Rental Criteria
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We appreciate your interest in Carla Properties, Ltd. Our goal is to consistently offer top quality apartment homes to our
tenants.
Applicants may review the rental screening criteria below.
OWNER/AGENT’S EVALUATION PROCESS
Upon receipt of a completed application, the contents of the application are compared to the screening criteria by Owner/Agent and the Applicant is either approved or denied in compliance with all local, state and federal laws. Applicants are welcome to provide supplemental evidence to mitigate potentially negative screening results.
Applicants have 30 days to appeal denied applications, during which time they may correct, refute, or explain negative information forming the basis for the denial. Applicants are also prequalified for any rental opportunities at Owner/Agent’s properties for three months following the approval date. All screening fees are waived for three months following the approved appeal, but Applicants under these circumstances will be required to certify in writing that no conditions have materially changed from those described in Owner/Agent’s approved application. If conditions have materially changed, Owner/Agent may use those changes as the basis for a denial.
GENERAL RENTAL CRITERIA STATEMENT
- A valid, government issued picture ID card is preferred. This includes but is not limited to: state issued driver’s license, state issued ID card; federal issued ID card; passport or immigration visa (valid permanent resident card, immigrant visa, non-immigrant visa).
- Under protest, but required by City of Portland, additional forms of acceptable identification include: Evidence of Social Security Number (SSN Card), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), any government issued identification regardless of expiration date, any non-governmental identification or combination of identifications that would permit a reasonable verification of identity. All suspicions of identity theft will be investigated.
- A complete and accurate Application listing the current, and at least one previous, verifiable rental reference and phone numbers is required. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant/individual.
- Each applicant/individual will be required to qualify individually. Income will be calculated cumulatively based on the income of all applicants.
- Applicant/individual must be able to enter a legally binding contract.
- Incomplete, inaccurate or falsified information will be grounds for denial.
- Any applicant/individual currently using illegal drugs, as defined under federal or state law, will be denied. If approved for tenancy and illegal drug use is later discovered, eviction will result.
- Any applicant/individual who may constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of an individual, the apartment community, or the property of others, will be denied.
9.Applicant/individual is welcome to provide supplemental evidence to mitigate potentially negative screening results at any point in the application process.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Steps to become a resident with Carla Properties:
- Select your rental apartment. Applications are accepted on day 4, after an apartment becomes available. No application will be accepted unless an apartment is available.
- Complete the Application using the designated form.
- Financially Responsible Applicant/Individual must pay the non-refundable credit/screening charge of $50.00 per applicant/individual (above 18). This includes co-signers.
- Non-financially Responsible Applicant/Individual will not be charged a screening charge. This includes caregivers and roommates that do not want their income considered in the calculation of “gross monthly household income.”
- Screening charges will be waived if an applicant/individual has applied at any Carla Properties property within the most 60 days of this application.
- Be prepared to wait at least one business day for the information on the Application to be verified.
- Once the application is approved, applicant/individual will be required to pay the execution deposit within 72 hours.
- Once the application is approved, a Rental Agreement or Agreement to Execute a Rental Agreement must be signed by all parties. Applicant/individual must pay any required deposits at the time they enter into the Rental Agreement or Agreement to Execute. Applicants/individuals are encouraged to read the Rental Agreement at the time of application.
OCCUPANCY POLICY
- Occupancy is based on the number of bedrooms in an apartment. A bedroom is defined as a space within the premises that is used primarily for sleeping, with at least one window, and a closet for clothing.
- Two persons are allowed per bedroom, and one additional person is allowed in each apartment. Exceptions may be made to this policy at Landlord’s discretion.
- Up to two animals are permitted in each apartment home, upon management’s approval. Pet policy allows for cats or dogs (up to 30lbs at full maturity). All other requests are reviewed by management and in compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines.
INCOME REQUIREMENTS
- We will consider all sources of legal and verifiable income, including local, state and federal rental assistance. Verifiable income may include, but is not limited to: wages, non- governmental rent assistance, monetary public benefits, bank accounts, alimony/child support, trust accounts, social security, unemployment benefits, welfare, and grants/loans.
- Gross monthly household income must equal 2.5 times the monthly rent. The monthly rent amount is below the maximum monthly rent for a household earning no more than 80% of the medical household income as published annually by the Portland Housing Bureau. If gross monthly household income is less than the income requirement, your application will be denied. The analysis of rent-to-income ratio of applicant/individual with local, state, or federal rent voucher will be reviewed by considering the applicant’s/individual’s portion of the rent.
