Stephens House LLC QUALIFYING RENTAL CRITERIA

FAIR HOUSING LAWS

Stephens House LLC has a non-discrimination policy and complies with all State and Federal Housing Laws, and all relevant City Ordinance. No persons shall be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, marital status, familial status, age, source of income or any other class protected by federal, state, or local laws.

OCCUPANCY POLICY

Occupancy is based on the number of bedrooms in a unit. A bedroom is defined as a space within the premises used primarily for sleeping, with at least one window and a closet for clothing. Two people are allowed per bedroom.


GENERAL STATEMENTS

  1. Applications are accepted in the order in which the completed application is received.
  2. No applications are to be processed until 72 hours after the notice of availability is posted.
  3. All persons 18 years or older, must submit an application and will be required to qualify individually or as per specific criteria areas
  4. Any Applicant who is contributing financially to the household, will be screened for all aspects of the Qualifying Criteria and pay the “financially responsible applicant” screening fee as listed in the “Screening” Section below.
  5. Any Applicant who is not contributing financially to the household will be screened for all aspects of the Qualifying Criteria other than the Income Criteria and will not need to pay a screening fee. These applicants need to apply using the “Non-Financially Responsible” application form.
  6. Any Co-signer will be screened for all aspects of the Qualifying Criteria  except for Rental History. Cosigner must apply using the “Cosigner” application and pay the “cosigner” screening fee.
  7. Any of the following items, or combination thereof, will be accepted to verify the name, date of birth and photo of the applicant:
  8. Evidence of Social Security Number (SSN Card)
  9. Valid Permanent Resident Card
  10. Immigrant Visa
  11. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
  12. Non-Immigrant Visa
  13. Any government-issued identification regardless of expiration date
  14. Any non-governmental identification or combination of identifications that would permit a reasonable verification of identity

SCREENING

As part of the application, Stephens House LLC may obtain a consumer credit report and / or investigative Consumer Report which may include checking the Applicant’s credit, income, employment, rental history, criminal court records and may include information as to their character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and mode of living. Applicants have the right to request additional disclosures provided under Section 606 (b) of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and a written summary of their rights pursuant to Section 609(c). Applicants have the right to dispute the accuracy of the information provided to KBC Management, Inc by the screening company or the credit reporting agency as well as complete and accurate disclosure of the nature and scope of the investigation.

  • All credit and background checks are conducted by Bemrose Consulting, a third-party screening agency.
  • For any questions regarding the contents of the credit / background file, including potential disputes, Applicants can contact Insight Reporting directly at:

Bemrose Consulting

Address: 9115 SW Oleson Rd Suite 303, Portland, OR 97223

Phone: (503) 419-6539

Email: matt@bemroseconsulting.com

  • The staff members of this community are unable to discuss the contents of your report or make any changes.
  • The base price for the screening is $85.00 for financially responsible applicants, and $85.00 for cosigners. There is no charge for non-financially responsible applicants.
  • There may be additional fees incurred for the criminal investigation portion for Applicants who have lived outside of Oregon/Washington. Please contact Advanced Reporting for an estimate in advance if you have lived outside the Oregon/Washington area in the past year.

SUMMARY OF SCREENING RESULTS

Upon receipt of a completed application, the contents of the application are compared to the screening criteria by Stephens House LLC 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.

  1. APPROVED if Applicant meets all Criteria
  2. Additional Security Deposit, Qualified Roommate, or Qualified Cosigner will be required if Applicant meets all the Criteria expect The Credit Criteria or Rental History Criteria.
  3. A Qualified Roommate or Qualified Cosigner will be required if Applicant meets all the Criteria expect the Income Criteria to help supplement the income.


