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Thank you for your interest in Tacoma Commons.  Tacoma Commons, LLC is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider. We do not discriminate against any person based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, or any other protected class status. We also process all applications in a fair, lawful and consistent manner. Please read through the following criteria before submitting an application:  

·  All applicants 18 years and older shall submit a completed application that is legible, verifiable, and accurate.

·  Demeanor and behavior of applicants during the application process will be considered. The landlord reserves the right to request the presence of all occupants for the application interview.

·  Any individual whose tenancy may constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of any individual, the complex or the property of others, will be denied.

·  Any applicant currently using illegal drugs will be denied. If approved for residency and later illegal drug use is confirmed, eviction will result.

·  Renter’s Insurance is required with policy limits of at least $100,000.00 (except when applicant legally qualifies for exemption).

APPLICATION PROCESS: Select your desired unit, complete the application and pay your non-refundable application screening fee. Your application may take up to six (6) business days to process, but may take longer if the provided information is difficult to verify, or there are unanticipated delays. An incomplete application may not be processed. Applicants are encouraged to submit supplemental evidence that may influence application processing at the time of submission. During the screening process, we may use a tenant screening company, credit reports, public records or criminal records, and we may contact employers, landlords or other references. We may verify your income and your references provided in your application. 

APPROVAL POLICY: If Applicant(s) are fully approved, then standard deposits and/or fees will apply. If Applicant(s) are approved with conditions, then Applicants are given the option to avoid a denial by providing a local co- signer (a guarantor), who must also qualify via application. 

DENIAL POLICY: Applicants then have the right to correct, refute or explain the accuracy of any information provided to the Owner/Agent by a screening service or credit reporting agency within 30 days following the denial of an application. An appeal request may be submitted to the landlord with any additional supplemental evidence that would mitigate the factors that contributed to the denial. If the application is denied due to unfavorable information received during the screening process, Applicants may contact also the screening company that processed the application. 

OCCUPANCY POLICY: Occupancy is based on the number of bedrooms in a unit. A bedroom is defined as a space within the premises that is used primarily for sleeping purposes, contains at least 70 square feet, and is configured so as to take the need for a fire exit into account. Two persons are allowed per bedroom, plus one additional occupant, if required by applicable law. Exceptions may be made to this policy, if the law so requires. 

Non Applicant Tenants an individual who does not wish to include their income or credit history as a part of the evaluation of eligibility for the rental unit must select No on the application for the financially responsible question. Per PCC 30.010.086 an applicant who declines financial responsibility will not have their income or credit history considered and will be screened for criminal criteria only. 

IDENTIFICATION: Each applicant will be required to submit a form of identification. Acceptable forms of picture identification may include: state-issued drivers’ license, identification card, a passport, a visa ,a Tribal ID or other non governmental identification that would permit a reasonable verification of identity. Acceptable forms of positive identification, other than picture ID, include evidence of a social security card, individual tax payer identification number, visa or legal alien documentation. Non-US citizens must show proof of legal status, student verification, VISA’s or immigration documents. The information set forth in such identification will be inserted in the application and will be used to complete the screening process. 

SCREENING FEE: A non-refundable screening fee of $55.00 must be paid to Avail/TransUnion for each adult applicant. This charge is non-refundable. 

COMPLETENESS: Each Applicant must submit an application. Incomplete, inaccurate or falsified information will be grounds for denying your application. If we later discover that you submitted substantially false information regarding a criminal conviction, after you become our tenant, we may terminate your tenancy. 

SCREENING CRITERIA: All applications are submitted through Avail/TransUnion.  The criteria are as follows:

Criminal Criteria

·  Upon receipt of the rental application and screening fee, Owner/Agent will conduct a search of public records to determine whether the applicant or any proposed tenant has charges pending for, been convicted of, or pled guilty or no context to, any: 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 the applicant 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.

·  A single conviction, guilty plea, no contest plea or pending charge for any of the following shall be grounds for denial of the rental application. If there are multiple convictions, guilty pleas or no contest pleas on the applicant’s record, Owner/Agent may increase the number of years by adding together the years in each applicable category. Owner/Agent will not consider expunged records.

