California Tenant Screening Criteria Template
California Landlords must provide applicants with written screening criteria before accepting an application fee. Protect your rental business and ensure a legally compliant screening procedure by using our customizable and downloadable tenant screening criteria template.
Build & preview free - Create a Pro Account to download/ezSign
4.2 Stars from landlords & property managers
Related Documents
Pro Tip:Under California law, if a screening fee is collected, the first applicant meeting the landlord’s established screening criteria must be approved to be a tenant.
California Lease Laws: Tenant Screening Criteria
California Civil Code § 1950.6 provides specific screening requirements for landlords, including the requirement of providing applicants with written screening criteria at the start of the application process. Our Tenant Screening Criteria Template was created to comply with California statutes and federal fair housing laws.
This customizable template covers key screening information, including:
- Screening procedures and fees
- Tenant qualification standards
- Income and employment verification requirements
- Guidance on the use of credit history and criminal history
- Occupancy limits
- Pet policies
- Co-signer and guarantor policies are reasonable
- Adverse action policies
Using a screening criteria template helps landlords avoid claims of discrimination, ensure a fair and consistent screening process, and ensure screening procedures are legally compliant.
California landlords should customize this form and give it to all applicants whenever an applicant requests a rental application or starts the tenant screening process.