Rent to income ratio is the single most important tenant screening number. It tells you whether the tenant can actually afford the rent without being one small emergency away from nonpayment. The industry standard is a 3x rule, meaning the tenant's gross monthly income should be at least 3 times the monthly rent. So for a $1,500 rent, you want $4,500 monthly income minimum. Strict landlords go to 3.5x or 4x. Section 8 tenants are a special case because the tenant portion is calculated by the housing authority to cap at roughly 30% of the tenant's adjusted income, so you are effectively guaranteed an enforced ratio by the voucher program itself. That is one of the reasons Section 8 has lower nonpayment rates than equivalent market rate Class C rentals. When you are screening market rate tenants, always verify income with pay stubs, bank statements, or a direct employer call. Screenshots of deposits and verbal claims are not verification.
Example
Rent is $1,500. Tenant's gross income is $4,800 per month. Rent to income ratio = 1,500 / 4,800 = 31.25%, or roughly a 3.2x multiplier. Passes the standard 3x rule.