Rental Application Forms by State

What Is a Rental Application Form?

A Rental Application is a document used by landlords seeking to rent their vacant property to responsible renters.

Alternate Names:

Tenancy Application;
Lease Application.

Prior to renting, the owners have to screen their prospective tenants for trustworthiness and reliability. Trustworthiness is a quality that allows the landlord to rely on the tenant as an honest or truthful individual. In other terms, by going through the process of a rental application, the landlord sees if the tenants are who they say they are. Reliability in the real estate context generally means their financial stability and ability to pay rent in a timely manner. This is done by filling out a Rental Application form, which offers a series of questions giving the landlord an opportunity to determine whether the individual is a good fit for their needs. The applicant’s signature also grants the landlord the right to perform a background check.

Pick your states in order to download a state-specific form or choose our collection of Rental Application forms below. We offer various rent-related letters and notices, which allow landlords and property managers to run a background check (and a credit check) on each person who desires to live on their property. The landlord sometimes decides to charge a fee to cover their costs of checking the prospective tenants’ criminal and credit history.

Alabama	Hawaii	Massachusetts	New Mexico	South Dakota
Alaska	Idaho	Michigan	New York	Tennessee
Arizona	Illinois	Minnesota	North Carolina	Texas
Arkansas	Indiana	Mississippi	North Dakota	Utah
California	Iowa	Missouri	Ohio	Vermont
Colorado	Kansas	Montana	Oklahoma	Virginia
Connecticut	Kentucky	Nebraska	Oregon	Washington
Delaware	Louisiana	Nevada	Pennsylvania	West Virginia
Florida	Maine	New Hampshire	Rhode Island	Wisconsin
Georgia	Maryland	New Jersey	South Carolina	Wyoming

What Is the Rental Application Process?

Once you have selected the properties that present an interest to you and visited a few, you have to pick one that is the best match. Now it is time to fill out the application. You will need your personal information, including your SSN or driver’s license number, along with your employment information and rental references. Rental history is one component of rental applications and an important one at that.

The landlord will ask you to show proof of income, which can be a letter from your employer, recent pay stubs or your last tax return. The form you sign gives the landlord permission to check your credit, meaning your financial standing and responsibility. It also allows the landlord to perform a background check on you, which demonstrates your dependability. Your rental history is provided by the former landlord references. In some cases, you will need a signature of a co-signer and a cover letter explaining why your credit is poor. For example, you may explain the health issues that have prevented you from working full-time, and show clear career progression. Or you may have a felony in the past, but improved and can demonstrate that on hand on some specific examples.

What Does a Rental Application Look Like?

Landlords do not always ask to fill out an application form, but usually, a few reasons are behind this demand: the rental properties in your area are in high demand or there is a concern for your financial situation.

A Rental Application is a short and simple form, where you provide your personal information, residence history, employment history, credit history and give names and contact numbers of your references. The rest of the form are variables. For example, the form may contain extended questions like the following:

Reasons you need to move;
Your vehicle information;
Whether you or your friends smoke;
Estimated length of stay;
Bankruptcy and criminal history;
Whether you have any pets;

Eviction history;
Whether you have had problems with your past landlords.

Try to prepare for these questions in advance (just like you would for a job interview!), especially if it is hard to find a reasonably priced quality apartment in your neighborhood.

How to Fill Out a Rental Application Form?

While going through the rental process, you may expect the following steps on your way:

Fill out a Rental Application. Sometimes you will need to pay the apartment application fee, which can be as high as $100.
Expect credit and background checks to take up to two weeks. You need to prove you can pay rent. Figure out if you need a co-signer and find one – this part can be tricky.
Show good personal references to prove you are an agreeable renter.
Sign the lease.

Keep in mind, that if you are looking for a place to rent in a competitive market, you have to be ready to fill out a Rental Application form right away so you can beat out other applicants. Sometimes, the first applicant becomes the tenant based on a first-come-first-serve basis. So, take your time and complete the form thoroughly and accurately. Bring your documentation along and attach them to your form.

Who Can Be a Personal Reference on a Rental Application?

Rental references, or referrals in other terms, are votes of confidence from individuals who know you in a personal or professional setting. These people can be your co-workers, past professors, former employers, or former landlords.