You can have a credit check done but keep in mind, a fair % of folks that are renting don't have good credit. I'm not saying all have bad credit but from my experience, if they had good credit they'd buy a house.
If I were you, I'd consider a lease purchase. Take a fair amount down and figure them a monthly payment for 10 years @ 10-15% interest. Most of the time, they will never actually finish paying before moving out. You get the deposit, years of rent, and you get the house back and you start over.
Also, if the house is "theirs" they tend to take better care of it.
