We've crafted this comprehensive guide, covering the entire screening process, from the rental application fee to background checks. Checking credit is a pillar of the screening process, and for good reason.If you are approved and become a tenant with us, your tenancy will be reported to Experian's RentBureau as a credit account. Best practice: Evaluate one application at a time in the order received, and return all unused credit check fees to applicants who were not screened. This post is designed to give you all the tips and free forms you need to properly screen tenants in the State of California. The reasons that property managers are requiring proof of income and an application before scheduling a viewing include (1) because of COVID restrictions. You can still rent without a credit score! Minimum credit score; Minimum income level; No evictions in the last five, 10, 15 years, etc. Verifiable rental history. But they need to run a credit check using your social security and date of birth.