The Home Company — Rent Qualification Policy

Qualifications

Application & Screening Process

The application review process may take up to 72 business hours to complete once a completed application and all required documents are received. If all required documents are not received within 72 business hours of application submission, or if required applications from additional adult occupants or co-signers are not submitted, the application will be cancelled. Applicants may reapply at a later time by submitting a new application and fee.

• All applicants must provide a valid form of identification. Acceptable forms include a valid United States driver’s license or other United States government-issued identification.

• Every adult (18+) occupant and co-signer must submit a separate rental application.

• The application screening process includes:

  • Credit check

  • Criminal background check

  • Rental history verification

  • Employment and income verification

• Applications are not reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. The Home Company will review all applications received prior to application approval or lease signing. Multiple applications may be considered simultaneously until a lease has been executed. The most qualified applicant, based on the evaluation criteria outlined in this policy, will be selected for approval.

Move-In Requirements

Upon approval, applicants must complete all the following within 24 hours, unless otherwise agreed in writing:

• Sign the lease

• Pay the security deposit

• Provide proof of qualifying renter’s insurance

Three business days prior to move-in, tenants must:

• Pay all required move-in fees

• Provide proof of utility services established in their name

Move-in must occur within 30 days of the property's availability date or the application submission date, whichever is earlier. Preference is given to applicants ready to move within 14 days of application or availability date to reduce vacancy time.

Income & Employment

• Housing voucher participants are a valid form of income for homes located within the City of Tucson. Tenants who participate in a housing voucher program must submit a copy of their voucher at the time of application.

• Combined gross household income must equal at least 3x the monthly rent.

• Required documentation includes:

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  • Most recent 60 days of paystubs

  • Tenants may be asked to provide 30–60 days of bank statements to verify income if income verification documents do not reflect the gross income stated on the application.

• New employment must be verified with:

  • A signed offer letter on company letterhead

  • Tenants may be asked to provide 30–60 days of bank statements if additional income verification is needed.

• Self-employed applicants must provide:

  • Most recent federal tax return

  • 30–60 days of bank statements showing income deposits

  • A current profit and loss statement prepared by the applicant or their accountant

Rental Verification Form

Credit Requirements

• Average credit score for all applicants must be 620 or higher.

• Scores 580–619 may be eligible with a qualified co-signer.

• Cosigner requirements:

  • Credit score of 650+

  • Verifiable income of 2x the monthly rent

• All current or pending collection accounts owed to any utility companies must be paid in full, with no exception, and tenants must provide a receipt from the collection agency or utility company stating the collection fee has been paid or settled.

• Applicants with no credit history must provide 3–5 years of good rental history, which includes on-time rental payments on a property with rent within $250 of the monthly rent for the home they are applying for, or provide a qualified co-signer.

An unsatisfactory credit history can disqualify an applicant(s) from renting with The Home Company. In addition to the score, an unsatisfactory credit history is one that reflects:

• Past or current bad debts

• Late payments or unpaid bills

• Liens, judgments, or undischarged bankruptcies (i.e., bankruptcies that are still open or have not been officially completed by the court)

If an applicant is rejected due to poor credit history, they will be notified by email and provided the name, address, and telephone number of the credit reporting agency that furnished the credit information, as required by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Applicants are encouraged to obtain a copy of their credit report, dispute any incorrect information, and reapply after corrections are made.

The Home Company reports rent payment history to Experian RentBureau.

Rental History

We encourage all applicants to complete and submit a rental verification form or letter of recommendation from their previous landlord(s) covering the last 3–5 years. Applicants should submit the completed forms with their application. The rental verification form is available on our website and must be signed by the landlord. Verification from family members is not an acceptable form of rental verification.

Failure to obtain rental verification can delay or result in the denial of an application. If we are unable to obtain valid rental history information within 72 business hours of an application being submitted, the application will be cancelled. The applicant may request to reactivate their application within 15 days if rental verification is obtained by submitting a written request to leasing@homecotucson.com.

