How Deca Property Management Screens Tenants 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 tenant screening process and dedicated team help increase on-time rent payments, lease compliance, and long-term resident stability. All of these factors protect your investment and give you peace of mind.
Here is how we help St. Louis property owners reduce the risk of costly turnover, non-payment, and eviction by placing thoroughly vetted, qualified residents in their properties.
Step 1: Communicating Clear Rental Criteria
We start by setting clear expectations. Our well-developed rental criteria remove ambiguity and ensure consistency in how every applicant is screened. These standards include background check thresholds, credit history requirements, income minimums, and rental history guidelines.
We communicate these standards when a prospective resident first contacts our office, before and during property showings, and on our website, where all prospects are directed before applying. Clear communication upfront reduces misunderstandings and supports a smooth leasing experience for both residents and property owners.
Step 2: Fair Housing Compliance
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, and disability. Our team applies the same screening standards to every applicant, ensuring full compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, which also protects our owners from legal risk.
Step 3: Conducting Thorough Tenant Screenings
Our dedicated Application Specialist processed 193 applications in Q1 2025, spending over 380 hours screening prospective residents, so you do not have to. Here is what we evaluate for every applicant:
Background Check
We prioritize community and resident safety. Applicants with serious offenses that violate our criteria are denied. Each applicant undergoes a national background check and a review of Missouri Case Net for criminal charges.
Credit History
We assess financial responsibility through TransUnion credit reports and review 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 or pay a credit guarantee fee based on their score.
Income Verification
We verify that applicants can comfortably afford rent by reviewing bank-verified payroll, paychecks, tax returns, and 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 and review national eviction records and Missouri Case Net for any prior landlord-tenant disputes.
What Our Screening Data Shows: Q1 2025
- Our screening process is a data-driven system designed to protect your investment. Here is what our numbers from Q1 2025 show:
- Approximately 6 out of 10 applicants who completed the 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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Tenant Screening for St. Louis Rental Properties
What does a thorough tenant screening process include?
A thorough tenant screening process includes a background check, credit history review, income verification, and rental history check. At Deca, we also review Missouri Case Net for criminal charges and prior eviction or landlord-tenant dispute records.
What credit score is required to rent in St. Louis?
Requirements vary by property and management company. At Deca, applicants who are approved typically have an average credit score around 673. Applicants with lower scores may still qualify with a co-signer or by paying a credit guarantee fee. Applicants with no credit history are also considered on a case-by-case basis.
How long does tenant screening take?
The timeline varies depending on how quickly applicants provide documentation and how responsive prior landlords are during the rental history verification. Deca’s dedicated Application Specialist works efficiently to complete screenings as quickly as possible to minimize your vacancy period.
Can a landlord in Missouri deny a rental application?
Yes, a landlord can deny a rental application for legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons such as insufficient income, a negative rental history, or a failed background check. Missouri law and federal Fair Housing law prohibit denial based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability. Deca applies consistent, documented criteria to every applicant to ensure full legal compliance.
Partner with Deca to Protect Your St. Louis Investment
Our detailed tenant 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. Contact us today to learn more about how we protect your St. Louis investment property.
