California Rental Application: Hot Tips and Common Mistakes for Landlords and Tenants

This is a guide to the California rental application for California landlords and California tenants. Since we help so many landlords with screening tenants, we share common mistakes we see plus hot tips landlords and tenants need to know. Stick around to the end to hear a true story about when a renter may be able to say “no” to a question even though the answer is “yes.”
📌 Join almost 2,500 others in subscribing to the WIRE Associates weekly newsletter to get the latest housing market data for buyers and sellers every two weeks, plus access to foreclosure data, info on eviction moratoria and much, much more 👉 www.wireassociates.com/newsle... 🏠 ➡️ Don’t BUY or SELL in SoCal without talking to us first! 👉 www.wireassociates.com/contact/
🏠 ➡️ Thinking of BUYING or SELLING anywhere else in the US? The best agents are right here 👉 homeandmoney.com/christian/
📌 Sign up here to find and track foreclosure homes across the nation at FORECLOSURE.COM 👉 geni.us/foreclosure
📌 Track housing market statistics anywhere in the US! Altos Research Reports link, sign up for your neighborhood now! 👉 www.wireassociates.com/reports/
Sections
00:00 WIRE Associates intro from Christian Walsh
01:06 California Association Realtors Application to Rent
08:04 Screening Fee
09:23 Notice Regarding Background Investigation Reports
10:04 Bonus!
#WIREassociates #HousingMarket #RentalApplication
🔔 Subscribe on Social
INSTAGRAM: / wireassociates
FACEBOOK BIZ PAGE: / wireassociates
TWITTER: / wireassociates
LINKEDIN: / christianjwalsh
PINTEREST: @wireassociates
website: wireassociates.com
Email [e-mail]
* GEAR WE USE & OTHER RESOURCES**
www.wireassociates.com/resour...
* GEAR WE USE & OTHER RESOURCES**
www.wireassociates.com/resour...
This is not meant to be a solicitation of a property currently under contract. This is not meant to be legal or tax advice, please consult with the appropriate professional. We are licensed to sell real estate in California (if you need help elsewhere, we can help find a good broker, let us know), CalRE # 01804983. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (# 01317331)
Remember when you click, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products and services that I've used or have experience with.
Remember when you click, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only recommend products and services that I've used or have experience with.

[@robertdavis3433]

This is why every landlord must do there Due diligence. When someone is evicted, the likelihood is good that the next landlord will be going to court to evict them. This happened to me. Shame on me. I did not do my job. Better a empty unit, than a bad tenant. I'm still mentally scared from the tenant. The tenant during the pandemic, did not pay rent for one year. I won't elaborate. That was just the beginning of the problems. After this pandemic we all know to verify the application. Good video from Sacramento

[@WIREassociates]

Well said, Robert, due diligence is key!

[@robertdavis3433]

@@williamlyons3947 WRONG, people who do not pay the rent have no respect for the property and therefore destroy it think about that for a second bro just imagine if it was your house and you let a monster to the front door that's not paying rent

[@Juicingwithjay]

Great information as usual!!

[@WIREassociates]

Thanks Jay!

[@tkomic19]

as landlord, in los Angeles I have an ad:. 1br condo, $1000 per month. additional monthly feess include, $700 per LA moratorium fee (new tenants need to pay for my prior tenants f****** me over), $200 potential eviction fees, $600 property tax fee. $2500 total per month.

[@robertdavis3433]

You my want to sell. It's a nightmare now to rent out. Better left to corporations. Deeper pockets

[@WIREassociates]

Tough to be a landlord in LA!

[@nesdi6653]

any more info on K and L

[@dianecelento4974]

Can you do a video on where to find an up to date rental agreement in Ca.? If you offered them, I would purchase them.

[@WIREassociates]

Yes! I am vetting a lease provider right now in fact!

[@funkthat]

I need an update as well

[@Xrmateo]

Did we get an update

[@alisonm8319]

Can you do an example for low income housing? For example, will they know if someone has a bank account if its not listed on the application.

[@JUVYTV]

How to avoid scams on paying deposit once approved, we found a house for rent the agent told us we need to pay the deposit for our apllication was approved and asking to send online.we ask if we could pay altogether deposit and lease same day on signing of contract but agent said we need to pay the deposit first,is that fine? Thanks for response. The house for rent is in Modesto,California.

[@WIREassociates]

Yes, that is pretty typical for a landlord to collect at least he deposit ahead of time.

