Rental Criteria – Apartments
DFW Property Management.com is committed to Equal Housing Opportunity. We comply with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Texas law, and all local housing laws. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, familial status, national origin, or age.
This page explains how we evaluate applications for apartments and certain small multifamily buildings when the listing indicates that these criteria apply. If you are applying for a single-family home, please use our Single-Family Homes criteria.
Scope of this page
This page applies to purpose-built apartments and selected small multifamily properties as stated on each listing. If a listing does not say these criteria apply, see the Single-Family Homes criteria.
Quick eligibility snapshot
Household gross income ≥ 3× monthly rent (2.5× with an approved guarantor).
Preferred FICO 600+; tiered options below 600; <480 not approved.
12+ months of verifiable rental history = standard deposit; 0–11 months/no history = 1.5× deposit or guarantor or 3–6 months’ advance rent.
Applicants without SSN/ITIN may qualify via guarantor or advance rent.
No smoking or vaping on the premises.
Pets may be allowed case-by-case (fees/restrictions apply).
Application fees are non-refundable.
We begin screening only after we receive a complete application from every adult (18+) in the household:
Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport).
Three recent pay stubs that match deposits on bank statements (if using a guarantor/advance-rent path, see below).
Prior landlord contact for addresses (professional sources preferred).
$65 application fee per adult. Application fees are non-refundable.
We evaluate applications as one household. If any co-applicant does not qualify (or a required guarantor is not approved), the household is denied.
Detailed criteria
Identification
Provide a valid, current government-issued photo ID. An SSN or ITIN (or acceptable screening alternative) allows standard screening. If you do not yet have SSN/ITIN, see “Applicants without SSN/ITIN” below; we will not order empty reports.
Income & employment
Household gross monthly income must be at least 3× the monthly rent (or 2.5× with an approved guarantor). Provide three recent pay stubs that match deposits on your bank statements; we verify with employer/HR.
Income verification & anti-fraud (pay stub ↔ bank deposit match)
Pay-stub amounts should align with bank deposits (minor differences for deductions are fine).
Wallet-app screenshots (CashApp/Venmo/Zelle/PayPal) are not accepted as primary proof.
Paper-check wages: provide canceled checks and bank statements showing those deposits.
Self-employed / 1099 must show net income (gross deposits alone aren’t enough). Provide one of:
Two years of federal tax returns (Form 1040 with all schedules), or
CPA-prepared 12-month Profit & Loss plus six months of business bank statements, or
Two years of 1099s plus six months of bank statements showing matching deposits.
Credit history (household rule + tiers)
We review full credit profiles. We do not average scores—the lowest score among adult applicants sets the household’s tier (unless a qualified guarantor is approved).
Apartment credit tiers
600+ → standard deposit.
550–599 → 1.25× deposit or qualified guarantor.
520–549 → 1.5× deposit or qualified guarantor (no housing-related derogatories).
480–519 → 2.0× deposit or qualified guarantor or 3–6 months’ advance rent (no housing derogatories).
<480 → not approved.
Housing-related derogatories = open landlord/utility collections, unpaid broken leases, or eviction judgments. These must be paid or on a written plan to qualify at any tier.
Guarantor requirements
U.S.-based; FICO ≥ 680; verifiable income ≥ 5× monthly rent; no housing derogatories or recent bankruptcies; must sign our Guaranty of Lease. With an approved guarantor, tenants typically pay the standard deposit unless a listing specifies otherwise.
Rental history & deposit mapping
Professional landlord history is preferred, but first-time renters can still qualify via guarantor or advance-rent options.
Length of verifiable rental history → required path (subject to credit tier)
12+ months positive, verifiable rental history → standard deposit
0–11 months or no prior rental history → choose one: 1.5× deposit, or qualified guarantor, or 3–6 months’ advance rent (listing will state the exact amount)
How we verify rental history (and handle “homestead” flags)
Professional landlords (apartments/PM companies): verified via company website/lease contacts; tenant ledger preferred.
