening is the most important thing we do.

Here's exactly what we check — and why each piece matters.

Credit history

A credit report tells us how a tenant handles financial obligations. We're not looking for perfection — we're looking for patterns. A history of collections, charge-offs, or judgments is a red flag. Recent bankruptcies get extra scrutiny.

Criminal background

We run a national criminal background check on every applicant. We follow Fair Housing guidelines in how we evaluate results, but violent crimes, drug distribution, and property crimes are automatic disqualifications.

Eviction history

This is the most predictive screening tool available. A prior eviction is a strong indicator of future eviction. We check county-level eviction records in addition to national databases.

Employment and income verification

We require verifiable income of at least 2.5 to 3 times the monthly rent. We verify employment directly with the employer or through pay stubs and bank statements. Self-employed applicants provide tax returns.

Rental history

We contact previous landlords — not just the current one. Tenants sometimes get glowing references from current landlords who want them out. We call the landlord before the current one.

The result

Every applicant is measured against the same criteria, consistently. No exceptions, no gut feelings, no discrimination. Just a fair, thorough process that protects our owners.