It breaks out to be about $20 an applicant for criminal and credit reports.  

Based on tenantsearch check, he has no criminal history and no eviction history.

Make a specific criteria for renting your property (Credit score, DIR, No evictions, Criminal convictions etc) and stick with it. 

I'm pretty sure other tactics like saying "I only accept 11 month leases" because section 8 requires 12, are also asking for a discrimination lawsuit.My understanding on this (from lots of reading but no direct experience)  is that you can apply the same rental qualification criteria to a section 8 applicant as any other - credit score, prior landlord reference, criminal background check (except in seattle) and so on,  however when it comes to income you are only allowed to verify the tenants portion of the rent responsibility.   

They also allow you to choose from several screening options, such as - credit, criminal and eviction; based on your preferences. 

Basically use KYB(know your buyer) guidelines.These small things hold up the transaction just enough criminals keep moving.

What if it comes back with no criminal history or evictions?

I state our requirements briefly at the end of every ad, it does save some time screening but some folks still won't read the requirements.Something like "3x the monthly rent in income (Students may use a personal guarantor), min credit score of 600 (no credit score due to lack of use is also acceptable), no criminal or eviction history." 

After compiling a short list of potentials, then I charge the app fee to look up credit report and criminal background.If your not receiving an overload of potential applications the issue there maybe; 1.

I would have denied based on income and would not have looked at their application any further to see the criminal stuff.