# How Our Housing Referral & Pre-Screening Process Works | Income Restricted Apartments

> The five-step referral workflow, how consent is handled, what info to provide, turnaround, and the status updates you

URL: https://incomerestrictedapartments.com/guide/how-the-referral-client-pre-screening-process-works/
Last-Modified: 2026-07-10

![Case manager submitting a referral form on a laptop](/images/misc/case-manager-submitting-referral-form-on-laptop-of.webp)

## The Five Steps

**1\. Referral submission**. You submit the client’s info: metro, household size, approximate income, voucher status, and any screening context. Free.

**2\. Pre-screening**. We check the client’s numbers against current AMI limits and screen their profile against tenant selection plans for open communities in their metro.

**3\. Client contact with consent**. Once you confirm consent, we reach out to the client directly. First contact confirms consent with the client, walks through options in English or Spanish, and answers questions.

**4\. Matching and application coordination**. We shortlist open, qualifying communities. We coordinate applications and follow up. Where possible, we rebate the client’s application fee on approval.

**5\. Status update to you**. With the client’s ongoing consent, we send you status updates: contacted, applying, approved, signed.

![Five-step referral workflow](/images/misc/five-step-referral-workflow-graphic-client-pre-scr.webp)

## What to Include in a Referral

Minimum useful info:

-   Client name (with consent to share)
-   Contact info (phone, email)
-   Metro (Austin, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth)
-   Household size
-   Approximate annual household income
-   Voucher status (in hand, applied, none)
-   Any screening context (past evictions, credit, background)
-   Accessibility needs (if any)
-   Language preference (English or Spanish)

Bring more context if useful, less if that’s all you have.

## Turnaround

-   Pre-screening response: 1-2 business days
-   First client contact: usually the same or next day after consent
-   Initial matches: 24-48 hours after client intake completes
-   Placement: metro-dependent, typically weeks

## Consent and Privacy

-   We never contact a client without your confirmation of consent
-   We verify consent again on first client contact
-   Status updates require the client’s ongoing consent
-   We follow fair-housing rules and don’t screen on protected class
-   See our 
    
    Privacy Policy
    
    [/privacy-policy/ →](/privacy-policy/)
    
     for full data-handling details

## Bulk Referral for Organizations

If your team has volume, we can set up a repeatable partnership pathway (shared intake form, direct communication, structured status reports). Reach out through 

Contact

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 and note you’re a professional partner.

## Related Reading

-   For Professionals Hub
    
    [/for-professionals/ →](/for-professionals/)
    
-   Printable Client Intake Checklist & AMI Reference
    
    [/guide/printable-client-intake-checklist-ami-tables/ →](/guide/printable-client-intake-checklist-ami-tables/)
    
-   Referring Clients Across Multiple Texas Metros
    
    [/guide/referring-clients-across-multiple-texas-metros/ →](/guide/referring-clients-across-multiple-texas-metros/)
    

Start a client referral

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

.

## Frequently Asked Questions

How do I refer a client for housing? +

Submit one intake with the client's info (metro, household size, income, voucher status, screening notes). We pre-screen and contact them with your and their consent.

How long does a referral take? +

We typically pre-screen and respond within 1-2 business days. Actual matching to a community depends on inventory in the client's metro.

How is consent handled? +

You confirm the client has agreed to be contacted before we reach out. We verify consent with the client directly on first contact. Status updates back to you are shared only with the client's ongoing consent.

## Related Guides

### Printable Client Intake Checklist & Quick-Reference AMI Tables

A downloadable client intake checklist, quick AMI reference by metro, a document list, and how to submit a referral.

[Printable Client Intake Checklist & Quick-Reference AMI Tables →](/guide/printable-client-intake-checklist-ami-tables/)

### Referring Clients Across Multiple Texas Metros

How one statewide referral partner finds matches in each metro, coordinates relocations, and reports back to you.

[Referring Clients Across Multiple Texas Metros →](/guide/referring-clients-across-multiple-texas-metros/)

![](/images/misc/texas-income-restricted-apartment-community-family.webp)

Free · No Application Fees Wasted

## Want a Match, Not Just Info?

Start the free 5-minute intake. Licensed Texas team, matches within 24-48 hours, application fee rebate on approval.

See If I Qualify

[/contact/ →](/contact/)

 

Back to For Professionals

[/for-professionals/ →](/for-professionals/)