Rental Application
Rental applications, sent right to your dashboard
- 14-day free trial
Capterra
G2 Crowd
SoftwareAdvice
GetApp
Capterra
G2 Crowd
SoftwareAdvice
GetApp
Built-in rental application forms for landlords
Receive applications directly from your listings
Invite prospective tenants to apply
Customizable rental application templates
List, sort applications, and screen tenants in one place
List, apply, sign—all in one place
Create your rental application form the way you want—choose your qualifying questions, set your application fees, and sort by date to ensure legal compliance. Then, track every applicant from first inquiry to signed lease—all on TenantCloud.
One-step rental application templates
Create your rental application form the way you want—choose your qualifying questions, set your application fees, and sort by date to ensure legal compliance. Then, track every applicant from first inquiry to signed lease—all on TenantCloud.
Never miss a qualified lead
With our built-in Leads Tracking Tool, you can view everyone who’s contacted you, respond faster, and invite interested prospects to apply before they lose interest.
Screen smarter, lease faster
Run background checks, credit reports, and eviction screenings directly from an application—no extra steps necessary.
- 99.9% accuracy with Asurint & TransUnion
- Collect screening fees automatically
- Save time finding qualified tenants
Hear what other property managers are saying
Plans & Pricing
Starter
Everything you get with Starter:
- Online Rent Payments
- Maintenance Management
- Listings and Applications
Growth
Everything in Starter, plus:
- Enhanced Reporting
- Move In/Out Inspections
- Property Message Board
Pro
Designed for mid-to-large landlords looking for premium features and efficiency.
Everything in Growth, plus:
- Tax Reports
- Bank Reconciliation
- Separate Owner Portal
Business
Everything in Pro, plus:
- Team Management & Tools
- Task Management
- User-Interface Customization
Prices exclude any applicable taxes.
FAQs
What Is an Online Rental Application?
An online rental application is a standardized rental document form that landlords or property managers can use to evaluate prospective renters looking for a place to rent.
Typically, a rental application form collects data like:
- Personal and household information
- Residential history
- Employment and income
- Background information
What are the Benefits of Online Rental Applications?
- Tenant Evaluation: By reviewing the applicant’s personal, financial, and residential history, property managers can determine whether a potential tenant is a good fit for the property.
- Reduce the Risk: Verifying the applicant’s credentials with the help of background and credit checks minimizes the risks associated with renting properties.
- Property Safeguard: A thorough online rental application process helps protect rentals. With tenant application forms, you will reduce the risk of leasing to destructive or unreliable individuals.
Make informed decisions that protect property investments, provide legal adherence, and create a stable, peaceful, and financially secure rental environment.
Are Online Rental Application Forms Secure?
Yes, TenantCloud’s rental application templates are easy to customize. You can easily add, edit, or request additional information from applicants through the online rental application. We also include up to 40 pre-screening questions in the rental application form, helping you vet tenants and identify potential concerns.
Can Landlords Customize the Rental Application Form?
By searching national criminal records, state data, the national sex offender registry, and OFAC/most wanted lists, landlords can learn a lot about a prospective tenant’s background. This will allow you to verify the individual’s identity by looking into their past and verifying the information they provided about their criminal record, education, employment, and other personal details.
- Criminal background check – when reviewing an applicant’s criminal history, it’s common to evaluate the kind of offense, the severity, and the length of time since the crime was committed.
- Sex offender registry check – this registry is a list of all sex offenders who have been convicted in a certain state. The address, physical appearance, and criminal history of a sex offender are often included in registers.
- Reference from a previous landlord – this is not necessary but always welcomed.
- Eviction history – do not forget to verify that your potential tenant has a clear eviction history.
- Instant State Data
- OFAC/Most Wanted Searches
Performing background checks can help you select the right tenants who can pay their rent on time, as well as protect your property and follow lease terms during their tenancy.
Effective tenant screening increases tenant retention in a variety of ways; for example, tenants who rent a property for a longer period of time are more reliable. For both parties, a polite tenant-landlord relationship makes life easier.
