No criminal record or evictions.  

Nothing offensive, but jokes that play off stereotypes to disarm people.

You need to run criminal background checks, you need to "attempt" to get names of all the people that will be staying in the house (good luck with that!)

@Jamie S.has a good list, but, and no offense Jamie, every place is different on pricing, he lives in North Carolina, where you are in California, i can guarantee that costs are different in those two states. make a list like Jamie's and invite your contractor to Lunch ( we like free meals ) and get some rough prices by the square foot, by the square, per cabinet. then you will have something to go by when you walk into a house.

@Elena Jobsonand @Alex Frankssorry if my use of the word druggie was offensive.  

I'm currently a secretary with a Bachelor's Degree in  Criminal Justice. 

@Skip ReathYour house rules should outline procedures, for example, first offense = a warning, second offense, = $150 fine and so on.

Mom and Pop landlord are intentional targets of these criminals and fell victim due to their own short comings.

As far as performing our due diligence can we perform criminal checks or should we keep as far as credit checks ?

I am a Criminal Defense Attorney by trade to I try plan out as much as I can because I hate to be cause off guard.