Rental Leasing Policy Kansas City

01 / Screening criteria

How we screen every applicant.

Every adult applicant is reviewed by the same written criteria. The sections below summarize what we look at and what may be asked of you in return. If you haven’t applied yet, see the application process.

Area	What we look at	What may be required
Income	Gross monthly income of at least 3× the monthly rent, verified with two consecutive pay stubs	Meet the 3× standard
Credit	12 months of payment history on all open credit carries more weight than the raw score	A lower score may still be accepted with 12 months of on-time payments
Eviction history	A single eviction is reviewed case by case with a valid explanation	May require first + last month’s rent + one month’s security deposit
Bankruptcy	Reviewed with a valid explanation	First + last month’s rent + one month’s deposit (3× rent total)
Rental history	Prior-landlord verification of on-time payment	If none is verifiable or it is adverse, may require last month’s rent in addition to first month and deposit

Owner discretion

All approvals and denials are subject to the property owner’s discretion. If you are declined, we provide adverse-action documentation, and credit documentation if the decision involved your credit.

How the income standard works

Your gross monthly income, meaning pay before taxes and deductions, should be at least three times the monthly rent. Multiply the listed monthly rent by three to see the income you need. We verify income using your two most recent consecutive pay stubs, submitted through the online application.

Why we look at 12 months of credit history

A single score can hide the story. We pay close attention to 12 months of payment history on all of your open credit, because it shows how you handle obligations today. An applicant with a lower score but a year of on-time payments may still be accepted. If credit is the reason you are declined, we provide the credit documentation.

Additional deposits are conditions, not penalties

When a file has an eviction, bankruptcy or no verifiable rental history, the owner may approve it on stronger financial terms, such as first and last month’s rent plus a security deposit. These conditions are reviewed case by case and require a valid explanation from you. A short, honest explanation at the time of application helps.

What’s in the background check

Applicants consent to criminal, credit, eviction and rental-history inquiry. Screening includes a TransUnion credit report, county and statewide criminal searches, the nationwide sex-offender registry, eviction, bankruptcy, lien and judgment records, plus SSN and address-history verification. See our full tenant screening service for detail.

02 / Paying rent

Due on the 1st. Received by the 4th.

Rent is due on the first of the month. There is a grace period through the 4th, but payment must be physically received by then. A postmark does not count.

Pay free by ACH through the resident portal, or in cash at local CVS, 7-Eleven and Casey’s stores. Cash needs processing time, so don’t wait until the last day. More options are on resident resources.

Rent due1st of the month
Grace period ends4th of the month
Online ACH paymentsFree
Cash paymentsCVS, 7-Eleven, Casey’s

03 / If rent is late

A written, predictable timeline.

If you ever fall behind, reach out early. The sooner we hear from you, the more options there are.

Day / 06

Follow-up

We follow up to arrange payment.

Day / 10

Pay-or-quit notice

If there is no response, a pay-or-quit notice is issued.

After notice

Attorney filing

When the notice expires, the file goes to attorneys for judgment.

Enforcement

Writ and Sheriff

After judgment, the court issues a writ (restitution in Kansas, execution in Missouri), and the Sheriff enforces it.

Maintenance requests

Submit requests through the online portal with photos, a description and a priority from low to high. Each request gets a time-stamped work-order number. Email is our preferred way to communicate, with 24/7 emergency support after hours.

Submit a request

Fair Housing

Stalwart is committed to HUD Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Our criteria are applied equally to every adult applicant, with no discrimination based on protected class.

Our Fair Housing statement

Are pets allowed?

Pet terms are set per property by the owner and are part of the terms reviewed with your application. Ask before you apply.

Does a postmark count as on-time rent?

No. Payment must be physically received by the 4th, the end of the grace period. A postmark does not count.

What if I disagree with a denial?

Decisions are at the owner’s discretion, and we provide adverse-action documentation, and credit documentation when credit was a factor. Email leasing@stalwartmgmt.com with questions about the documents.

Where do I find the steps to apply?

On our application process page, which lists all eight steps and the documents to prepare.

This page summarizes our policies and is not a lease. Your signed lease governs your tenancy. Questions? Email leasing@stalwartmgmt.com.

Our Kansas City rental leasing policy.

How we screen every applicant.

How the income standard works

Why we look at 12 months of credit history

Additional deposits are conditions, not penalties

What’s in the background check

Due on the 1st. Received by the 4th.

A written, predictable timeline.

Follow-up

Pay-or-quit notice

Attorney filing

Writ and Sheriff

Maintenance requests

Fair Housing

Put your property in stalwart hands.