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Property management glossary
Leasing & residents

Tenant screening

Plain-English definition

A documented process for evaluating a rental applicant against lawful, written criteria.

What tenant screening means in practice

Screening may include identity, income, rental history, credit, and other permitted information. Owners should obtain authorization, use consistent criteria, protect sensitive data, and follow consumer-reporting and fair-housing requirements.

Example

The manager verifies identity and income, orders an authorized report, checks rental history, and records the decision against the same criteria used for every applicant.

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This glossary is educational and not legal, tax, lending, or accounting advice. Rules and terminology can vary by jurisdiction and professional context.