APPLICATION APPROVAL & REQUIREMENTS

If application is approved the Applicant(s) will be:

  1. Required to pay required funds and sign documents within 24 hours of approval notification.
  2. IF LEASE BEGINS WITHIN TWO DAYS: Applicant will need to sign a Lease Agreement, as well as all other move-in paperwork, and pay all deposits, fees and a full first month’s rent.
  3. IF LEASE BEGINS MORE THAN TWO DAYS IN THE FUTURE: Applicant will need to sign an Agreement to Enter into Lease Agreement and pay a $500 Execution Deposit within 24 hours of approval notification. The $500 will be applied towards the total move-in costs but shall be forfeited to Landlord as liquidated damages if the Tenant fails to pay the full move-in balance on the lease start date and/or fails to occupy the unit.
  4. Lease must begin NO MORE THAN TWO DAYS AFTER the day of notification of application approval.
  5. Provide proof of Renters Insurance that guarantees minimum of $100,000 Liability coverage. The Resident, or all Residents as a group if there are multiple Residents, will obtain and maintain insurance with liability coverages of at least the minimum amount listed. If there are multiple Residents, all must be named insureds on the policy, or at the Residents’ option, they may each obtain a policy limits in the minimum amount listed. Oregon law provides that no insurance may be required if: a) the household income of all of the Residents in the Unit is equal to or less than 50 percent of the area median income, adjusted for family size as measured up to a five-person family; or b) if the dwelling unit has been subsidized with public funds, not including housing choice vouchers.

INCOME CRITERIA

  1. Monthly income must be 2 times the monthly stated rent. Income sources shall include, but are not limited to wages, rent assistance (non-governmental only), and monetary public benefits and are based on the cumulative financial resources of all financially responsible applicants. Applicants failing to qualify under this section may, at discretion, be required to pay an additional security deposit in the amount of half a month’s rent. *If applicant will be using local, state or federal housing assistance as a source of income, “monthly stated rent” as used in this section means that portion of the rent that will be payable by applicant and excludes any portion of the rent that will be paid through the assistance program.
  2. Twelve months of verifiable employment will be required if used as a source of income.
  3. Applicants using self-employment income will have their records verified through the state corporation commission and will be required to submit records to verify their income, which records may include the previous year’s tax returns.

RENTAL HISTORY CRITERIA

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 security deposit not to exceed one and a half month’s rent and/or qualified co-signer or roommate.

The Application will be Denied for the following reasons:

  1. Indication from previous Landlord that they would not re-rent for a valid and/or non-discriminatory reason.
  2. Three or more notices for nonpayment of rent within one year.
  3. Three or more dishonored checks within one year.
  4. 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
  5. Rental history reflecting any past due and unpaid balances to a landlord 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.

EVICTION CRITERIA

Five years of eviction-free history is required except for general eviction judgements entered on claims that arose on or after April 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2022.

  • Eviction actions that were dismissed or resulted in a judgment for the Applicant will not be considered.
  • Eviction actions that were dismissed or resulted in a judgment for the applicant or when the applicant has provided supplemental evidence proving that they suffered a job loss due to no fault of their own will not be considered. If your eviction was related to a non-behavioral issue, you may provide supplemental evidence as instructed herein and that information will be considered.

CREDIT CRITERIA

Negative credit or adverse debt (not related to medical expenses) showing on consumer credit report may result in denial or require additional security deposits or acceptable cosigners.

  1. Ten or more unpaid collections will result in denial of the application.
  2. Three (3) or more accounts which have been ninety days or more past due may require additional security deposits or acceptable cosigners.
  3. Unpaid collections totaling more than $500 due may require additional security deposits or acceptable cosigners.
  4. Previously paid collections more than $500. due may require additional security deposits or acceptable cosigners.

BANKRUPTCIES

  1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcies filed within one (1) year of the application, or current pending bankruptcies will result in a denial of the application.
  2. Any negative or adverse debt showing on a consumer credit report within the last two (2) years (not related to educational or medical expenses) that is reported following a bankruptcy, or multiple bankruptcy filings will result in denial of the application.
  3. Applicants with a current Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be approved with an increased security deposit or qualified cosigned if the bankruptcy is over 3 years old, in good standing, and no negative or adverse debts have been established since.

CRIMINAL CONVICTION CRITERIA

Upon receipt of the Rental Application and screening fee, Stephens House LLC will conduct a search of public records to determine whether applicant 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), or pending charges that have not yet been adjudicated 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 was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a resident or the health, safety or right of peaceful enjoyment of the premises of residents, the landlord or the landlord’s agent. Stephens House LLC will not consider a previous arrest that did not result in a Conviction, was dismissed, expunged, voided or invalidated, determined or adjudicated through the juvenile justice system. Bemrose Consulting will also not consider convictions when Applicant is participating or has completed a diversion or deferral of judgment program or for crimes that are no longer illegal in the State of Oregon.

