Otherwise, landlords need to look at each conviction or arrest on a case-by-case basis. The national law is silent on people who are required to be on the National Registry of Sex Offenders, and it is currently legal to deny rental housing to registered sex offenders. In Minnesota, landlords must let prospective tenants know why their application was denied within 14 days of making the decision. The most secure digital platform to get legally binding, electronically signed documents in just a few seconds. If you’re interested in leasing commercial property, be sure to check out our article on How to Lease Commercial Real Estate. Now that you know what questions should be off-limits in your state, let’s look at getting a rental application and turning it in. “Rental applications are a great way to demonstrate to a state or municipal authority that you’re engaging in unbiased rental practices. They do this by asking questions related to a tenant’s financial stability, prior rental experiences, and sometimes criminal history. Understand that states do not require landlords to obtain credit checks or criminal background checks on prospective tenants, so it’s up to each landlord on whether they want to do this or not. Please use the form below to upload your Tenancy Application Form, ID and supporting documents. A rental application form should include basic personal, professional, and financial information. Application fees typically vary from $25 to $100, but some condo buildings and co-ops charge more. And, because we value transparency, we’ve chosen to provide a list of our partners. Reduce the time to apply for rental properties. Use this form when both parties agree to end a tenancy. These templates may be available through realtor or landlord associations, state or local agencies, or on the web. United States Code, Title 42 – The Public Health and Welfare, Chapter 45 – Fair Housing. Size: 92.89KB. Applicant Details. The free rental application templates below help landlords compile prospective tenant information including contact information, employment history, rental history, and criminal background. In Washington, landlords must provide a written notice to anyone whose rental applications are denied or “approved with conditions,” explaining why the application was denied, or what conditions are required for the tenant to rent a unit, and why those conditions were added. This is important because you may have multiple qualified tenants, and you can choose the one who filled out the application first. They acknowledge that the applicant has read the application and agrees to its terms. House Rental Application. Create a 1form account and apply for multiple. To make a considered decision you need as many facts about prospective tenants you can get. Tenant application forms must comply with landlord-tenant laws in your state, the Fair Housing Laws, and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Western Australian building services, electrical, gasfitting and plumbing industries. A pro tip is that most evictions can be prevented by screening the tenant properly before renting to them. Can You Sue If Your Rental Application Is Denied? It’s important to note that there are no national or state-level standards when it comes to what’s an acceptable credit score. Including questions about what a person is physically able to do would also be prohibited, along with any direct questions about whether a prospective tenant has any type of disability, if their family members have any disabilities, or if their friends/roommates have any disabilities. Does a landlord have the right to run a credit check or background check before approving a rental application? The best times to use each template include: These rental application templates should be used only as a basis to work from. While landlords may believe that including criminal history questions on a rental application form protects themselves and other tenants, the way the question is asked or handled could open them up to a discrimination lawsuit. RENTAL APPLICATION FORM PRIMARY APPLICANT: Name:_____ Birthdate: (mm/dd/yy) _____ /_____ /____ Cell phone:_____ Work phone:_____ SIN: _____-_____-_____ In Kansas, tenants who falsify information on their rental application may owe fines or face jail time. The disclosure section should be worded according to the landlord-tenant laws as well as fair housing and credit laws in your state. A rental application is generally right for: If a tenant is renting your vacation rental property through a site like Airbnb or VRBO, a rental application form isn’t generally used. Real Estate Investing > Rental Property | Templates. Apply for our properties online using the link below or from the property listing page. Download Rental Application Form. The applicant’s employment section on the rental application template should include: It’s important to find out the applicant’s work information so you can verify their employment with a tenant screening service. Delaware allows landlords to charge applicants $50 or ten percent of one month’s rent, whichever is greater. To determine whether the prospective tenant is a good financial risk. This section should include the applicant’s current employment status along with employment history if they have been employed in their current role for less than two years. According to the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, if a tenant’s rental application is denied because of information included on a credit report, landlords must provide the name and address of the credit reporting agency that provided the information. Tenant Bill of Rights”, Contacting the current (or prior) landlord, Conducting criminal background or credit checks, or both, Creating different credit score requirements for different applicants, Using different income or employment requirements for different applicants, Using a different application form for different applicants, Poor credit score (must be the same standard for all applicants), Criminal record (as long as the landlord doesn’t use a “blanket policy”), Too many occupants in the rental unit (violating state occupancy laws). It’s important to comply with