Screening that protects your investment.

Credit history: why 12 months beats one number

A single score tells you little about how a person pays this month’s bills. A year of on-time payments on every open account shows the habit you want in a resident. That is why we weigh the payment history on all open credit more heavily than the score itself. An applicant with a modest score and twelve clean months can be a stronger risk than one with a higher score and recent lates.

Evictions, bankruptcies and conditional approvals

A prior eviction or bankruptcy does not automatically end an application. We ask for a valid explanation and review the circumstances. If the owner is comfortable, we may approve conditionally with extra money upfront: first and last month’s rent plus a one-month security deposit. Conditional terms protect owners without shutting out someone who has recovered.

Fair Housing and consistency

Stalwart is committed to HUD Fair Housing and equal opportunity. Every adult applicant is evaluated by the same written criteria. We do not screen by protected class, and we do not steer applicants. Our Fair Housing page explains our commitment, and owners who work with us agree to the same standard.

Adverse-action notices and FCRA

When an application is denied, or approved on less favorable terms, because of information in a consumer report, the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires an adverse-action notice. It tells the applicant which reporting agency supplied the information and explains the right to a free copy and to dispute inaccuracies. We provide adverse-action documentation so decisions are transparent and defensible. You can read the law and guidance at the FTC’s credit reporting resource.

Kansas and Missouri notes

Screening principles are the same in both states, but deposits, notices and eviction procedures differ. Our team is licensed in both Kansas and Missouri, so we apply the right rules to your property. For a plain-English comparison, read Kansas vs. Missouri landlord-tenant laws and our tenant screening checklist.

What owners should expect from the process

Screening reduces risk but cannot remove it. No report predicts the future, so we pair thorough checks with clear lease terms, inspections and a documented rent collection timeline. If an applicant has no verifiable or adverse rental history, we may require last month’s rent upfront in addition to the first month and deposit. Owners decide the terms they are comfortable with, including move-in date, pets and offered rent, and we apply them consistently. For the collection side, see rent collection.

After approval: reserving the home

Signing a lease does not reserve a home. The full security deposit does; otherwise the home stays on the market. The deposit and first month’s rent are paid in certified or cleared funds before keys, and residents must carry renter’s insurance listing Stalwart Management LLC as “additional interest.” See our application process and leasing policy for details.