How screening works
Long Haus reviews the full picture before making a leasing decision. Here is what that means for your application, how Plaid fits in, and what happens at each stage.
Why we verify information
Renting a home is a meaningful financial commitment for both sides. Long Haus verifies income and identity before extending a lease offer so that the terms we offer are based on the full picture, not just what was entered into a form.
Verification also protects you. It means the home you are offered reflects an honest review of your situation — not an estimate that changes once a lease is drafted.
How Plaid is used
If invited to continue after your Fit Check, Long Haus may ask you to connect a bank account through Plaid. Plaid is our secure verification partner used to confirm income, deposits, and account history.
Plaid connects directly to your bank using bank-level encryption. Long Haus does not receive your banking login credentials. We receive only the verification details required to complete your review.
Not every applicant will be asked to use Plaid. It depends on the review stage and what information was provided during the application.
What Plaid does not decide
Plaid helps verify identity and financial information. Plaid does not make the final rental decision.
Final decisions are made by Long Haus based on the full application review — income, rental history, background, credit, and other relevant factors reviewed together. No single data point determines the outcome.
Plaid does not approve or decline your application. Long Haus does.
How income and savings are reviewed
Long Haus typically looks for income that supports the monthly rent obligation. A general guideline is gross monthly income of approximately three times the monthly rent, though this is not a hard cutoff.
Savings and other financial context may also be considered as part of the full picture. Applicants who have lower income but stronger savings or rental history may still move forward in the review process.
Income can include employment, self-employment, benefits, or other documented sources. What matters is that it is consistent and verifiable.
What happens if you are self-employed or have variable income
Long Haus does not disqualify applicants simply because their income is variable or comes from self-employment.
If you are self-employed, a gig worker, a freelancer, or have multiple income sources, you may be able to provide documentation such as bank statements, tax returns, or payment records to support your application.
The review process for variable income may take longer and require more documentation than salaried employment. That is expected. Contact the leasing team if you have questions about what to prepare.
What happens if more information is needed
After your Fit Check is submitted, Long Haus reviews the information and determines the next step.
Some applicants receive a clear path forward quickly. Others may be placed in a secondary review category, which means the team needs more time or information before a decision can be made.
If your application requires additional review, you will be contacted with the specific next step. This is not a decline. It means Long Haus has not yet made a final decision and is giving the application a fuller look.
How final decisions are made
Final approval depends on the full application review. Long Haus considers income, rental history, background, credit, the overall application profile, and fit with the specific property.
Deposit and move-in terms may vary by property, application profile, and review outcome. In some cases, adjusted terms may be discussed, but they are not guaranteed.
Long Haus applies consistent criteria to every applicant. The process is the same regardless of who you are.
What Long Haus considers
- Income and ability to meet rent obligations
- Prior rental history and lease compliance
- Credit, background, and eviction-related review where applicable
- Complete, accurate, and verifiable application information
- Overall fit with the property, community, and lease terms
Have more questions?
The FAQ page covers common questions about income requirements, credit, deposits, pets, roommates, and what happens after you submit a Fit Check.
You can also email the leasing team directly at leasing@longhauscompany.com.
Ready to see if there is a fit? The Fit Check takes a few minutes and does not require you to connect a bank account upfront.