Tenant Selection Criteria

Please read below before submitting an application.

Echo Real Estate Services, LLC (The Company) reserves the right to request additional information and documentation related to the application process. All applicants must sign and submit this Tenant Selection Criteria and Application Instructions form with the application.

PURSUANT TO TEXAS PROPERTY CODE SECTION 92.3515, THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTE GROUNDS UPON WHICH THE LANDLORD WILL BE BASING THE DECISION TO LEASE A PROPERTY TO THE APPLICANT(S). BASED ON THE INFORMATION THE APPLICANT PROVIDES, THE LANDLORD MAY DENY THE APPLICATION OR MAY TAKE OTHER ADVERSE ACTIONS AGAINST THE APPLICANT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: REQUIRING A LEASE GUARANTOR (CO-SIGNER) ON THE LEASE, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL DEPOSIT(S), OR INCREASING MONTHLY RENT TO A HIGHER AMOUNT THAN ADVERTISED.

Applicant understands and agrees that the application fee paid to process the application is non-refundable once payment has been submitted with the application.

1.      ALL APPLICANTS 18 YEARS OLD AND OLDER ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A SEPARATE APPLICATION that is FULLY completed, dated, and signed. Full names of ALL the occupants, ALL animals, and ALL vehicles must be listed on the application. Please fill in all the blanks with the correct information, or N/A if it does not apply. We must have ALL EMAILS, phone numbers, and COMPLETE addresses, including zip codes. Reports supplied by Applicant(s) will not be accepted.

2.      APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE: A $60.00 NON-REFUNDABLE processing fee is charged for each application. The processing fee must be submitted together with the online application. APPLICATION(S) WILL NOT BE PROCESSED WITHOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESSING FEE. The Property Management platform we use for all online payments (including all payments throughout your lease term, and any lease extensions) charges additional third-party surcharge fees per transaction. Fees are based on the type of payment used. Please refer to FAQs for more information.

3.      ADMINISTRATIVE FEE: Once the application is approved by the Landlord, you are required to submit a NON-REFUNDABLE Administrative Fee of $175.00 within 24 hours of approval and prior to the Residential Lease Agreement being sent to you for signature. The Property Management platform we use for all online payments (including all payments throughout your lease term, and any lease extensions) charges additional third-party surcharge fees per transaction. Fees are based on the type of payment used. Please refer to FAQs for more information.

4.      IDENTIFICATION: A valid, current Government-issued photo ID is required. A Social Security Card will be requested.

5.      EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: Employment will be verified for all Applicant(s). TWO (2) YEARS of verifiable work history is required. If transferring from outside of the area, a letter of transfer on company letterhead containing salary and hire/start date is required.

Employed Applicant(s) are required to provide the last two most recent company payroll statements identifying the employee, year-to-date pay, and pay period dates. Reliable documentation, EMAILS, and telephone numbers for all income sources must be provided.

Self-employed and/or Applicant(s) paid 1099 as a contractor, are required to produce TWO YEARS (2) of signed tax returns including the Profit & Loss form and the previous SIX (6) MONTHS of bank statements showing the account holder's name and all deposit lines. If Applicant has ownership in a company they are using for an income source to qualify, Applicant is considered self-employed.

  Unemployed Applicant(s) must provide proof of income. See #7 below for additional information.

6.      INCOME REQUIREMENTS: Applicant(s) must have a combined gross income of at least THREE (3) TIMES the monthly rental amount. UNVERIFIABLE INCOME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. The Landlord may accept Lease Guarantor in lieu of acceptable credit, income, or Landlord history. A Lease Guarantor must complete an application and be qualified per this Tenant Selection Criteria to qualify as a Lease Guarantor but has to have a combined growth income of at least FOUR (4) TIMES the monthly rental amount. 700 Credit Score is recommended for both the Applicant(s) and Guarantor Applicant.

