Why Landlords Use Rental Applications
A rental application is a form rental property owners require prospective tenants to fill out during the rental process, and is part of a landlord’s screening technique that helps select tenants capable of paying rent on a timely basis and keeping the unit in good condition.
The information gathered in the rental application such as full name, current address, and monthly income are all essential for the rental property owner to determine whether the individual suits the landlord’s expectations of a good tenant and will qualify for renting the unit.
The idea, of course, is that the rental property owner is typically looking for tenant longevity: a good person who will pay the rent on time as well as stay in the unit for a long period and thereby minimize tenant turnover.
Rental applications should gather the following pertinent information from the prospective tenant.
- Rental-housing history (including evictions) and any criminal history
- How many people will be living in the unit
- Who is the closest relative that can be contacted in case of an emergency
- Social security and driver’s license numbers
- Source of income
Moreover, it is important that the prospective tenant agree to supply the following additional information.
- Two forms of identification you can copy and file
- Credit checks – many credit agencies also perform checks on the prospective tenant’s criminal history. You may have to join a credit-reporting agency in your area and pay an initial membership fee, but this is usually charged to the prospective tenant.
- Present and previous addresses where they have lived – it is always smart to contact their previous landlords
- Work references – call the employer listed on the application to make sure the prospective tenant does work there.
In the event that you are using a rental agency to handle tenant applications, make sure to ask for a copy of their rental application. You want to satisfy yourself that the rental agency holds to the same standards for tenant selection as you do.
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Author: James Kobzeff, March 8th, 2008
