Rental Requirements

Welcome to Birchwood Property Management! Thank you for your interest in applying with us. Before you apply, please make sure you understand our application process and rental requirements:

We look at four areas when evaluating an applicant

Criminal History
Credit History
Income
Rental History

Each area is given a positive, negative, or neutral rating. To be approved, no areas can be evaluated as negative, and at least one area must be evaluated as positive. We use an Individualized Assessment to make a final decision. Please provide any supplemental information to be used at the time of application.

The relationship between a landlord and an applicant is a business relationship. A courteous and businesslike attitude is required from both parties. We reserve the right to deny an application to anyone who is verbally abusive, swears, is disrespectful, makes threats, has been drinking, is argumentative, or otherwise causes management to believe there would not be a positive business relationship at any time during the unit showing, application, and/or lease signing process.

Non-discrimination statement: Birchwood Property Management, LLC does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, receipt of public assistance, or familial status.

Positive evaluation:

A clean criminal history, or a history that only contains charges or convictions of petty misdemeanor offenses and/or non-DWI traffic violations at a misdemeanor level or less. Consideration for a positive determination may be made for other misdemeanor offenses through an Individualized Assessment.

Negative evaluation: (criteria for denial)

Any conviction for the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802), or crimes that mandate denial of tenancy in federally assisted housing such as being subject to a lifetime sex offender registration requirement.
Any pending felony charge or felony conviction sentenced within the last seven (7) years.
A felony conviction within the last ten (10) years will result in a denial for the following charges: first-degree murder, second-degree murder, third-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter, kidnapping, first-degree criminal sexual conduct, first-degree assault, first-degree arson, and first-degree aggravated robbery.
Any felony or gross misdemeanor conviction that resulted in a prison term that ended within the last five (5) years. Consideration may be made through an individualized assessment and any supplemental information received at the time of application that shows an Applicant’s situation has stabilized or changed since being incarcerated.
Any gross misdemeanor offense or non-traffic misdemeanor sentenced within the last three (3) years or pending disposition. Though circumstance may be considered, weight is placed on crimes involving theft, drugs, alcohol, assault, prostitution, disorderly conduct, trespassing, or property damage.

Positive evaluation:

A credit score of 600 or higher with no debt to a previous landlord.

Negative evaluation: (criteria for denial)

Poor credit or debt in collections relative to fitness as a tenant. Medical and student loan debt history will be ignored, ongoing payments will be considered so as to keep prospective tenants from paying more than the recommended 30% of income.
Debt to previous landlords.

Positive evaluation:

An applicant making 2.5x the market rent or more AFTER taxes.

Negative evaluation: (criteria for denial)

Applicants who earn less than 2.5 times their rent after taxes, who cannot demonstrate a history of successful rent payment of at least 80% of the market rent with income less than 2.5 times their former rent.

Positive evaluation:

No housing court records, and all questions answered on a rental reference positively by a licensed owner or management company with additional comments to the quality of the tenancy.

Negative evaluation: (criteria for denial)

Any eviction action in the last five (5) years will be grounds for denial.
A negative rental reference with reports of unauthorized residents/pets, police calls, drug use, smoking complaints, complaints from neighbors or any other livability issues.