Private owners: provide at least two of—full signed lease (all pages); 6–12 months of bank statements or canceled checks showing rent paid to the owner; move-in/move-out inspection or deposit receipt.
If county records show the property as homestead during your tenancy, we treat it as a verification flag and require stronger proof and an owner-of-record match.
If we cannot verify rental history, we treat it as no history and apply the paths above.
Falsified information results in automatic denial.
Homeownership in lieu of rental history
If you owned your home within the past 2–5 years, we treat that as positive housing history when you provide:
Recorded deed/title or closing disclosure/settlement statement, and
12–24 months of mortgage statements showing the account in good standing (or a lien release/payoff letter if paid off), and
Recent property-tax and homeowners-insurance declarations (and HOA statement if applicable).
Homeownership verifies housing responsibility, not income.
Criminal history (individualized review)
We consider convictions only (not arrests) and evaluate nature, severity, and time elapsed. Evidence of rehabilitation and recent positive housing history is considered.
Typical look-backs: up to 7 years for violent/person crimes, arson, robbery, burglary of habitation; up to 5 years for non-violent felonies involving property/fraud/drug distribution or manufacture; up to 3 years for misdemeanors involving violence, property damage, or drug distribution. Applicants required to register as sex offenders are not eligible.
Occupancy
Guideline: two persons per bedroom, plus one additional occupant, subject to unit size/configuration and local codes.
Smoking & vaping
No smoking or vaping anywhere on the premises (inside or outside).
Application completeness & accuracy
Every adult (18+) must submit a complete application with ID, required documents, and the fee before we begin processing. We evaluate the household together; if any co-applicant fails to qualify (or no guarantor is approved where required), the household is denied. Incomplete, false, or unverifiable information—including altered pay stubs, unverifiable employment, or friends/relatives posing as landlords—results in automatic denial.
Fees, deposits & move-in timing
Application fee: $65 per adult. Application fees are non-refundable.
Administrative fee: $150 per lease, due at signing.
Security deposit: due within two (2) business days of approval.
First month’s rent: due at move-in. If the lease starts mid-month, the first payment is a full month and the second month is prorated.
Initial payment method: For the items above (first month’s rent, security deposit, any non-refundable pet fees, and the administrative fee), payment must be made by cashier’s check. We do not accept online payments, money orders, personal checks, cash, or other forms for initial move-in funds. Starting with the second month, rent may be paid online through the AppFolio Resident Portal (the portal may charge transaction fees).
Deposit Determination Rule (no stacking): Your required security deposit is the higher of (a) your credit-tier requirement or (b) your rental-history requirement. We do not add them together. If you choose guarantor or advance-rent in lieu of a higher deposit, your approval letter will state the final amounts due.
Holding units: We can usually hold a unit up to 14 days from approval or vacancy (whichever is later), subject to owner discretion. If a hold extends beyond 14 days, rent may begin on day 15.
Applicants without SSN/ITIN (international/new-to-U.S.)
If you do not yet have an SSN/ITIN, we cannot run standard credit/background databases. You may qualify by either:
Providing a qualified U.S. guarantor, or
Paying 3–6 months’ advance rent (plus the standard deposit).
Provide valid government photo ID (e.g., passport/visa). We will not order empty reports.
FAQs
Do you accept guarantors?
Yes—see requirements above.
No SSN/ITIN yet?
Use a qualified guarantor or 3–6 months’ advance rent.
How are multiple applications handled?
We lease to the most qualified applicant based on this page and readiness to move.
Pets & assistance animals
Pet rules, fees, restrictions, and documentation steps are published at Pet Criteria. Assistance animals (service animals and ESAs) are not pets and are accepted without pet fees or pet rent, consistent with applicable law.
Legal notices & accommodations
If we deny or conditionally approve based on a consumer report, we will provide an adverse-action notice with the reporting agency’s details and your rights to a free copy and to dispute inaccuracies. By applying, you acknowledge you have reviewed our tenant selection criteria and that application fees are non-refundable.
Questions or requests for accommodation: (682) 200-6700.
Last updated: September 22, 2025