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.

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Documents:

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This is a form, known as a South Dakota Rental Application, that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

Use this Tennessee Rental Application as a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property to provide a property owner with their personal information.

Landlords may use the details in this Texas Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

A Utah Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

This is a form, known as a Vermont Rental Application, that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

Use this Virginia Rental Application as a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property to provide a property owner with their personal information.

Landlords may use the details in this Washington Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

A West Virginia Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

This is a form, known as a Wisconsin Rental Application, that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

Use this Wyoming Rental Application as a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property to provide a property owner with their personal information.

An Arkansas Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

This Rental Application is a document that contains information regarding rental applicants in the state of Arizona.

This Rental Application is a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property in the state of Alaska to provide this property's owner with their personal information.

This form can be used in the state of Alabama to make a living rental agreement.

Landlords may use the details in this Oklahoma Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

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An Oregon Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

This is a form, known as a Pennsylvania Rental Application, that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

Use this Rhode Island Rental Application form as a document used by rental agents and landlords to collect information from prospective tenants applying for renting an apartment.

Landlords may use the details in this South Carolina Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

An Illinois Rental Application form is used to gather information about prospective tenants who are interested in applying for a property rental.

An Idaho Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

This is a form, known as a Hawaii Rental Application, that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

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A Georgia Rental Application is a document that states information about a potential tenant for a landlord or property manager to verify.

A Florida Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

Landlords may use the details in this Delaware Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

Use this Connecticut Rental Application as a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property to provide a property owner with their personal information.

Use this Colorado Rental Application as a legal document which is requested by property managers or landlords and completed by potential renters.

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You may use this California Rental Application as a document that states information about a potential tenant for a landlord or property manager to verify.

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Landlords may use the details in this Maine Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

Landlords may use the details in this Nebraska Rental Application to find out if an applicant is a safe and responsible tenant who will not cause any problems, damage the property, or fail to pay the rent.

A Nevada Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental need to verify their legitimacy.

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A Maryland Rental Application is a document completed by individuals who apply for a rental to verify their legitimacy.

Use this New Hampshire Rental Application as a legal document which is requested by property managers or landlords and completed by potential renters.

Use this Massachusetts Rental Application as a legal document which is requested by property managers or landlords and completed by potential renters.

This Rental Application is a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property in the state of Louisiana to provide this property's owner with their personal information.

This Rental Application is a document potential tenants fill out before renting a residential property in the state of New Jersey to provide this property's owner with their personal information.

Use this Kentucky Rental Application as a legal document which is requested by property managers or landlords and completed by potential renters.

A Kansas Rental Application Form is a form that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

This is a form, known as an Iowa Rental Application, that is used by landlords or property managers to collect necessary information from prospective tenants.

Use this Indiana Rental Application form as a document used by rental agents and landlords to collect information from prospective tenants applying for renting an apartment.

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