Question on TU SmartMove, please help ASAP

[Abe Osman]

Hello all!

Completed our most recent rental rehab, and this time we decided to start using TU SmartMove to screen tenants. I have some questions, please let me know ASAP as I need to make a decision within 48 hours. 

When sending an application to a prospective tenant, what is the difference between a Joint Applicant and a Co-Signer? There are 2 distinct boxes

Also, see the screenshot below. SmartMove recommended both a a DECLINE and an ACCEPT depending on where I look. This is confusing. Are they telling me to accept based on the 2 renters together, but decline if they are individually applying? Please clarify?

Lastly, in this example below, the tenant has a Resident Score of 783 which at face value appears rather high, despite having a few late payments on the credit report and a relatively high debt to income ratio. I'm used to seeing credit reports all day long (work related) and I must say with the late pays and amount of open credit for this applicant, I would have expected a score closer to 620-650. However, TU says they evaluate not on their payment history of debts, but their likelyhood to pay rent based on TU's internal matrix. I guess I have to put a lot of faith in TU's calculations? 

The rent is $1200/mo, the applicants together have an income of 3200/mo, and are unrelated room mates.