[@PlanetLimor]

I watched this video hoping to find ANY information regarding HOW exactly to fill out a rental application, with a Housing Choice Voucher apparently as a "source of income." For example, a landlord asked me via email if my total household combined monthly income is $6500+ (the landlord gave an exact dollar amount and did not specify 3X the monthly rent, whereby my household would be required to make 3X our 30% PORTION of our voucher). Well, the honest answer is, 'No, our combined monthly income is NOT $6500+.' HOWEVER, my voucher will cover the landlord's requested monthly rent of $2000, per the HA's online rent-affordability calculator and my 30%. HOW do I include my voucher as a source of income on a rental application? This is the million-dollar question that NO ONE seems to thus far have an answer. Additionally, I have yet to see ANY rental application include any question or section pertaining to the voucher as a "source of income." Please no hateful comments. Rest assured that my adult son and I have over 740 credit scores, no evictions, no bankruptcies, never late/always early payments, and follow every single lease rule on top of all HA rules. In fact, we are held to a higher standard, with annual house inspections, as well as complying with all terms of our lease, or we lose our voucher. Why am I on defense? Because there continues to be widespread, significant stigmas. Any information with regard to how exactly to address this as a "source of income" on a rental application, as well as in verbal or email scenarios as described above, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[@WIREassociates]

Unless the Housing Authority advises otherwise, I don't think you need to report this voucher as some sort of separate income...add it in to your income. And you can explain, just as you did in this comment. California law no longer allows discrimination based on voucher programs. See this document, in particular the bottom of page 2 👉 calcivilrights.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2020/02/SourceofIncomeFAQ_ENG.pdf

[@PlanetLimor]

@@WIREassociates Excellent source of information via the link you provided! Thank you so much!

[@dianecelento4974]

Sorry I missed the live.

[@WIREassociates]

No problem! It was the premiere of a pre-recorded video. I do need to really go live one of these days!

[@pablobenjumea3352]

Hi Christian! I’ve a quick question about completing the form as a co-signer. For ex, if I am the applicant but I’ve a co-signer and select the option “completing the form as a co-signer” , the sections of personal information, residence history and employment are based on applicant’s information right? Or co-signer? I think applicant’s details but I’m not quite sure. Thanks!

[@WIREassociates]

A co-signer needs to put in their information...the co-signer's credit and income history are used to bolster the main applicant(s).

[@jdmnsd4638]

Can an independent landlord get copies of the CAR application or do I need to be a realtor to get these forms ?

[@WIREassociates]

You can ask your local agent to give you a copy. If you join a local apartment/landlord association, they will have application that you can use as well.

[@rafaelruesga7513]

Hi I wonder if you can help me out on this question. I understand this is a non legal advice but what if the landlord never wrote down the move in date on the month to month lease form and instead we had a verbal agreement to what the move date would be like. But unfortunately due to the non written down move in date the property manger kept push back the move in date due to the apt not being ready. I already paid for the first month and security deposit also extra for moving in early. But due to the change of date now I gotta go to the hotel. What advice can you offer.

[@WIREassociates]

Sorry to hear this...the move in date would be the first date that they used to calculate the rent you paid. Double check the lease to see if it addresses this situation because some do. If they can't deliver possession, then you could theoretically cancel the lease and get your money back.

[@rickramirez7710]

In a bedroom rental does an Estoppel Certificate apply. Perspective landlord has this on the rental agreement? What’s is an Estoppel Certificate? 🤔

[@WIREassociates]

Here's a video on the estoppel certificate...it actually protects you as a renter 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKiUm56AjNOZa6s

[@Boomtrack13]

Can this be used for adding roommates on an existing lease?

[@WIREassociates]

Great question, Isaac! A landlord should definitely take an application (like this) and fully screen any potential roommates being added. If approved, then there can be a new rental agreement or an addendum to the current rental agreement signed by all parties to add the roommate.

[@eds8633]

What is your take on applicant who filed for bankruptcy (YES on Section K) before but now has good income/job? Is it discrimination if you deny tenancy?

[@WIREassociates]

IMHO, Tthe landlord would need to have standard criteria that applies to everyone who has a bankruptcy on their record for this to be a valid reason to deny tenancy, especially if the current credit and income is good.

[@koifish9742]

Can you recommend eviction Lawer?

[@WIREassociates]

Here you go 👉 www.wireassociates.com/eviction-attorney/

[@DangerousDave310]

Where can I find a fillable pdf of this form?

[@WIREassociates]

A service like Rentspree has an online version of this application that tenants can fill out...

[@maryrose7712]

😊

[@dianecelento4974]

Hi Christian

[@WIREassociates]

Hi Diane! 👋