For applicants
Qualification Requirements & Screening Criteria
At Croskey Real Estate, we evaluate every rental application against clear, transparent, and objective criteria. Knowing our standards upfront helps you apply with confidence and speeds up your journey home.
Reviewed by Wolfgang Croskey, Broker of Record, California DRE #01708438 | Last reviewed: August 2026
Equal Housing Opportunity. Croskey Real Estate strictly complies with all federal, California state, and local Fair Housing laws. We evaluate every applicant by the same objective standards, without regard to membership in any legally protected class.
Who Must Apply & Application Fees
Who Must Apply: Every individual 18 or older who will occupy the home must submit a separate application.
Application Fee: $35 per adult applicant, non-refundable. Why the fee is non-refundable
Applicant-Provided Credit Reports: Under California Civil Code § 1950.6, we are required to conduct our own standardized screening to verify identity, ensure information is current, and maintain uniform Fair Housing compliance. We cannot accept credit reports provided directly by applicants.
Read the statute: California Civil Code § 1950.6 (leginfo.ca.gov)
Qualification Standards
Pick a standard to see the details.
1. Income Verification & Ratios
- Standard Qualification: Combined gross monthly household income must be at least 3 times the monthly rent (rent is no more than 33.33% of gross income).
- Conditional / Co-Signer Approval: Applicants with household income between 2.5× and 2.99× monthly rent may qualify conditionally with an approved guarantor/co-signer or via our scoring matrix.
Housing Assistance & Subsidies: For applicants receiving government housing assistance, the 3× income-to-rent requirement applies only to the tenant’s individual out-of-pocket portion of the rent, not the total contract rent. Per California SB 267, recipients have the option to provide alternative proof of ability to pay (such as benefits statements, bank records, or program documentation) in lieu of credit history.
2. Credit History & Credit Risk Mitigation Program
We review credit holistically rather than using an arbitrary rejection threshold:
FICO 700+: Standard qualification.
Credit Risk Mitigation Program (FICO below 700): Applicants with scores below 700 who meet all other criteria may be approved under our Credit Risk Mitigation Program. This program allows us to work with lower-credit applicants while responsibly managing risk through a tiered monthly mitigation fee:
- 650-699: $20/month
- 600-649: $40/month
- 550-599: $60/month
- 500-549: $80/month
- Below 500: $100/month (or co-signer required)
Credit Bureau Reporting: We report on-time rental payments to credit bureaus, giving residents the opportunity to build and improve credit during their tenancy.
3. Rental History
- Minimum of 2 to 3 years of verifiable, positive rental history from independent (non-relative) landlords.
- Must show consistent, on-time payment records.
4. Automatic Disqualifications
- Outstanding unpaid balances or collections owed to a landlord or property management company.
- Open utility accounts in collections.
- Unresolved eviction judgments within statutory reporting windows.
- Unverifiable identification or falsified application information.
Required Documentation Checklist
To avoid delays, please have digital copies of the following ready when you apply:
Government-Issued Photo ID
For every applicant 18+.
Proof of Income (Last 2 Months)
Consecutive pay stubs, W-2s, or official benefits statements. (Self-employed applicants: 2 years of filed tax returns and 2 months of complete bank statements).
Bank Statements (Last 2 Months)
Full statements showing proof of funds and payment history.
Landlord & Employer Contact Information
Current phone numbers and email addresses for prompt verification.
PetScreening Profile
All applicants with pets, service animals, or emotional support animals must submit a profile through PetScreening.
Resident Programs & Standard Costs
To ensure complete transparency before you sign, all Croskey Real Estate leases include:
- Resident Technology Program: $20/month (online resident portal, mobile app access, flexible payment options, digital maintenance tracking).
- Resident Maintenance Program: $15/month (24/7 emergency response, dedicated maintenance concierge).
- Resident Liability Insurance: Minimum $100,000 coverage required. (Residents may provide their own policy naming Croskey Real Estate as an additional interest, or enroll in our carrier program for $10.50/mo + $3 admin).
- Lease Administration Fee: $100 one-time fee due upon lease execution (covers onboarding and detailed video condition documentation).
- Security Deposit (AB 12 Compliant): In accordance with California law, standard residential security deposits are capped at one month’s rent and held in a non-interest-bearing client trust account.
How Applications Are Processed
- Order of Processing: Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. An application is considered complete once all adult co-occupants have submitted their forms, fee payments, and supporting documentation.
- Decision Timeline: Complete applications are typically processed within 2 to 3 business days.
- Holding Deposit: Once approved, applicants must submit a holding deposit within 24 hours to secure the home and initiate lease drafting. This deposit is credited toward your move-in funds.
- Move-In Scheduling: Move-ins take place on Thursdays only with a minimum of 5 business days' notice following written terms confirmation, allowing time for preparation and our staff-led walkthrough.
Human Oversight & AI Policy
While Croskey Real Estate embraces modern technology to streamline communications and maintenance scheduling, we do not use AI to automate, recommend, score, approve, or deny tenant applications. Every application is evaluated directly by licensed property management team members in accordance with Fair Housing laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit score do I need to rent?
We evaluate applications holistically. A score of 700+ qualifies for standard terms. Applicants with scores below 700 can qualify through our Credit Risk Mitigation Program (monthly fee of $20-$100 depending on average household FICO) or an approved co-signer.
How much income do I need to qualify?
Standard approval requires a combined gross monthly household income of at least 3 times the rent. For recipients of government housing assistance, the 3× ratio applies only to your individual out-of-pocket portion of the rent.
Why is the application fee non-refundable?
The $35 application fee covers direct, out-of-pocket costs charged by credit bureaus and screening services, as well as the administrative time spent verifying your documents, employment, and rental history. Once processing begins, these costs are immediately incurred and cannot be refunded. (If your application is received but never processed because a prior applicant was approved first, your fee will be refunded in accordance with California law).
Can I bring my own credit report to save on the application fee?
No. Under California Civil Code § 1950.6, we must pull an independent, verified report through our screening partner to guarantee identity verification and maintain Fair Housing consistency.
What is the security deposit amount?
Under California law (AB 12), security deposits are limited to a maximum of one month’s rent for residential leases.
What automatically disqualifies an application?
Unpaid balances owed to prior landlords, utility collections, recent eviction judgments, or falsified documentation.
When can I move in after being approved?
Move-ins are scheduled on Thursdays only, with at least 5 business days' notice following lease finalization.
Ready to Apply?
Review available properties and submit your application online. Have questions? Contact our Leasing Team at info@croskeyrealestate.com or call (925) 336-3282.
AI-supported, with human oversight
We use AI to work faster and stay responsive, but a licensed Croskey team member reviews the decisions that affect residents and owners. People stay in charge.
How we use AI