- Applicant/individuals that are not employed and/or have no source of income may present proof of 12 months of living resources in a bank account. Living resources are calculated at (12 x 2.5 x $rent).
- Applicant/individuals using employment income, current proof of income will be required such as a current paycheck stub.
- Self-employed applicant/individual will be required to show proof of income by providing copies of the previous year’s signed tax returns.
- A co-signer will be permitted for any applicant/individual that does not meet the income requirement of 2 .5 times rent.
- The rental application will be denied if the source or amount of income cannot be verified.
RENTAL REQUIREMENTS
- Twelve months of verifiable contractual rental history from a current unrelated, third-party landlord, or home ownership, is required. Less than twelve months verifiable rental history will require a qualified co-signer.
- Home ownership will be verified through the county tax assessor’s office. Mortgage payment history must reflect no more than 4 late payments in the past 2 years and must be current at time of rental application. Additional late payments will result in denial.
- Five years of eviction-free rental history will be required except for general eviction judgments entered on claims that arose on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022; evictions that resulted in a judgment for the applicant/individual or were dismissed will not be considered.
- Rental history reflecting any past due and unpaid balances to a landlord will result in denial of the application except for unpaid rent, including rent reflected in judgments or referrals of debt to a collection agency, that accrued on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022.
- Rental history including three or more noise disturbances or any other material non-compliance with the rental agreement or rules within the past two years will result in denial.
- Three or more notices for nonpayment of rent within one year will result in denial of the application.
- Three or more dishonored checks within one year will result in denial of the application.
CREDIT REQUIREMENTS
- Ten or more unpaid collections (not related to medical expenses) will result in denial of the application.
- Poor credit history after bankruptcy will result in denial.
CRIMINAL CONVICTION CRITERIA
- Upon receipt of the Rental Application and screening fee, a search of public records is conducted to determine whether applicant/individual or any proposed resident or occupant has a “Conviction” (which means: charges pending as of the date of the application; a conviction; a guilty plea; or no contest plea), for any of the following crimes as provided in ORS 90.303(3): drug-related crime; person crime; sex offense; crime involving financial fraud, including identity theft and forgery; or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant/individual was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a tenant or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent.
- Owner/Agent will not consider a previous arrest that did not result in a Conviction or expunged records. Pending charges will be considered but for circumstances in which the applicant is presently participating in a diversion, conditional discharge or deferral of judgment program on the charges.
- If applicant/individual, or any proposed occupant, has a Conviction in their past which would disqualify them under these criminal conviction criteria, and desires to submit additional information along with the application so an individualized assessment (described below) upon receipt of the results of the public records search and prior to a denial, applicant/individual should do so. Otherwise, applicant/individual may request the review process after denial as set forth below, however, see item (5)(c) under “Criminal Conviction Review Process” below regarding holding the unit.
- A single Conviction for any of the following, subject to the results of any review process, shall be grounds for denial of the Rental Application.
- Felonies involving: murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, kidnapping, child sex crimes, or manufacturing or distribution of a controlled substance.
- Felonies not listed above involving: drug-related crime; person crime; sex offense; crime involving financial fraud, including identity theft and forgery; or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant/individual was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a tenant or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of the residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent, where the date of disposition has occurred in the last 7 years.
- Misdemeanors involving: drug related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, domestic violence, violation of a restraining order, stalking, weapons, criminal impersonation, possession of burglary tools, financial fraud crimes, where the date of disposition has occurred in the last 5 years.
- Misdemeanors not listed above involving: theft, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, property crimes or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant/individual was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a tenant or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of the residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent, where the date of disposition has occurred in the last 3 years.
- Conviction of any crime that requires lifetime registration as a sex offender will result in denial.
Criminal Conviction Review Process.
Equal Opportunity Housing Manager will engage in an individualized assessment of the applicant’s/individual’s, or other proposed occupant’s, Convictions if applicant/individual has satisfied all other criteria (the denial was based solely on one or more Convictions) and:
- Applicant/individual has submitted supporting documentation prior to the public records search; or
- Applicant/individual is denied based on failure to satisfy these criminal criteria and has submitted a written request along with supporting documentation. Supporting documentation may include:
- Letter from parole or probation office;
- Letter from caseworker, therapist, counselor, etc.;
iii. Certifications of treatments/rehab programs;
- Letter from employer, teacher, etc.
