Verifications after receiving a rental application

[Carolina S.]

Hello all, 

First time screening tenants and I could use a lot of help, please!

We have listed a SFH on Cozy and received an application. The credit and background check look fine so I'm moving forward with the verification of employment and rental history. Technically the wife qualifies on her own but both of them have submitted an application. The husband's income is cherry. Here are my questions:

- Can anyone be so kind to share the forms they use for verification of employment and rental history? Or do you just make one for your use? Also, since we use Cozy, at the bottom of the application there is a legend that says that the applicant has granted permission for us to contact former employers and landlords, is that enough or should I get a different authorization letter from the applicants to send along with the verification? 

- The applicants are married and one of them, the husband, owns a business. How to do you verify employment? He provided a manager's name and I contacted him but there isn't an HR department. The same person was listed as his reference. Should I request pay stubs? Is that sufficient? Do you ask for pay stubs from both of them? He's had the business for 10 years. 

- Do you also ask for copies of their DL?

- Due to COVID-19, I'm having trouble getting in touch with their current landlord and the wife's employer. How long is a reasonable time to complete processing the application? 

- Do you use any platforms to verify employment and rental history? This is very time consuming!!! I snooped their LinkedIn, and Facebook profiles, the managers profiles, their references profiles. 

- Lastly, they have a dog and I plan to charge a flat non-refundable fee. Is it better to charge a pet fee?

Thank you SO much for any input you can share!!