We highly recommend performing a criminal background check for all potential tenants without exception. Background checks are necessary to avoid eviction. Not only are evictions upsetting, but they may be expensive and protracted, especially if the tenant contests them.
What Are Rental Application Fees for?
These fees cover the costs of submitting an application for a rental. While application fees are usually non-refundable and range from $20 to $100, some state regulations may apply.
Application fees are not a source of profit but a tool to cover expenses related to tenant screening and background checks. Transparency and honesty are essential during the screening process. For example, charging application fees without the intent to conduct background checks could lead to legal issues. Certain states may restrict a landlord’s maximum screening fee and require landlords to provide an itemized receipt.
In most states, a landlord does not have to refund the rental application fee, but exceptions exist.
- Massachusetts prohibits charging an application fee.
- Minnesota mandates that you refund the applicants any surplus funds beyond the screening service costs.
- Vermont does not allow landlords to charge an application fee.
- Washington requires the application fee to match the exact cost of the screening service.
- Wisconsin limits landlords to charge a maximum of $20 for an application fee.
In some states, including additional expenses such as processing or administration fees is acceptable. For example, it is not uncommon for some landlords to charge $50 for a $40 screening. The additional fee of $10 in this scenario is typically an administrative fee.
Transparency and honesty are essential during the screening process. For example, charging application fees without the intention of conducting background checks could lead to legal issues. Application fees are not a source of profit but a tool to cover expenses related to tenant screening.
How Do TenantCloud eSignatures and Landlord Documents Work?
TenantCloud provides landlords with several tools to streamline the leasing process. With eSignatures and a variety of landlord templates, landlords and property managers can sign leases and other important documents online—simplifying rental management. Here’s a brief explanation of how they work:
- eSignatures: Allows users to digitally sign documents, like leases, on electronic devices. When creating a lease through TenantCloud, you can request eSignatures from your tenants, speeding up the signing process while reducing paperwork.
- Secure Storage: Your eSignatures are stored securely, eliminating the need for physical document storage.
Landlord Forms:
- Versatile Selection: Our property management software offers a wide range of universal landlord forms, including pet addenda, move-in inspection reports, and notices to enter.
- Customization: Landlords can customize these templates and add property-specific information.
- Automation: Automate repetitive tasks like setting up lease renewal reminders to save time and strengthen tenant-landlord relationships.
What Questions Should Landlords Include in Their Rental Application Form?
Your rental application form depends on your rental criteria. While tenant screening can cover the basics, an application is also a helpful way to pre-screen tenants before the background check.
TenantCloud’s online application forms allow users to include additional pre-screening questions. We recommend avoiding simple yes/no answers and encouraging tenants to provide detailed explanations. Here are some questions to consider on your application:
1. When do you plan to move in?
Pay close attention to those who express a desire to move in “immediately,” as it may be a yellow flag.
2. Do you have any pets? If yes, please specify the type, weight, and breed.
Whether you’re pet-friendly or not, knowing the kind of pet is crucial. You want to make sure the applicant does not have a pet that’s on your restricted list.
3. Parking Requirements. How many parking spaces do you need?
Ensure the applicant is aware of any restrictions or limitations associated with the rental.
4. Are you willing to submit a background and credit check as part of the application process?
5. Does anyone in your household smoke?
6. What is your monthly income?
7. Can you pay the first month’s rent and a security deposit?
8. Have you ever broken a rental lease agreement? If yes, please provide details.
9. Have you ever been evicted? If yes, please provide details. While prior evictions are a natural cause for concern, it is important to consider that pandemic-related circumstances may have influenced the situation. Gathering all the necessary details is crucial when making a decision about a rental applicant.
It’s essential to request relevant information while complying with the Fair Housing Act’s prohibitions. These include questions related to race (FHA, 42 U.S. Code §§ 3601-3619, 3631), religion, familial status, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, income sources, and criminal history in some regions.