Tenant Screening
Strong tenancies start with consistent, documented screening.
Consistent screening helps reduce avoidable risk
Screening decisions affect rent collection, property care, and the likelihood of a stable tenancy. Sun Stone uses a documented process so applicants are evaluated consistently, lawfully, and against the same written framework where permitted.
The Sun Stone process
What's included
- ✓Credit history review
- ✓Criminal history review within legal limits
- ✓Income verification (typically 2.5–3x rent; for housing subsidies, the income standard is based on the tenant-paid portion as required by California law)
- ✓Rental history and eviction record check
- ✓Direct phone verification with current and past landlords
- ✓Employment verification
Screening is part of our tenant placement service. See pricing.
What makes us different
- ✓We call landlords directly instead of relying on an automated report alone
- ✓A written screening framework applied consistently, with legally required adjustments for issues such as housing subsidies, disability accommodations, and criminal-history rules, helping reduce fair-housing risk while evaluating applicants lawfully
- ✓Section 8 / housing voucher applicants evaluated under the same lawful screening process, with income standards based on the tenant-paid rent portion where California law requires it
California compliance
California protects source of income, including Section 8 and other housing vouchers. Consistency matters, but lawful screening also requires adjustments in some situations. For example, an income multiple for a voucher holder must be calculated using the portion of rent the tenant is responsible for, not the full contract rent. Criminal-history screening and disability-related accommodation requests also have separate legal limits.
See our full Owner Resources page for more →
Official resources: California Civil Rights Department housing guidance · Housing-provider resources.
Tenant Screening FAQ
What criteria do you use?
A written framework covering credit, income, rental history, landlord references, and legally permitted background information. We apply it consistently while making the adjustments the law requires, including subsidy-related income calculations, disability accommodations, and limits on criminal-history screening.
Can I set my own criteria?
We can discuss property-specific requirements, but Sun Stone uses lawful written screening standards and will not adopt criteria that conflict with federal, California, or local requirements.
Do you screen Section 8 / voucher holders?
Yes. California protects source of income, including housing vouchers. We use the same lawful screening process, but when an income multiple is used for a subsidized applicant, it is based on the portion of rent the applicant is responsible for paying rather than the full contract rent.
How long does screening take?
Typically 24–48 hours once we have a complete application and the landlord references respond.
Ready to hand off tenant screening?
Get a free, no-obligation rental analysis and we'll walk you through how this works for your property.