landlord-tenant laws as well as fair housing, credit protection, and privacy laws when screening any potential tenants. Another way to find out about a tenant’s prior rental history/evictions and to determine the effectiveness of advertising for available units. This application form also gives you permission to do a credit check. Select the newsletters you’re interested in below. Maryland Office of the Attorney General, “Landlords and Tenants: Tips on Avoiding Disputes.”, Kansas Legal Services, “Kansas Tenants Handbook.”, The Office of Minnesota Attorney General, “Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities.”, Newman Ferrara, LLP, “The 2019 Changes to New York’s Landlord Tenant Law, Part 1.”, District of Columbia Office of the Tenant Advocate, “District of Columbia Tenant Bill of Rights.”, State of Vermont, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, “Finding Common Ground:  The Definitive Guide to Renting in Vermont.”. Application Form for Prospective Tenant. Tenancy Tribunal application online If you have a dispute with your tenant or landlord and need help to resolve it, you can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal online. You will need to make your own enquires as to … To ensure landlords are not violating state or federal occupancy guidelines. Applicant’s current address and how long they’ve lived there, Driver’s license or identification number, Name and phone number of applicant’s current landlord if applicable, Criminal history including arrests, felonies, and convictions. … The form is used to screen for qualified applicants in a way that ensures fairness by providing a standard process for … The application must be signed for it to be valid. and over again. The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this site are for general informational purposes only. In Alabama, tenants who have intentionally put false or misleading information on the rental application can be evicted by their landlords, even if they correct the information later. Note, however, that while most people agree to filling out these forms, future tenants are not required to disclose any of this information. All Rights Reserved. 1. Do you have to pay to submit a rental application? That means there are certain questions landlords cannot ask potential renters on a rental application form. Have your supporting documents ready from the list above. Note:  Landlords cannot ask references any questions regarding an applicant’s race, color, sex, national origin, disabilities, religion, or familial status. For example, asking black applicants to fill out a different rental application form than white applicants, requiring single applicants to have a higher credit score than married applicants, or placing stricter requirements on the employment history of non-white applicants are all forms of discrimination during the screening process. I… Landlords cannot have a “blanket policy” when it comes to arrests or convictions, since minorities tend to be over-represented in these two categories, and such a policy could be used as a way to screen out minorities. Some rental applications also include questions on criminal history and/or sex offender status, for the protection of the other residents. by filling out one simple form. If a landlord feels comfortable enough with the discrimination laws and any state or local laws regarding the collection of fees and personal data, they can create their own form, as long as they use the same form for all applicants. Sign Up For Our Real Estate Investing Newsletter! Are you required to submit a rental application in order to rent? New York, NY 10017. (Only a certain number of people are allowed per bedroom or square footage amount.). A rental application form isn’t the only thing that a person will need to fill up. Sign up to receive more well-researched small business articles and topics in your inbox, personalized for you. May be used for credit checks and background checks. You also know if they can afford to pay the monthly rental amount on their own. When Michelle isn’t writing or advising she enjoys traveling, pilates, and spending time on the water in Charleston, SC. Pre-apply as a tenant. Block CAPITALS will reduce errors Use Black Ink or Type for faxing Giving full details will avoid delays. U.S. Department of Labor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, Age Discrimination Act of 1975. While rental applications may vary from state to state, there are a few elements that are fairly standard among forms. In Texas, landlords may charge a non-refundable application fee to cover screening costs plus a refundable application deposit, which would be returned if the application is denied. This is usually done in lieu of a full tenant screening. 1. Some buildings don’t allow pets but, if you own the property and the building does allow pets, it’s up to you if you want to accept them and if you want to charge a pet deposit. Your tenant application form should help screen the tenants on their ability to pay rent, criminal or eviction history, and credit report. There are no national or state-level laws that require tenants to return a rental application within a certain amount of time, but that doesn’t mean landlords can’t put a time-frame somewhere on the rental application, i.e. FREE Download: Rental Application Templates. For what reasons can a rental application be denied? LinkedIn This is something each landlord will have to decide for themselves, but again, it must be the same criteria for all applicants. Landlord must complete all of Section A (Offer to Rent). In Virginia, landlords must refund excess application fees within 10-20 days of rejecting the application. A landlord should use this form to let Tenancy Services know that there has been a change of tenant in a rental property where a bond has been lodged. 