Information Rental Applications Should Supply
Rental applications are forms used by landlords that prospective tenants are required to fill out during the rental process. It’s part of a landlord’s screening technique to help select tenants capable of paying rent on a timely basis and keeping the unit in good condition.
The idea, of course, is that rental property owners desire tenant longevity, and therefore use rental applications to look for a person who will pay the rent on time as well as stay in the unit for a long period thereby minimizing tenant turnover.
At the very least, 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
It’s also 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.
- Present and previous addresses where they have lived – it’s always smart to contact a prospective tenant’s previous landlords
- Work references – call the employer listed on the application to make sure the prospective tenant does work there.
If you’re 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.
Author: James Kobzeff, June 10th, 2008
