Rental applications are a vital tool for screening potential tenants. In this article, we’ll outline the key information to collect on a rental application and how to review it so you can find the right tenant. Plus, we’ve even included a free rental application template to help you get started.

What to include in a rental application form

There’s no standard application for rental properties, but you generally need the following information for a residential rental application:

• Personal information
• Residence history
• Employment and income information
• Pets and vehicles
• Personal references

You can include background information or a disclosure requesting permission to run a credit and background check. Make sure the disclosure complies with landlord-tenant laws, Fair Housing laws and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

If you’re charging application fees, include this amount and payment methods. Some state or local laws may require you to refund all rental application fees for all applicants who aren’t selected to be tenants.

Does each tenant need to fill out a rental application?

Anyone over 18 who wants to rent your property should fill out their own apartment application form. If you’re renting to a group, each person should mention their co-applicants on their form, but everyone should still submit a separate application.

How to review lease applications?

When reviewing a rental application, look for a solid employment history and check that they make enough money to easily cover rent. Ideally, their monthly gross income is at least three times the monthly rent amount.

Previous rent amounts and payment history are another good indicator for on-time rent payments. You can verify this information with previous landlords or run a background and credit check. Doing both will give you more information to determine how reliable a tenant will be, such as their credit history, evictions, late payments and any criminal charges.

Screen tenants online with Baselane

Running background and credit checks on each applicant helps ensure you’re renting to tenants who will pay rent on time and keep your property in good condition.

With Baselane, you can easily screen tenants online and get comprehensive reports within minutes. Once you've found the right renters, you can use Baselane to set up leases, collect rent and security deposits online and even create separate accounts for each property and deposit (required in some states).

Ready to streamline how you screen and onboard tenants? Watch our demo or sign up for a free Baselane account today.