Non qualifying applicants

[Ashley Baldock]

I just rented out my first rental! I kept the application paper short and didn’t state qualifications on it. I did give verbal qualifications that were: gross income of 3x the rent and a credit score of 580. On the application I did put a deadline for all applications and income verification. So I notified one tenant that she did not get the house and she wants to know why. I keep getting mixed things when I research it.. some things say I don’t have to give a reason and some things say I have to give her a copy of her report. I didn’t realize I had to get a signature on the application (rookie mistake) on the application to do a credit report, so I just did a criminal report and an eviction report. She had 3 evictions on her report all were dismissed and a lot of things on her criminal record. The most concerning was theft, but that too was dismissed. I didn’t state on the application that you can not have an eviction or crimes on your record to qualify so can I legally use that as my reasoning? Also, I never received her income! She sent it to me 5 different ways but I could never open any of them! The last time was 2 days after the cut off day so I already had the report so I didn’t notify her that I couldn’t open it again. Please someone help so I don’t say something I could get in trouble for. I’m in Cincinnati, Ohio.  TIA