Yes, a landlord in California must obtain the prospective tenant's consent to run a background check. To screen a new tenant, all you need is the applicant's email address.Background checks should follow the law, so a property manager must obtain consent from the potential tenant. Conduct a California tenant screening background checks on every applicant before renting any of your California rental properties. When you fill out a rental application, you'll grant the landlord permission to check your credit score and to do a background check. In this article, we will show you how to do a rental background check on yourself and what to look for in the process. Landlords often conduct background and credit checks as part of the application process. NOTE: In the state of California, landlords are also restricted from asking questions regarding immigration or citizenship status on the rental application. I am looking to do proper screening or background check before I approve their application. With ezScreening, you get a complete Tenant Screening report to help you be a successful Landlord.