For "accidental landlords" in Arlington—those who perhaps inherited a family home or kept a previous residence as an investment—the tenant screening process is your most powerful tool for risk management. In a city with a high volume of students, young professionals, and families, finding a reliable tenant is the difference between a stable income stream and a costly legal headache.
However, screening is not just about "gut feelings." It is a highly regulated process governed by the Texas Property Code and federal Fair Housing laws. Failure to follow these rules can lead to significant fines and potential lawsuits.
1. The Legal Foundation: Mandatory Disclosures
As of 2025, Texas law has tightened requirements around transparency. Under Texas Property Code § 92.3515, you cannot simply accept an application fee and run a background check.
- Written Selection Criteria: Before you accept an application or a fee, you must provide the applicant with a written list of your screening criteria. This should detail your requirements for:
- Minimum Credit Score (e.g., 620+).
- Income Requirements (the North Texas standard is typically gross monthly income of 3x the rent).
- Rental History (e.g., no evictions in the last 7 years).
- Criminal History (focusing on relevant, recent convictions).
- The Acknowledgment: You must have the applicant sign a form acknowledging they received these criteria. If you deny them based on a criterion you didn't disclose, you are legally required to refund their application fee.
2. The Four Pillars of a Professional Background Check
Relying on a single metric, like a credit score, is a common mistake. A professional-grade screening should cover four distinct areas:
| Step | What You Are Looking For | Why It Matters |
| Credit Report | Late payments, high debt-to-income, and utility charge-offs. | Predicts financial responsibility and the likelihood of on-time rent. |
| Eviction History | Any previous "Forcible Detainer" suits filed in Tarrant County or elsewhere. | The single best predictor of future lease violations. |
| Criminal Background | Convictions related to property damage, violence, or illegal substances. | Protects the safety of the neighborhood and the integrity of your property. |
| Employment Verification | Stability in their current role and verification of the stated income. | Ensures the tenant can actually afford the Arlington market's rising costs. |
3. Fair Housing in Arlington: Avoiding the "Blanket Ban" Trap
The City of Arlington actively monitors Fair Housing Compliance. One of the biggest mistakes small landlords make is using "blanket bans"—automatically rejecting anyone with a criminal record or an eviction.
- Individual Assessments: To stay compliant with 2025 Fair Housing guidance, you should look at the nature, severity, and recency of an issue. A ten-year-old minor misdemeanor is different from a recent conviction for property destruction.
- The Seven Protected Classes: You cannot discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity), national origin, disability, or familial status (having children).
- Assistance Animals: In Arlington, as in the rest of Texas, Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are not "pets." You cannot deny a tenant for having one, even if you have a "no pets" policy, and you cannot charge pet fees for them.
4. The Critical Final Step: Landlord References
Don't just call the tenant’s current landlord. If a tenant is problematic, a current landlord might give a glowing review just to get them to move out.
- Call the Previous Landlord: The landlord from two years ago has no "skin in the game" and is more likely to give you an honest account of the tenant's behavior, property care, and payment history.
- Ask This Question: "Knowing what you know now, would you rent to this person again?"
5. Denying an Applicant: The Adverse Action Notice
If you deny an applicant based even partially on information found in their credit or background report, federal law (the Fair Credit Reporting Act) requires you to send them an Adverse Action Notice. This notice must provide the name of the screening company and inform the applicant of their right to dispute inaccuracies in the report.
By establishing written criteria, conducting a multi-pillar background check, and adhering to Fair Housing laws, the accidental landlord in Arlington can confidently secure a tenant who will respect the property and fulfill their financial obligations.