How Deca Property Management Screens Residents to Protect Your St. Louis Investment

Choosing the right residents is one of the most important steps in maximizing your property’s performance. At Deca Property Management, we take this responsibility seriously. Our thorough resident screening process and dedicated team help increase on-time rent payments, lease compliance, and long-term resident stability — all of which protect your investment and give you peace of mind.

Here’s how we help owners reduce the risk of costly turnover, non-payment, and eviction by placing thoroughly vetted, qualified residents in your properties.

 

1. Communicating Clear Rental Criteria

We start by setting clear expectations. Our well-developed rental criteria remove ambiguity and help ensure consistency in how applicants are screened.

Our criteria include:

• • Background check thresholds
  • Credit history standards
  • Income requirements
  • Rental history guidelines

We communicate these standards:

• • When a prospective resident first contacts our office
  • Before and during property showings
  • On our website, where all prospects are directed before applying

Clear communication reduces misunderstandings and supports a smooth leasing experience for both residents and property owners.

 

2. Adhering to Fair Housing Laws

All Deca Property Management staff are trained and certified in Fair Housing regulations. We strictly follow laws that prohibit discrimination based on:

• • Race or color
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • National origin
  • Ancestry
  • Familial status
  • Disability

Our team applies the same standards to every applicant, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations — and protecting our owners from legal risk.

 

3. Conducting Thorough Screenings

Our dedicated Application Specialist processed 193 applications in Q1 2025, spending over 380 hours screening prospective residents — so you don’t have to.

Here’s what we evaluate:

✔ Background Checks

We prioritize community and resident safety. Applicants with serious offenses that violate our criteria are denied. Each applicant undergoes:

• • A national background check
  • A review of Missouri Case Net for criminal charges

✔ Credit History

We assess financial responsibility through:

• • TransUnion credit reports
  • Review of outstanding debts, particularly to utility providers, landlords, or real estate companies

Applicants with low or no credit history may be offered the option to:

• • Provide a qualified co-signer
  • Pay a credit guarantee fee (based on score)

✔ Income Verification

We verify that applicants can comfortably afford rent by reviewing:

• • Bank-verified payroll
  • Paychecks
  • Tax returns
  • Social Security, disability, housing assistance, or other income documents

Applicants not meeting income requirements may qualify with a co-signer.

✔ Rental History

Past behavior is a strong predictor of future performance. We:

• • Contact current and previous landlords to obtain rental verification
  • Review national eviction records and Missouri Case Net for landlord-tenant disputes

 

Q1 2025 Application Summary

Approximately 6 out of 10 applicants who completed the application process met our rental criteria, with an average credit score of 673. About 1 in 10 applicants were offered the option to secure a co-signer, primarily due to credit challenges—this group had an average credit score of 536. Roughly 3 out of 10 applicants were declined, most often due to a negative rental history, though criminal history was also a factor in some cases.

 

Partner with Deca to Protect Your Investment

Our detailed screening process minimizes risk and maximizes your returns by placing qualified, reliable residents. With Deca Property Management, you benefit from professional oversight, fair housing compliance, and a data-driven approach that gives you confidence in every lease.