- Certification of trainings completed;
- Proof of employment; and
vii. Statement of the applicant/individual.
Equal Opportunity Housing Manager will:
- Consider relevant individualized evidence of mitigating factors, which may include: the facts or circumstances surrounding the criminal conduct; the age of the convicted person at the time of the conduct; time since the criminal conduct; time since release from incarceration or completion of parole; evidence that the individual has maintained a good rental history before and/or after the conviction or conduct; and evidence of rehabilitation efforts. Equal Opportunity Housing Manager may request additional information and may consider whether there have been multiple Convictions as part of this process.
- Notify applicant/individual of the results of Equal Opportunity Housing Manager’s review within a reasonable time after receipt of all required information.
- Hold the unit for which the application was received for a reasonable time under all the circumstances to complete the review unless prior to receipt of applicant/individual’s written request (if made after denial) the unit was committed to another applicant/individual.
RENT WELL GRADUATES
If applicant fails to meet any criteria related to credit, evictions and/or rental history, and applicant has received a certificate indicating satisfactory completion of a tenant training program such as “Rent Well,” Owner/Agent will consider whether the course content, instructor comments and any other information supplied by applicant is sufficient to demonstrate that applicant will successfully live in the complex in compliance with the Rental Agreement. Based on this information, Owner/Agent may waive strict compliance with the credit, eviction and/or rental history screening criteria for this applicant.
VII. CO-SIGNER (GUARANTOR) QUALIFICATIONS
- Verifiable monthly income must equal a minimum of 3 times the applicant/individual’s rent.
- Outstanding bad debt will result in denial of the co-signer, i.e. slow pay, collections, repossessions, liens, judgments and wage garnishment programs.
- Co-signers will be required for the entire duration of the rental agreement and may only be removed after notice to the landlord prior to the end date of the first year lease or with advance notice to the landlord in the event of a month to month lease.
VIII. DENIAL PROCESS
If your application is denied, it will go through an individualized assessment process, prior to being fully denied. Individualized assessments will be conducted at the Carla Properties, Ltd. corporate office. Onsite staff will not be involved in the decision-making process. Full denial (after the individualized assessment): If you believe that you qualify as a resident under the criteria set out above or for any other reason, you should do the following:
- Correct any inaccurate information through the credit reporting agency or screening company as per their policy.
- Request the credit reporting agency submit a corrected credit history to the appropriate screening company.
- Upon our receipt from you of the corrected and satisfactory information, your application will be re-evaluated for the next available apartment home. No apartment home will be held during this process.
- If the denial is overturned during this process, no additional application fee will be charged for up to 90 days from the original application date.
- Upon request, fully denied (post individualized assessment) applicant/individuals may present a co-signer within 48 hours of receiving denial on the sole basis of not meeting the income criteria, and the application will be reviewed once again.
- If conditions have materially changed between initial application date, and the later date of re-applying, individuals must fully disclose those changes.
DISABLED ACCESSIBILITY
The property you are applying to does not have any Accessible Dwelling Units. Carla Properties, Ltd. allows existing premises to be modified at the full expense of the disabled person. We may require the disabled person to agree to restore the premises to the pre-modified condition (per Fair Housing laws). Prior to modifying the premises, the following must be done:
- The applicant/individual must obtain the landlord’s approval.
- Reasonable assurance must be received in writing, that the work will be performed in a professional and workman manner, as well as details of the work to be completed, and names of qualified contractors to be used.
- Appropriate building permits and required licenses will be reviewed by the landlord where applicable.
- Restoration, in certain circumstances where the modification would make the apartment less desirable to future residents (in Landlord’s discretion), may require a deposit to be placed in a non-interest-bearing account and will be used for necessary restoration costs, not including normal wear and tear and/or non-required restorations.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Carla Properties, Ltd. complies with all federal, state, and local Fair Housing laws. We do not discriminate in any aspect in the rental or management of our apartment communities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation including gender identity, source of income, domestic violence survivors or status as a member of any group protected by federal, state or local law.
If your application has been denied and you believe that you qualify as a resident under the criteria set out above, you should do the following: Write to our Equal Opportunity Housing Manager ·
633 NW 19th Avenue · Portland, Oregon 97209.
In the letter explain the reasons you believe your application should be approved and request a review of your file. Within seven working days of receipt of your letter your application file will be reviewed, and you will be notified of the outcome.
CP001COP xx Copyright © 2020 Carla Properties, Ltd. Revised 3/22/2022