1)    For a secondary contact if tenant is unavailable. SparkRental, “The Landlord’s Guide to State and Federal Rental Application Laws.”, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, “Housing Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act.”, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of the General Counsel, “Office of the General Counsel Guidance on Application of Fair Housing Act Standards to the Use of Criminal Records by Providers of Housing and Real Estate-Related Transactions.”, LawAtlas, The Policy Surveillance Program, “State Fair Housing Protections.”, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, “Housing Discrimination and Persons Identifying as LGBTQ.”, RentPrep, “Rental Application Fees (All 50 States).”, Association of Attorneys General, Training and Research Institute, “Protecting Veterans’ Access to Housing.”. In Minnesota, tenants may be required to pay a $500 fine for falsifying or omitting information on the rental application. No need to fill out your application details over. Massachusetts and Vermont do not allow landlords to charge application fees. In Florida, landlords must inform active duty members of the military and Florida National Guard whether or not their rental application has been accepted within seven days. This usually involves a thorough review of the rental application form, and the landlord typically performs the following steps: Financial red flags for landlords typically include things like bankruptcies, financial judgments, accounts sent to collections, foreclosures, and repossessions. Real estate agencies and private landlords can use JotForm to create custom tenant application forms, making it easy to collect tenant info online and streamline their workflow — for free! In Texas, landlords must provide prospective tenants with a written explanation of the selection criteria when the rental application is given to the tenant. A rental application form should include basic personal, professional, and financial information. The informa on you provide is for applying for this tenancy and may be used for a credit and reference check. Download: Adobe PDF, MS Word (.docx), OpenDocument Typically after the tenant has viewed the property and a verbal agreement has been made the rental application is completed. This allows you to know who is living in the property, their payment history and if they can afford the rent. The only exception to this rule is people who have been convicted of drug trafficking and/or manufacturing. Information for applicants. In Arizona, a tenant who puts false or misleading information on the rental application regarding: has ten days to correct the information or face eviction. Sign up to receive more well-researched real estate investing articles and topics in your inbox, personalized for you. Prior/current bankruptcies/bankruptcy status. If you’re going to rent property, you should use both a standard rental application and a lease agreement. There are laws around how much landlords can charge for application fees which vary by state. Landlord will apply said deposit to re-advertisement cost to find a new tenant, administration cost to process a new tenant's application, and loss any loss of income as a result of such cancellation and all other expenses incurred. In Wisconsin, landlords must allow tenants to provide their own credit or criminal background reports if they are less than 30 days old. Here are the perfect tenant Rental Application Forms that you can utilize to get several important sets of information from the tenant. In addition, Colorado landlords are prohibited from using an applicant’s arrest history, or any criminal convictions more than five years old in making a determination on the applicant. We’ve developed several free rental application templates that you can use for single-family homes, vacation rentals, or apartments. This allows you to screen all prospective tenants and determine whether tenants can still afford the rent if another occupant vacates. In New York, landlords may not deny an application just because a tenant has been party to a landlord/tenant lawsuit or dispute action. A rental application should be used whenever you rent your property to a tenant. If you are to rent a place, make sure that you have filled up and read all that is included in the application form. Prior to joining the Fit Small Business editorial team, Michelle owned a Registered Investment Advisory firm and participated in real estate flip projects as a principal investor. In Colorado, landlords may not use rental or credit history that is more than seven years old to make a determination. The signature and the date signed should be the last lines on the renal application form. This should be at the top of the application and is not the date the tenant wants to move in but is just the date he/she fills out the information. If accepted, I agree to sign a lease and or written tenancy agreement. If one person moves out, you want to ensure the remaining tenants can still afford to make the rental payments. We only partner with companies we believe offer the best products and services for small business owners. In Delaware, landlords are required to keep applications on file for six months, even if the application was denied. The best answers often include products and services. Some states also have requirements related to fees, the screening process itself, and falsifying information on the application, all of which are discussed below. Applicants must sign the form in order for landlords to perform criminal background/credit checks or contact references. It should also mention that you abide by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Housing Act. So applicants have a way of contacting the landlord, if necessary, and know whether the landlord is onsite or in another location. 2. Rental applications are designed to help landlords find the best tenants for their rental properties. Full legal names of all Applicants are required. Download now OR send this to your email & subscribe to receive more expert-written content. Some landlords may require a co-signer, who would assume financial responsibility if the applicant is unable to pay rent/fees. A standard rental application should be given to any prospective tenant so the landlord can screen them properly before they accept them as a tenant. 3. Free Rental Application Form Start your new Tenancy Agreement by choosing the right applicant for your property. 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