Of course you can apply for a rental without seeing it first. Contact Us. Code Enforcement 200 E. Santa Clara St. 4th Floor San Jose, CA 95113.Phone: (408) 535-7770. So, I do ask for a short screening application before I'll show my rental unit. Most real estates won't allow you to apply for a rental without inspection first. We screen prospective tenants using background investigations, eviction histories, credit checks, reference checks, and income verification. All individuals over the age of 18 MUST fill out a separate application if they will be living on the property. When applying for rental accommodation in San Jose, prospective tenants need specific documents.