Rental Criteria

Davis Ventures evaluates every rental application against the same published criteria, applied equally regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or any other class protected under the federal Fair Housing Act and the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

Income

Applicants should generally show verifiable gross monthly household income of at least 3 times the monthly rent, unless a specific property’s listing publishes its own minimum combined gross household income figure — where one is published, that figure applies for that property instead.

This is a household figure, not a per-person one: lawful, verifiable income from every adult who will be on the lease may be combined to meet it. Applicable housing-assistance or rental-assistance vouchers (for example, a Housing Choice Voucher) count toward this figure as well, alongside wages, self-employment income, benefits, or other verifiable sources.

The income guideline is intended to help ensure that prospective residents can reasonably afford the home and associated expenses without becoming financially overextended. Rent is only part of the cost of maintaining a household — residents also have utilities and ordinary living expenses — so this exists to help gauge whether the home is financially sustainable for the household, not to judge an applicant personally.

Rental and payment history

Applications are reviewed for:

• Prior evictions
• Two or more late rental payments within the past year
• Any history of willfully or intentionally refusing to pay rent when due
• Bankruptcy within the past 7 years
• Materially unpaid balances owed to a prior landlord
• Material lease violations
• Documented property damage beyond ordinary wear and tear
• Other relevant, verified rental-history information permitted by law

None of these automatically disqualifies an applicant — each is considered as part of the overall picture, and an applicant is welcome to provide context or an explanation, which is specifically invited on the application itself.

Credit and background

Applicants invited to formal screening undergo a consumer report (credit, criminal background, and eviction history) through our screening provider, Tenant Verification Service, Inc. (TVS), with your written authorization obtained at that stage. Before that paid screening step begins, you’ll be given a copy of our Rental Screening Criteria & Disclosure for the specific property and the FCRA Summary of Rights.

Credit history is evaluated as part of the overall rental application. We generally look for a credit score of at least 620 for each adult applicant, lease signer, and co-signer, but that figure is a guideline rather than a cutoff: a credit score below 620 does not automatically result in denial. Davis Ventures may consider the applicant’s overall credit history, rental history, verified income, outstanding housing-related debts, collections, payment history, and other factors identified in these written screening criteria.

Criminal history is reviewed on an individualized basis, not a blanket disqualification. We do not deny an applicant simply because they have a criminal record, and we do not automatically reject someone for disclosing one. Our review focuses on conduct presenting a legitimate safety or property concern – violence, credible threats of violence, arson, intentional or malicious destruction of property, or comparable conduct – and this applies equally to every proposed adult occupant, not only the person signing the lease. Where that kind of history exists, it’s a serious factor weighed individually, considering the seriousness of the conduct, how recently it occurred, the surrounding circumstances, subsequent history, and evidence of rehabilitation, rather than an automatic, blanket disqualification.

Application completeness and accuracy

All information provided must be true and complete. Providing false or materially incomplete information is grounds for denial, regardless of how the applicant otherwise meets the criteria above.

Occupancy

Household size must comply with the property’s occupancy limits under applicable local zoning code — see the specific property listing for details.

How a decision is made

Every application receives one of: approved, conditionally approved, denied, or a request for more information — always with a documented reason. Submitting an application does not guarantee approval or a rental offer.

Questions about this criteria, or about a specific application, can be sent through our Contact page.