A complete rental application covering identity, residence and employment history, references, and FCRA-compliant screening authorization. Copy, download, or print it and fill in your details.
Application fee caps, permissible screening questions (including criminal history), and consumer report disclosure rules vary significantly by state and city — several states cap or ban application fees, and a growing number restrict when criminal history can be asked about or considered. This is a general template, not legal advice. Confirm your state and local requirements, and consider a local attorney's review, before using it.
RENTAL APPLICATION Property Address: [PROPERTY ADDRESS, UNIT NUMBER] Monthly Rent: $[RENT AMOUNT] Requested Move-In Date: [DATE] Application Fee Paid: $[AMOUNT] Date Received: [DATE] -------------------------------------------------------------- 1. APPLICANT INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------------------- Full Legal Name: ______________________________________________ Date of Birth: _______________ Phone: ______________________ Email: _________________________________________________________ Driver's License / State ID #: __________________ State: _____ Social Security Number: _______________________________________ (Provided solely for identity verification and background/credit screening) -------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CURRENT RESIDENCE -------------------------------------------------------------- Current Address: _______________________________________________ City/State/ZIP: ________________________________________________ Monthly Rent/Mortgage: $_______ Length of Residency: __________ Reason for Leaving: _____________________________________________ Landlord/Property Manager Name: _________________________________ Landlord Phone: _____________________ Email: __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- 3. PRIOR RESIDENCE (if less than 2 years at current address) -------------------------------------------------------------- Prior Address: __________________________________________________ Length of Residency: __________ Reason for Leaving: ___________ Landlord/Property Manager Name: _________________________________ Landlord Phone: _____________________ Email: __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- 4. EMPLOYMENT & INCOME -------------------------------------------------------------- Current Employer: _______________________________________________ Position/Title: _____________________ Length of Employment: ____ Employer Address: _______________________________________________ Supervisor Name: _____________________ Phone: __________________ Gross Monthly Income: $__________ Pay Frequency: _______________ Additional Income Source(s): ____________________________________ Additional Monthly Amount: $_____________________________________ (Applicant may, but is not required to, disclose income from public assistance, child support, or alimony) -------------------------------------------------------------- 5. OCCUPANTS & HOUSEHOLD -------------------------------------------------------------- Total Number of Occupants (including applicant): ________________ Additional Occupant Name(s) and Age(s): 1. _____________________________________ Relationship: ________ 2. _____________________________________ Relationship: ________ 3. _____________________________________ Relationship: ________ Pets: [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes — Type/Breed: ___________________ Weight: __________ Number of Pets: _____ Vehicles: Make/Model: ___________________ Year: _______ License Plate: ______ -------------------------------------------------------------- 6. RENTAL & BACKGROUND HISTORY -------------------------------------------------------------- Have you ever been evicted or asked to vacate a rental property? [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes, explain: ___________________________ Have you ever broken a lease early? [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes, explain: ___________________________ Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes, explain: ___________________________ Have you ever been convicted of a crime? (Consider only convictions relevant to tenancy, and only where permitted under applicable state and local law — see disclaimer below) [ ] Yes [ ] No If yes, explain: ___________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- 7. REFERENCES -------------------------------------------------------------- Personal Reference #1 Name: ______________ Phone: ______________ Relationship: ___________________________________________________ Personal Reference #2 Name: ______________ Phone: ______________ Relationship: ___________________________________________________ Emergency Contact Name: __________________ Phone: ______________ Relationship: ___________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- 8. AUTHORIZATION & CONSENT -------------------------------------------------------------- I certify that the information provided in this application is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. I understand that any false or misleading statement may be grounds for denial of this application or, if discovered after occupancy, grounds for termination of tenancy in accordance with applicable law. I authorize [LANDLORD/PROPERTY MANAGEMENT NAME] to verify the information provided, including contacting current and prior landlords and employers, and to obtain a consumer credit report, criminal background check, and eviction history report from a consumer reporting agency for the purpose of evaluating this rental application, in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and applicable state law. I understand that if this application is denied in whole or in part based on information in a consumer report, I will receive an adverse action notice as required by the FCRA, including the name and contact information of the reporting agency used. Applicant Signature: ___________________ Date: _________________ Print Name: _____________________________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- FOR LANDLORD/MANAGER USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------- Screening Criteria Applied: _____________________________________ Application Approved: [ ] Yes [ ] No [ ] Conditional Reviewed By: _________________________ Date: ___________________
Asking questions tied to a protected class
Never ask about (or let the form imply you're asking about) race, religion, national origin, familial status, disability, or similar protected characteristics — under the Fair Housing Act this exposes you to real liability, even if the question felt incidental.
Changing your criteria applicant-to-applicant
If you accept a lower credit score or lighter income ratio for one applicant, be prepared to explain why — inconsistent criteria between similarly-situated applicants is one of the most common fair housing complaint triggers.
Skipping written consent before screening
Verbally asking 'is it okay if I run a background check?' isn't enough — get it in writing via the signature in Section 8 before you request any consumer report.
Charging a fee your state doesn't allow (or doesn't allow at that amount)
Application fee rules are some of the most frequently changed landlord-tenant regulations. Charging a flat fee without checking your state's current cap or receipt requirement is a common, easily avoidable mistake.
Not sending an adverse action notice on denial
If a credit report, criminal background check, or eviction report played any role in denying an applicant, federal law (FCRA) requires you to notify them and identify the reporting agency — silently rejecting the application isn't compliant.
Losing track of who applied for what, and when
When you're screening multiple applicants for the same unit on paper, it's easy to lose track of submission order, fees collected, and decisions made — which becomes a problem if a rejected applicant later asks why.
LeasePilot HQ collects the application, runs credit and background screening, generates adverse action notices automatically, and turns an approved applicant straight into a signable lease — no re-entering their information.
Collect applications online, screen tenants, and keep every document organized per property — all in one free account.
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