·  Murder, manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, aggravated vehicle manslaughter, class A felonies involving arson, rape, kidnapping, child sex crimes, where the date of disposition, release or parole has occurred in the last 20 years.

·  Class A felonies not included above for drug-related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, financial fraud crimes, burglary, where the date of disposition, release or parole has occurred in the last 10 years.

·  Class B felony for drug-related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, financial fraud crimes, aggravated theft, where the date of disposition, release or parole has occurred in the last 7 years.

·  Class C felony for drug-related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, financial fraud crimes, burglary, theft, criminal mischief, coercion, animal abuse, where the date of disposition, release or parole has occurred in the last 5 years.

·  Class A misdemeanor for drug-related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, financial fraud crimes, criminal impersonation, violation of a restraining order, criminal mischief, stalking, disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of burglary tools, where the date of disposition, release or parole has occurred in the last 3 years.

·  Class B misdemeanor for drug-related crimes, person crimes, sex offenses, financial fraud crimes, disorderly conduct, where the date of disposition, release or parole has occurred within the last 18 months.

Criminal Conviction Review

·  Upon receipt of a request from an applicant in regards to a denial or possible denial of application due to criminal conviction, Landlord shall engage in an individualized assessment of the applicant(s) conviction(s).

·  Applicants may provide supporting documentation with the request including, but not limited to:

1.  Letters from parole, probation, caseworkers, therapists, counselors, employers and/or teachers

2.  Certification of completion of treatment, trainings and/or rehabilitation programs.

3.  Proof of employment.

4.  Statement from applicant.

·  Landlord shall consider the aforementioned evidence and any mitigating factors including the facts or circumstances surrounding the conviction, age of the applicant at time of conviction, amount of time since conviction, release from incarceration, probation or parole, rental history, evidence of rehabilitation efforts, nature of crime(s) committed and number of crimes committed. Landlord may ask for additional information in aid of determination.

·  Landlord shall inform the applicant of any results or determinations of the appeal within two weeks of determination.

·  Landlord shall hold the unit for a reasonable amount of time after receipt of complete appeal from Tenant while Landlord makes a determination (unless the unit has already been promised to another applicant previously).

·  Applicants are welcome to provide supplemental evidence to mitigate potentially negative screening result.

Income **

·  Applicant(s) needs demonstrate a monthly gross income of no less than 2.5 times the amount of the Rent for the Dwelling Unit when the monthly Rent amount is below the maximum monthly rent for a household earning less than 80 percent of the median household as published annually by the Portland Housing Bureau.

·  Applicant(s) needs demonstrate a monthly gross income of no less than 2 times the amount of the Rent for the Dwelling Unit when the monthly Rent amount is at or above the maximum of the median household income as published by the Portland Housing Bureau as described above.

·  Income sources may include wages, rent assistance (non-governmental) and monetary public benefits.

Debts (This section does not apply to non-applicant tenants) 

·  Debt to income ratio will be considered.

·  Negative or adverse debt showing on consumer credit report may require additional security deposits.

·  Three or more unpaid collections (not related to medical or student loan expense) may require additional security deposits.

·  Any monies owed directly or through a collection agency to another Apartment complex, Property Management Company, or Landlord may result in denial of application.

Rental History

·  Applicant must provide verifiable proof of 12 months contractual rental history or home ownership. If unable to do so, additional security deposit may be required.

·  Must have five (5) years eviction free history.

·  No more than two 72 hour notices within one year.

·  No more than two dishonored checks within one year.

·  No more than three late payments within one year.

·  Rental history reflecting past due, unpaid rent or damages may result in denial of application.

Process: Once the above criteria are reviewed and evaluated, the following actions will be recommended:

Accepted. The applicant will be accepted with the standard deposits.
Accepted with Conditions. Depending on negative or adverse debt, the applicant may be given the option to add a guarantor. 

Denied. The application will not be accepted but the applicant will have the option to provide a co-signer. The applicant will be provided with contact information for the third-party screening company that provided the consumer information. 

More information is available from the City of Portland Statement of Applicant Rights: portland.gov/rso/application-screening

Rev.7/15/2021