personal log-in to access application
automatic e-mail updates when application is started, when credit report is complete, and when HomeScreen makes a recommendation
a summary of the applicant's Equifax credit report
a national criminal background check including sex offender registry
a national eviction search including Alaska and Hawaii
employment and income verification
rental verification for the past five years, including skip tracing undisclosed addresses
After receiving the initial credit and background report, we personally contact and verify all applicants' current employment status, income and residential history for the past five years.
no applicant has any violent felonies in the past ten years
no applicant has an eviction or negative landlord report in the past five years
the gross household monthly income is at least 3x the rent
At HomeScreen, you always make the final decision about who moves in to your rental property. We understand that instances arise when you will not want to go with our recommendation, which is why we do not accept or deny applicants ourselves. We work to send you as much verified, objective information as possible so you can make an informed decision before signing a lease. HomeScreen will send an email to the applicant informing them of your final decision.
We have partnered with MoCaFi to offer you an easy way to collect your rent from your tenants. With MoCaFi, you no longer have to waste time tracking down, and depositing rental payments. With MoCaFi, the payments are collected, then automatically deposited into the landlord’s bank account. Your tenants can pay their rent electronically via the MoCaFi mobile app or with cash at any MoneyGram location. MoCaFi will report the rental payments to Equifax to help renters build stronger credit, which will help improve their economic mobility!
We have also partnered with Prosperity Connection to offer free financial coaching to all HomeScreen applicants. Prosperity Connection is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization that focuses on building financial capability. Prosperity Connection strives to help individuals and families earn economic independence through financial education, community services, and low-cost banking options in an effort to improve their standard of living and better their lifestyle. One of the ways that Prosperity Connection does this is through free financial education classes and one-on-one financial coaching. Through one-on-one financial coaching, families work with a financial coach to establish their financial goals (whether that be increasing credit, decreasing debt, establishing a savings plan, creating a spending plan, etc.) and create an action plan that assists clients in achieving their financial goals. Prosperity Connection operates 4 Excel Centers through the Saint Louis area and have served more than 50,000 people since 2012.
Register your properties here!
HomeScreen is completely free for landlords and property managers. We are a product of Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC, a non-profit dedicated to promoting and improving the quality of life in the Tower Grove Neighborhoods. We hope all landlords will use HomeScreen to help us further our mission and provide secure, reliable rental property to long-term, well qualified tenants.
You will receive an e-mail with a link to verify your account. Once you log in, you will need to add in your properties. If you have a large number of properties, please feel free to e-mail a list of properties to info@myhomescreen.org.
You will receive an automated email when a potential tenant starts an application for one of your properties. The e-mail will have the applicants name and address they are applying for, so you will have all of the information you need!
Each person living on the property who is 18 or older will need to submit an application with a copy of his/her ID, proof of income, and application fee. The application fee is $42 per person.
HomeScreen can only accept applications for “available” properties. Log in to your account, click the “Properties” tab on the left side, and click “Edit,” and make sure the property is marked as available.
You will have immediate access to the applicant’s application, including their contact information and uploaded documents. You will get each applicant’s Equifax credit score, collections, and recurring monthly payments. You will also get the results of a national criminal background and national eviction search. We will then verify all of the applicant’s rental references for the past five years and their current income. We will send you a recommendation based on this information.
We will recommend the application if the prospective tenants have no violent felonies in the past ten years, have no evictions or negative landlord reports in the past five years and if the household gross monthly income is at least three times the rent.
HomeScreen does not have a minimum requirement for credit. We will share the applicant’s credit score, any open collections, any bankruptcy filings and any monthly payments on your credit report with you, but this information will not affect our recommendation.
The credit, criminal and eviction searches will be completed the same business day the applicant applies. Verifying the references typically takes 2-4 business days. We will send you a full recommendation report on the fourth business day after the application is submitted, if not sooner. You will be notified by e-mail when the recommendation is made.
Unfortunately, we can not control how quickly the applicants’ references reply. However, you can accept or deny the application at any point in the process.
Yes, will notify all applicants by e-mail when you accept or deny the application.
Log in to your HomeScreen account, and click on the “Properties” tab on the left side, and click “Create New.”
Absolutely, we have no geographic limitations for screening. We welcome landlords from Saint Louis City, Saint Louis County, Illinois and beyond!
PROSPECTIVE TENANT CHECKLIST
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