Rental Verification Form

Applicants may be denied for:

• Failure to provide proof that any debt owed to a previous landlord has been satisfied

• Unauthorized pets or occupants

• Smoking on the property

• Not taking good care of the property

• Breaking a previous lease

• Evictions within the last 7 years

• Lease violations, abandonment, or late payments

• Undisclosed or unverifiable rental history

• No verifiable rental history or history of homeownership without a qualified co-signer

Homeowners: Provide verification of ownership and mortgage status. If you have no verifiable rental history due to owning a home, please provide a written statement detailing your homeownership history and the current status of your mortgage(s). This may include the address of the property(ies), dates of ownership, lender(s), payment status, and whether the property is still owned or has been sold.

No verifiable rental history or history of homeownership: A co-signer will be required.

Smoking Policy

• Smoking and vaping of any substance are prohibited anywhere on the premises, including indoors, driveway, garages, patios, and yards.

Animal Policy

• Animals are subject to owner approval and screening through PetScreening.com.

• All applicants, including those without pets, must submit a PetScreening profile. Applicants who do not have pets must complete a "no pet" profile through the platform.

• Maximum of 2 approved pets, unless stated otherwise.

• Animals must be at least 1 year old.

• If approved:

  • $250 non-refundable pet fee per animal

  • Monthly pet rent = 1.5% of monthly rent per animal

• Unauthorized animals:

  • $250/month per animal, charged retroactively to lease start

• Service and emotional support animals are not pets and must be screened through PetScreening for legal validation. Qualified service and emotional support animals are not subject to pet fees or monthly pet rent.

Renter’s Insurance Requirement

All tenants must maintain renters insurance throughout the lease with:

• $20,000 personal property coverage

• $100,000 liability coverage (must include fire, smoke, explosion, sewer backup, and water damage)

• $10,000 bodily injury coverage

• All adult tenants listed as insured

• The property address listed on the policy

• The Home Company and Landlord listed as “Additional Insured” (not "Additional Interest")

All insurance documents must be uploaded to the tenant portal and approved at least 24 hours before move-in.

Insurance (LLIP) – Lessor’s Legal Liability Insurance Policy

If a tenant does not provide proof of a qualifying renters insurance policy before lease signing or fails to maintain it during the lease term, The Home Company will automatically enroll the tenant in the Lessor’s Legal Liability Insurance Policy (LLIP).

LLIP Monthly Cost:

• $10.50 – Insurance premium (includes state taxes/fees)

• $4.50 – Administrative fee (retained by The Home Company)

• Total: $15.00 per month

What LLIP Covers:

• Damage caused by the tenant to the landlord’s property from:

  • Fire

  • Smoke

  • Water damage

  • Sewer or drain backup

  • Explosion

What LLIP Does Not Cover:

• Tenant’s personal belongings or contents

• Personal liability for injury to others

• Medical or relocation expenses

LLIP is not a substitute for renters insurance. It does not protect tenant property or provide coverage for temporary housing or liability claims. Tenants will not be reimbursed by LLIP for loss or damage to their personal items.

Criminal History

Applicants may submit a written statement detailing their criminal history to be reviewed along with their application if they request additional consideration.

• Applicants may be denied for:

  • Felony convictions within the last 10 years related to property damage, illegal substance manufacturing or distribution, or assault

  • Other criminal activity that may pose a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of the community

  • Physical injury to others

  • Threats of harm or use of weapons

  • Felony or misdemeanor drug-related offenses

  • Theft or damage to property

• Charges must be convictions or pending court cases. Arrests alone are not grounds for denial.

Utilities

• Tenants are responsible for placing utilities in their name.

• $50 bookkeeping fee for failure to set up utilities within 7 days of move-in.

Housing Vouchers

• Housing vouchers will be considered for properties located in the City of Tucson.

Fraud & Incomplete Applications

• Providing false or incomplete information (e.g., income, ID, rental history) will result in denial and forfeiture of all fees paid.

Application Submission

The Home Company is not responsible for fraudulent activity, including online scams or false listings. Prospective applicants should only rely on information and applications submitted through www.homecotucson.com.

• Only applications submitted via www.homecotucson.com will be accepted.

• The Home Company is not responsible for refunds of applications submitted through third-party sites (e.g., Zillow).

Representation

The Home Company is an Equal Opportunity Housing provider. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin in accordance with the Fair Housing Act.

The Home Company, LLC is the authorized agent of the Landlord and represents the Landlord’s interests in all rental matters.

Rental Verification Form