7.      ADDITIONAL INCOME SOURCE REQUIREMENTS: All sources of other income must be verifiable if needed to qualify for an available property. This includes Disability Assistance, Child Support, Unemployment, and Social Security Assistance. Please include verifiable documents that may apply to your specific income source. UNVERIFIABLE INCOME WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

8.      CRIMINAL HISTORY SCREENING: Landlord will obtain a criminal history check on all persons over the age of 18 years old, listed on the application to lease the property or occupy the property. The landlord's decision to lease the property to the Applicant(s) may be influenced by criminal activity in accordance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development guidelines. Criminal history checks include Nationwide Criminal, Sex Offender, and Global Homeland Security searches.

9.      RENTAL HISTORY VERIFICATION: Current and previous rental history must be verified for a minimum of the last TWENTY-FOUR (24) MONTHS WITH NO INTERRUPTIONS. References must confirm timely payments, required notice of intent to vacate, no complaints regarding disturbances or illegal activities, no NSF checks, no damage to previous rental units, and no failure to leave the premises clean and without damage at the time of lease termination. ANY APPLICANTS WITH A HISTORY OF EVICTION ACTIONS OR MONIES OWED TO A PREVIOUS/CURRENT LANDLORD WILL BE DECLINED. A Nationwide Eviction Search will be completed on all Applicants.

10.  OCCUPANCY POLICY: Our occupancy policy is as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, in addition to state and local law. The move in date must be within 14 days from listed available date and completed during company business hours.

11.  PROHIBITIONS: Applicant(s) / Tenant(s) may not permit any part of the Property to be used for: (1) any activity which is a nuisance, offensive, noisy, or dangerous; (2) the repair of any vehicle; (3) ANY BUSINESS OF ANY TYPE, including but not limited to child care; (4) any activity which violates any zoning ordinance, owners’ association rule, or restrictive covenant; (5) any illegal or unlawful activity; (6) Smoking or vaping in any part of the property, including the garage; or (7) activity that obstructs, interferes with or infringes on the rights of other persons near the Property.

12.  ANIMAL(S): If an animal is approved, a $500.00 refundable animal deposit per animal is required, along with monthly Pet Rent of $25 per animal. Animal Fees and deposits are determined by the advertised rate, set by the individual Landlord or conditional approval. Animal deposits are required within 24 hours of application approval.

13.  SECURITY DEPOSIT: Applicant(s) are required to pay a security deposit within 24 hours of application approval. The amount of a security deposit will be based upon all information collected and will be equal to no less than ONE (1) month's rent.

14.  EXCEPTIONS TO TENANT SELECTION CRITERIA: Any requests for exceptions to our Tenant Selection Criteria must be submitted to our office in writing for the Landlord’s consideration. If approval is given for such exceptions, compensating factors such as an additional security deposit, Lease Guarantor, and/or additional advance rent payments may be required.

15.  RISK ASSESSMENT: “A” rated application is an excellent rating in all categories: credit history, criminal history, employment history/verification, and rental/mortgage history. “B” & “C” rated applications are normally a result of poor credit, while other areas are good. The Landlord may require a double or triple security deposit, Lease Guarantor, and/or additional advance rent payments for their approval of "B" & "C" rated applications. The owner/landlord of the property MUST approve all "B" & "C" rated applications.

16.  DISCLOSURES: All information collected for the approval or denial of this application is considered confidential in nature and is for company use only. An Applicant's Leasing Agent is not authorized to negotiate on behalf of Echo Real Estate Services. Verbal representations are non-binding.

If there is more than one (1) Applicant applying for the property, we will request a designated point of contact to directly communicate with throughout the process and notify them of the approval or denial.

In the event that an Applicant is denied, an Adverse Action Letter will be emailed to the applicant. If an application is denied or another adverse action is taken based upon information obtained from an Applicant’s rental history, employment history, credit, criminal, and/or eviction reports, the Applicant will be notified. The applicant will then be able to contact the consumer credit reporting agency for additional details for report findings.

Echo Real Estate Services is the sole managing agent for separate, individual Landlords; therefore, policies at each property may vary depending on the individual Landlord’s preference.

