California - Statement of Rental Policy 

Application Process

Step 1. Tenant Application, Credit and Background Check

All applicants 18 years of age or older who intend to be included on the tenant lease and whose qualifications would like to be considered must complete a tenant application and credit report.  Incomplete or falsified applications will be denied.

Applicants are required to apply through Doorstead's designated application link, provided via email, with a fee of $45 (plus a small processing fee) per applicant. Please note that we do not accept credit reports or screenings from external companies, and all application fees are non-refundable.

Step 2. Photo Identification and Proof of Income

Within Doorstead's application portal, applicants are required to complete a Persona ID verification and provide two of the following proofs of income:

  • For Salaried or Hourly Applicants: Submit two most recent pay stubs.
  • For Applicants Starting New Job: Submit your offer letter signed by an authorized company official with the company letterhead, stating your start date, title, salary and the company official phone number. Offer letter should be dated within 30 days of your rental application. Screenshots or pictures of forms are not accepted as valid documentation.
  • For Self-Employed Applicants: Submit your most recent W2 form, 1099 form, or your most recent income tax return. Please also submit your most recent bank statements for the last two months. Screenshots or pictures of forms are not accepted as valid documentation.
  • For Applicants with Varied Income or Commission-Based Income: If your income is based on commission or your income varies month-to-month, please submit three months of your most recent pay stubs and your most recent bank statements for the last two months. Screenshots or pictures of forms are not accepted as valid documentation.
  • For Additional Sources of Income: Examples of additional income sources could be copies of the court order and awards letter for child support or alimony, copies of the earnings statement letter for SSI, disability, pension, or retirement. You must also submit two most recent bank statements showing the amount of the deposit for any of these cases. Screenshots or pictures of forms are not accepted as valid documentation.
  • For Housing Voucher Holders: In compliance with SB 267, applicants with housing vouchers are required to demonstrate their ability to pay the portion of rent approved by the Housing Authority. Acceptable proof may include pay stubs, bank statements, or other lawful evidence of financial capability. Along with these documents provide your housing voucher indicating the rent amount authorized by the Housing Authority. Bank statements must clearly state sources of deposit and income. Please provide two months of prior bank statements, all pages. Screenshots or pictures of forms are not accepted as valid documentation.

Step 3. Lease Start Date & Rental Price Confirmation

Applicants should submit their earliest lease start date and rental price confirmation to Doorstead’s leasing team via email: [email protected], or via text message: 415-275-6400.

Step 4. Additional Information (Only If Needed)

If needed, Doorstead may ask applicants for the following:

  • Co-signer or Guarantor: If applicant does not meet minimum qualifications, a co-signer or guarantor could be added to the application so that the applicant meets the minimum qualifications. A co-signer or guarantor must go through the same application process stated in Steps 1 & 2. The co-signer or guarantor should have income greater than 5x the monthly rent or liquid assets greater than 80x the monthly rent. Co-signer or guarantor should also have a credit score of at least 650.
  • Savings:  If applicants do not have enough income, the applicant’s savings or liquid assets should be at least 80x the monthly rent.
  • Lease Start Date: If applicant’s desired lease start date does not meet minimum qualifications, we may ask the applicant to confirm whether they can adjust their lease start date.

Please Note: An application will not be considered finalized until you have completed all of the steps in this section, and all individual applications within a group must be received for the applicant group to be considered finalized. You have the right to request additional time such as for translation or a reasonable accommodation for a disability, or an alternative method of application and payment if needed.

Screening Criteria & Minimum Qualification

  • Income or Savings:  Applicants’ household monthly income should be 3x the monthly rent amount, or applicant should have savings or liquid assets of at least 80x monthly rent.  A combination of income and savings can be considered, and only verifiable sources of income and savings will be considered.  
  • Credit Report:  Credit report is required for all applicants with a preference for applicants who have a credit score of 650 or higher. Negative credit items (such as charge-offs, unpaid debts, or a history of delinquent payments) may require an explanation from applicants and may be used to disqualify an application.
    • SB 267 Compliance for Housing Voucher Holders: In line with SB 267, applicants receiving a government subsidy are not subject to credit history evaluation as part of the application process. Instead, they have the option to provide lawful, verifiable alternative evidence of their ability to pay the tenant’s portion of the rent. Acceptable documentation may include, but is not limited to, government benefits payments, payment records, or bank statements.

