Legally 'Kosher' Tenant Screening Questions (California)

[Account Closed]

what can i ask, and what can't i ask?

most everyone that calls just RUSHES right into 'what's the address' and 'when can i see it'.

nowadays, most dont even introduce themself over the phone nor seem to want to divulge any info related to their household (perhaps thats normal for urban areas?)

showing properties as a PM i'm pretty much open book and heck even let them check out the keys as long as leave a deposit and copy of ID at office, but for my own properties i wanna be more picky, esp when its my duplex house, before i let em see.

when they call to enquire can i ask what they do for a living? salary? how many in household?

as im still new to ca from nyc, just wanna make sure im not askin 'illegal' questions of prospective tenants albeit just over the phone

[Michele Fischer]

I don't know particular CA laws.  You may want to look up @Marcia Maynard, she has phone interview prescreening questions.

I think it is reasonable to ask some questions to weed out some applicants that would be time wasters - how many people in household (without asking for number of kids, marital status, etc), pet situation, household income (without asking type of work/source), etc.  Look at your criteria and what you can objectively ask about without being discriminatory, as a first screen.  You want to be careful about declining over the phone, make sure it is something you can clearly say "We do not allow xxxx in this property..." or "we require xxxx for this property" and be 100% consistent phone call to phone call.