If applicant, or any proposed occupant, has a Conviction, or pending charges that have not yet been adjudicated in their past which would disqualify them under these criminal conviction criteria, and desires to submit additional information to Stephens House LLC along with the application so Stephens House LLC can engage in an individualized assessment (described below) upon receipt of the results of the public records search and prior to a denial, applicant should do so. Otherwise, applicant may request the review process after denial as set forth below, however, see item (c) under “Criminal Conviction Review Process” below regarding holding the unit. A single Conviction or pending charges that have not yet been adjudicated for any of the following, subject to the results of any review process, shall be grounds for denial of the Rental Application.

  1. Felonies involving murder, manslaughter, arson, rape, kidnapping, child or other violent/predatory sex crimes or manufacturing or distribution of a controlled substance.
  2. 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 was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a resident 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Misdemeanors not listed above involving: theft, criminal trespass, criminal mischief, property crimes or any other crime if the conduct for which applicant was convicted or is charged is of a nature that would adversely affect property of the landlord or a resident 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
  5. Conviction of any crime that requires lifetime registration as a sex offender, or for which applicant is currently registered as a sex offender, will result in denial.

Criminal Conviction Review Process

Stephens House LLC will engage in an individualized assessment of the applicant’s, or other proposed occupant’s, Convictions, or pending charges that have not yet been adjudicated if applicant has satisfied all other criteria (the denial was based solely on one or more Convictions) as required by local, state and federal law, and:

  1. Applicant has submitted supporting documentation prior to the public records search; or
  2. Applicant is denied based on failure to satisfy these criminal criteria and has submitted a written request along with supporting documentation. Supporting documentation may include:
  3. Letter from parole or probation office;
  4. letter from caseworker, therapist, counselor, etc.;
  5. Certifications of treatments/rehab programs;
  6. Letter from employer, teacher, etc.
  7. Certification of trainings completed;
  8. Proof of employment; and
  9. Statement of the applicant.

Stephens House LLC will also perform an individualized assessment if no supplemental information is received as required by any local, state or federal law.

Bemrose Consulting will:

  1. 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 resident history before and/or after the conviction or conduct; and evidence of rehabilitation efforts. Stephens House LLC may request additional information and may consider whether there have been multiple Convictions as part of this process.
  2. Notify applicant of the results of Stephens House LLC review within a reasonable time after receipt of all required information.
  3. 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’s written request (if made after denial) the unit was committed to another applicant.

ADDITIONAL GROUNDS FOR DENIAL

  1. Inaccurate, incomplete or falsified information will be grounds for denial of the application.
  2. Any applicant currently using illegal drugs will be denied. If approved for tenancy and later illegal drug use is confirmed, termination shall result,
  3. Any individual whose tenancy may constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of any individual, the premises, or the property of others, will be denied tenancy.

INDIVIDUALIZED ASSESSMENT

  1. If an application is denied the applicant may, within 30 days of denial, appeal the decision by requesting Stephens House LLC conduct an individual assessment of the application, taking into account information that the applicant has since provided as evidence that that they have mitigated or improved any of the barriers to approval
  2. Landlord shall make an individualized assessment and shall provide information to the applicant as to the final decision with an explanation as to why applicant is being denied, if that should still be the case.
  3. Applicants may provide evidence of mitigating circumstances and requests for reasonable accommodation/modification to the following location for review, consideration and response: Stephens House LLC, 13864 SE Claremont St Happy Valley OR 97086 host@oldesthouseinportland.com (503)407-5130
  4. Applicants are also prequalified for any rental opportunities at other Stephens House LLC properties for three months following the approval date.
  5. 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 Stephens House LLC approved application.
  6. If conditions have materially changed, Stephens House LLC may use those changes as the basis for a denial.


ADDITIONAL CITY OF PORTLAND DISCLOSURES 

  1. Right to Request a Modification or Accommodation Notice
  2. Statement of Applicant Rights and Responsibilities Notice