Ask An Agent: What are the requirements to rent a home?

Right now it's the busy time of year for real estate agents...every one wants to move and settle in by the time school starts! We're helping people buy, sell, and rent like crazy right now.

We get a lot of people asking us what a landlord is looking for. In Texas, there are several criteria that can be used to screen a tenant, some of them being:

1. Credit
2. Past evictions and/or landlord collections
3. Job instability
4. Income
5. Criminal background

Issues with one of the above does NOT usually disqualify you, but be prepared to have a co-signor or put down extra deposit.

Also note that a landlord is supposed to provide their tenant selection criteria in writing so you decided you qualify before putting in your application and application fee. You can find an example of tenant selection criteria here.

You CANNOT be denied based on race, color, creed, national origin, religion, familial status, sex, or disability because of the Fair Housing Act. Additional protections can be available depending on your city.