Specific screening requirements that I am wondering about would be credit history, past landlord references, and criminal background check. 

Do you have other ways of deciding before doing a credit/criminal check?

The Clerk may decline to check out files in the future to anyone who does not return a file in a timely manner or in the same condition.Adoption, criminal, juvenile and mental health files are not available for check-out.

Northeast is not that bad, (Mostly is senior citizens), Center City ($$$), North Philadelphia is the most dangerous area with high criminal, South Philadelphia is not that bad, Frankfort (my rental house was burgled).Out of all, I would prefer Northeast Philadelphia due to closer to New Jersey border and would not be stuck in the traffic once enter Northeast in Philadelphia county

If you have be taken by these guys like I have please contact me and let's talk about legal options ( class action) and criminal.

It is about $25 to run criminal, eviction and credit.They have a good free rental application on their website.There is no annual fee so you just pay when you need to run a report.Have tenant pay an application fee to cover this expense.John

Rental history, criminal history, and credit.

We do charge to cover the costs we incur to run credit/criminal/background checks.

It is borderline criminal.

My suggestion is to use an online landlord software that integrates your application process with legit screening resources like credit, criminal and eviction reports.