Tenant Screening: Advertising, Showing & Screening Strategies for Success

Tenant Screening: Advertising, Showing & Screening Strategies for Success

Finding a good tenant is only half the battle. Knowing how to screen applicants legally, consistently, and effectively is what protects your rental business.

Good screening won't eliminate every risk, but it can dramatically reduce the chances of ending up with a difficult tenancy. In this practical, Oregon-focused class, Tia Politi walks through the entire process—from writing the rental ad to making the final screening decision.

You'll learn how to:

• Advertise your property without creating Fair Housing problems
• Understand federal, Oregon, and local protected classes
• Recognize discriminatory advertising, steering, disparate impact, and chilling-effect concerns
• Understand when special Fair Housing exemptions may apply—and their limits
• Establish objective rental criteria and put your screening policies in writing
• Conduct property showings while avoiding inappropriate or discriminatory questions
• Recognize legitimate red flags without relying on gut feelings or stereotypes
• Screen income, credit, rental history, and criminal history appropriately
• Handle applicants who don't have a Social Security number and understand alternative identity documentation
• Understand Oregon's restrictions on what criminal history may be considered
• Navigate screening fees and required applicant disclosures
• Avoid common prescreening mistakes
• Understand Eugene's special advertising and application-processing requirements
• Document screening decisions so you can defend them if challenged
• Keep your screening process consistent from applicant to applicant

We'll also discuss practical ways to verify rental references, control screening costs, identify questionable information, and develop a process that helps you find responsible renters while staying on the right side of Fair Housing and Oregon law.

Bottom line: Learn how to replace “I have a good feeling about this person” with a consistent, defensible screening process.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

**2 Continuing Ed Credits available for Professional Brokers & Property Managers

CE Credit is only available for the LIVE Webinar (not the recording) – CEs will be sent out within two weeks of the class date.

DEADLINE to Register is:

Sunday, October 18 by noon

 INSTRUCTOR: Tia Politi** 

Must be paid in FULL prior to registration deadline – Unpaid registrations will be automatically canceled

Webinar Requirements:
High Speed Internet
Computer, Laptop,
Tablet or Smart Phone
with audio
Optional: keyboard to chat

**About Tia Politi  

• Rental Owner
• B.S., Journalism, University of Oregon, 1987 
• Licensed property manager - 2009-2022 (private, public & assisted housing)
• OREA Certified Continuing Education Provider
• President, Oregon Rental Housing Association (ORHA) - 2021-2025
• President, Rental Owners Association of Lane County 2015-2025
• Board Member, Rental Owners Association of Lane County
• Forms Chair, ORHA
• Columnist, Mind Your Business
• Landlord Helpline representative for Rental Owners Association of Lane County, Rental Owners Association of SW Oregon, Linn-Benton Rental Housing Association, Portland Area Rental Owners Association & Treasure Valley Rental Association.
• Hundreds of hours of continuing education in property management in both private and public housing.
• Volunteer instructor, St. Vincent de Paul's Second Chance Renters Program
• 2020 Housing Hero - St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County
• Landlord/Tenant Instructor, Lane ROA and statewide
• Author/Instructor, Landlord Bootcamp
• Author/Instructor, Renting a Home, teaching high school seniors the rights, risks and responsibilities of tenancy
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Cancellations/Changes and Refunds:  Registration fees are non-refundable for non-attendance, late arrivals, and early departures. Fees will be refunded if cancellation or change resulting in a refund is received in writing no later than 1 week before the webinar date. After that date, fees are non-refundable. Substitutions are allowed at no charge.

COURSE MATERIALS DISCLAIMER
The content, information, opinions, and viewpoints contained in these educational materials and the information contained in the instructor’s presentation (collectively the “Course Materials”) are those of the authors, contributors and/or instructors of such materials. While Central Oregon Rental Owners Association (COROA) takes reasonable care to screen the credentials of the instructors, authors and contributors, COROA MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, as to the completeness or accuracy of the Course Materials. Persons who attend COROA classes and/or read the Course Materials (“Users”), use the Course Materials at their own risk, and COROA shall not be responsible for any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in the Course Materials, whether arising through negligence, oversight, or otherwise. Also, laws change and COROA has no duty to update the Course Materials.  Reliance on the Course Materials is strictly at your own risk. The Course Materials are general in nature and not intended as legal advice. Even if specific fact situations are discussed in the Course Materials, and even if the instructor is an attorney, Users must retain their own legal counsel if they desire legal advice. COROA specifically disclaims any warranties, express or implied, including implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The Course Materials are provided “AS IS” and it is the User’s job to evaluate the accuracy of any information contained therein. If a User is a property management professional, you should rely on your professional judgment in evaluating any and all Course Materials, and confirm the information contained in the Course Materials with other sources and your own legal counsel before undertaking any actions based on it. If you are not a management professional, you should evaluate the information together with your professional advisors.

COROA reserves the right to refuse registration/admittance to non-members.