Echo Real Estate Services does business in accordance with the Fair Housing Act and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, creed, religion, age, familial status, disability, color, national origin, or any other protected basis.

17.  AUTHORIZATION: Applicant authorizes Landlord and Landlord's agent, at any time before, during, or after any tenancy, to: (1) Obtain a copy of Applicant's credit report; (2) Obtain a national criminal, sex offender, and global homeland security background check related to Applicant and any Occupant; (3) Obtain a national eviction report; and (3) Verify any rental or employment history or verify any other information related to this application with persons knowledgeable of such information.

18.  NOTICE OF LANDLORD’S RIGHT TO CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PROPERTY: Unless Landlord and Applicant enter into a separate written agreement, the Property remains on the market until a lease is signed by all parties and all required money is paid, and Landlord may continue to show the Property to other prospective tenants and accept another offer. 

19.  PRIVACY POLICY: Landlord's Agent or Property Manager maintains a privacy policy that is available upon request.

20.  FINANCIAL: Applicant submits a NON-REFUNDABLE Application Processing Fee of $60 to Echo Real Estate Services for processing and reviewing this application. All deposits/fees, pro-rated rent, and the first month’s rent are required to be paid electronically (ACH, Credit Card, and Zelle for some payments depending on limits, we do not accept partial payments ), additional fees apply to ACH and Credit Card payments. This includes animal deposits and pool/spa deposits (if applicable). All deposits, pro-rated rent, first month’s rent, and utility order confirmations are due to our office prior to move-in.

Approved Applicant(s) will submit a single NON-REFUNDABLE Administrative Fee of $175.00 within 24 hours of approval and prior to the Residential Lease Agreement being sent to you for signatures.

Approved Applicant(s) will be required to pay deposit(s) within 24 hours of application approval, and prior to the Residential Lease Agreement being sent to you for signatures. 

Approved Applicant(s) will be required to pay the first full month’s rent, pre-paid rent, pet rent, etc. within 24 hours of signing the Residential Lease Agreement. The Residential Lease Agreement must be executed within 24 hours of receipt. We will not execute the Lease Agreement until all the required move-in funds are received. Failure to sign the lease and pay all move-in funds within 24 hours of your application approval is grounds for the landlord to withdraw the approval of the application. The property will continue to be available to prospective applicants, and new applications will continue to be presented to the landlord until the lease is fully executed, and all move-in funds are received.

Our properties are managed through the Property Management platform Innago and online payments through the tenant portal are required. Ongoing payments under the lease (monthly rent payments, monthly pet rent payments, etc.) incur an ACH fee of $2 per transaction. Please refer to FAQs for more information.

  21. RENTERS’ INSURANCE: You will be required to have Liability Insurance of at least $100,000 throughout the duration of your lease contract. You are in violation of the lease agreement if coverage is not in place during the entire term of the lease agreement 

     22.  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND REPRESENTATION:

• Signing this application indicates that Applicant has had the opportunity to review Echo Real Estate Services’ TENANT SELECTION CRITERIA. The TENANT SELECTION CRITERIA includes factors such as criminal history, credit history, current income, and rental history.

• Applicant understands that providing inaccurate or incomplete information is grounds for rejection of this application and forfeiture of any application fee and may be grounds to declare Applicant in breach of any lease the Applicant may sign.

• Applicant understands that multiple applications may be taken for the same property, and the most qualified applicant will be selected.

• Applicant represents that the statements in this application are true and complete.

• Per the Uniform Electronics Transaction Act (UETA), I understand that by signing or typing below qualifies as my legally binding signature.

  AFFIRMATION BY APPLICANT:

By submitting your online application and application fee, you are confirming you have read the TENANT SELECTION CRITERIA Echo Real Estate Services listed above, and understand that all terms, conditions, and any/all charges due will apply.

Applicant Printed Name:_____________________________________________________________________

Applicant Signature:__________________________________________Date:_____________________