Rental Application Forms & Templates

Moving into a new apartment can be an exciting time in your life, but it is only made possible by getting approval for your rental application. This process is predicated on you accurately completing a Rental Application Form that tells the landlord or property manager more about who you are and why you qualify as a good tenant. In this article, we look at all you need to know about filling this document.

How to Write

Generally, a rent application tells a landlord everything they need to know about a tenant’s employment history, past tenancies, qualities, and rent-payment behavior. This is why the document is very detailed. Here is a step-by-step guide for completing it:

Step 1: Supply Basic Information

The first section will ask for your identifying details, including your name, Social Security number, contact information, and driving license number. If you are living with other residents, you will also need to provide their names and describe your relationship.

Step 2: Outline Your Rental History

Next, you will need to supply details about your rental history, i.e., past residences and landlords. Some information you will need to provide include:

• Your current address
• Reasons for moving out
• Full addresses for your last two residences
• Residency dates for your previous residences, i.e., start and end dates
• Rent amounts, payment conditions, and due dates for past residences

Step 3: Provide Your Employment History

The landlord will need to make sure you can pay rent in full and on time. They will assess your financial stability by requesting the following details:

• Your current company’s name and contact information
• The names and contact information of your current and last two employers
• Your job title and roles
• Employment duration
• Duration of employment
• The nature of your employment, e.g., full-time, part-time, salaried, etc.
• Your monthly pay

As proof of income, you will need to attach copies of your employment verification letter, W2 forms, or pay stubs to your application.

Step 4: Supply Your Credit History

The landlord will ask for your consent to run a credit check, and you might need to pay the associated fees. Besides this, you will provide the following data as a review of your credit history:

• Rent payment confirmation letters from previous landlords
• Credit card statements and bank account details
• Social Security number
• ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) – needed to run a credit check

Step 5: Identify Your Personal References

Next, you must name your personal references (employers, landlord, neighbors, etc.), explain your relationship with them, and provide their contact information.

Step 6: Answer Questions

Lastly, you will answer questions that reflect your personality or history, such as those pertaining to:

• Your reasons for moving
• Smoking
• Pets
• Estimated lease period
• Vehicles you own
• Filing bankruptcy
• Past evictions
• Criminal background
• Co-signers

Rental Application Form

Personal Details

{Full Name}

{Date of Birth}

{Social Security Number}

{Driver’s License Number}

Vehicles: {Yes/No}. If yes, {Describe}

Other Occupants: {Yes/No}. If yes, {Describe}

Have you ever filed for bankruptcy? {Yes/No}. If yes, {Describe}

Have you ever been convicted of a crime? {Yes/No}. If yes, {Describe}

Have you ever been evicted? {Yes/No}. If yes, {Describe}

Property Description (Completed by Landlord)

Address: {Street, City, State, Zip Code}

Type: {Condominium/Home/Apartment/Room etc.}

Bedrooms: {Number}

Size: {Square Feet}

Rent: {Amount}

Pets allowed: {Yes/No}

Parking: {Yes/No}

Smoking allowed? {Yes/No}

Tenancy Terms

{Type}

{Length}

{Start Date}

Current Residence

Address: {Street, City, State, Zip Code}

Type: {Condominium/Home/Apartment/Room etc.}

Bedrooms: {Number}

Size: {Square Feet}

Rent: {Amount}

{Length of Tenancy}

{Lease Expiration Date}

{Reason for Moving}

Landlord: {Name}, {Phone Number}, {Email}

Previous Residence 1

Address: {Street, City, State, Zip Code}

Type: {Condominium/Home/Apartment/Room etc.}

Bedrooms: {Number}

Size: {Square Feet}

Rent: {Amount}

{Length of Tenancy}

{Lease Start Date}

{Lease Expiration Date}

{Reason for Moving}

Landlord: {Name}, {Phone Number}, {Email}

Previous Residence 2

Address: {Street, City, State, Zip Code}

Type: {Condominium/Home/Apartment/Room etc.}

Bedrooms: {Number}

Size: {Square Feet}

Rent: {Amount}

{Length of Tenancy}

{Lease Start Date}

{Lease Expiration Date}

{Reason for Moving}

Landlord: {Name}, {Phone Number}, {Email}

Employment

Company: {Company Name}, {Company Address}

Occupation: {Job Title}, {Employment Duration}

Income: {Gross Monthly Pay}

Employer: {Name}, {Phone Number}, {Email}

Financial Information

Bank: {Account Number}, {Routing Number} {Branch Location}

Type: {Checking/ Savings}

Credit Card: {Card Number}, {Limit}

Personal References

1. {Full Name}, {Relationship}, {Phone Number}, {E-Mail}
2. {Full Name}, {Relationship}, {Phone Number}, {E-Mail}

Rental Application Form (Word Template)

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The Process of Running a Background Check

As part of the application form, the landlord will ask you for consent to run your credit. This is part of the extensive background check the landlord will run when considering your application. The process entails the following steps:

Step 1: Run a Credit Check

Most landlords prefer to rent to a tenant with a credit score of above 620, and this is the first thing they will check. They may turn to the following companies that provide tenant credit reports and criminal history. If you have sent a complete application form:

• E-Renter.com – $32
• MyRental.com – $30
• ScreeningWorks.com – $30
• RentPrep.com – $18.95

If the landlord does not have a completed application:

• Cozy.com – $40
• MySmartMove.com (TransUnion) – $35
• LeaseRunner.com – $32

Step 2: Verify the Applicant’s Employment

Next, the landlord will verify the applicant’s income and employment by requesting two weeks’ worth of pay stubs (employed) or tax returns for the last two years (self-employed).

Step 3: Contact Former Landlords

The landlord will contact past landlords through the contact information provided in the application to verify the tenant’s payment behavior, responsibility, cleanliness, and relationship with other tenants.

Step 4: Review the Sex Offender Registry

The landlord may decide to check if the tenant is listed in the Sex Offender Registry. While the Fair Housing Act makes it illegal to deny a tenant for being listed in the registry, they can deny an application if they can prove that the applicant poses a threat to other people.

Step 5: Decide

Lastly, the landlord will consider all the information they have gathered and either deny or approve the rent application.

Rental Application Forms and Templates

Types of Rental Application Form

There are several types of rental application forms you can use, depending on the type of property for which you are applying. Here are the main examples:

Basic Rental Application Form

A basic rental application form can be used to apply for tenancy at any rental property. It collects standard application details like employment history and income.

Apartment Rental Application

If you wish to rent an apartment, you can complete and send in an apartment rental application form to the landlord or property manager. You may be required to pay an application fee.

House Rental Application

A house rental application form is more detailed than the other forms because it is used to evaluate potential tenants for a home where multiple people might be living.

Room Rental Application

A room rental application form is often prepared by a sub-letter looking for a roommate. The aim is to find out if you and the person offering the room are compatible.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Rental Application Form allows the landlord to learn more about a prospective tenant’s qualifications. From the information provided in the document, they can contact references, employers, and past landlords to learn about the applicant’s behavior, ability to pay rent, and reliability. If you are applying for a tenancy, filling out the form accurately will increase your chances of approval.