    • Doorstead will directly run a credit report with Transunion (www.Transunion.com or 800-916-8800). We do not accept copies of credit reports from you. If your application is denied based on this credit report, you will receive a free copy of it.

  • Background check: Applicants are required to submit a background check unless the rental unit’s city or state does not allow for background checks. Negative background checks may disqualify an application.
  • Rental History: Applicants must be able to demonstrate a pattern of meeting their rental or mortgage obligations, leaving prior properties in good condition, not having a pattern of complaints from neighbors, and have no prior evictions.
  • References: Applicants will be asked to provide references from previous housing provider(s)  and previous employer(s) for a minimum of 12-24 months.  A rental application will not be considered complete without accurate reference names, phone numbers and email addresses for references.  Negative references or inability to successfully contact references may disqualify an application.
  • Lease Start Date: Applicants are strongly encouraged to start their lease within 14-21 days of their application date.

If the applicant does not meet the minimum qualification, Doorstead may ask the applicant for the following:

  • Co-signer or Guarantor: A co-signer or guarantor must go through the same application process and should have 5x the monthly rent along with a 650+ credit score.

Selection Process & Lease Signing

    • When more than one qualified application is received for the rental unit, Doorstead selects applicants based on the following:
    • Earliest completed application. 
    • Earliest applicant lease start date.
    • Rental price which applicant is willing to pay.
  • If the preferred qualified applicant does not accept the rental unit, the second qualified applicant will be considered. This process continues until the rental unit has been rented.
  • If an applicant is offered the unit, the unit will not be removed from active marketing until the applicant has signed their lease and initiated the transfer of their security deposit.
  • Lease Signing: All leases will be sent to applicants via Hellosign and signed electronically. Applicants have 24-48 hours to review and sign the lease before the application may be canceled.
  • Security Deposit: Payment of security deposit will be made online via Doorstead’s tenant payment portal. Security deposit is due within 24-48 hrs of receiving the tenant lease. Failure to do so will result in your application being canceled.
  • Lease signing and Security Deposit: You are granted a 24-48-hour window to review, sign your lease, and remit your security deposit to secure the property. The property will remain on the market until these requirements are fulfilled. Please be aware that failure to complete these actions within the designated time frame may lead to the cancellation of your application.

Move-In Process and Costs

  • Important note: Your move-in could be delayed if the payment of rent has not been received and posted to Doorstead’s bank account. Timely payment is critical to ensure your move-in happens as scheduled. Payments typically take up to three days to post to Doorstead’s bank account once payment has been initiated. However, that timeline can be extended by an additional day if payments are initiated late in the day on Friday after the cutoff time (2 pm PST).
  • Security Deposit: Payment of the security deposit will be made online via Doorstead’s tenant portal. Security deposit is due within 24-48 hrs of receiving tenant lease. Security deposit could equal up to 1 month’s rent. Your security deposit must be fully settled into the Doorstead trust account in order for you to receive keys and move into a property. Doorstead is not responsible for any delay in your move-in date based on lack of funds or failure for those funds to settle into the Doorstead trust account.
  • First Month’s Rent: Payment of the first month’s rent will be made online via Doorstead’s tenant portal and prorated based on the lease start date. First month’s rent is due on the lease start date.
    • Other Move-in Costs (only if applicable):
    • Pet damage deposit: due at the same time as security deposit.
    • Non-refundable HOA-mandated move-in fees and deposits: typically due before the lease start date.
  • Rental Payments: Rental payments will be made online via Doorstead’s tenant portal. Rental payments are due on the 1st of the month.

    Non Discrimination Policy

    In compliance with State and Federal Housing Law, guidelines, and Doorstead Inc. policy does not discriminate based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, source of income, disability (mental and physical), medical condition, citizenship, primary language, immigration status, military/veteran status, age, and criminal history for non-relevant convictions (depending on jurisdiction).