

What should I include in a rental application ? As a best practice, you should only accept fees from applicants who meet your rental requirements (such as income), and some state or local laws may require you to refund all rental application fees for all applicants who you do not select to be the tenant. When should I refund the rental application fee ?Īpplication fees should not be collected before you’re ready to run a credit and background check. To send an invitation to apply, go to the Applications tab, click on Send Invite, and enter the applicant’s email address. When you use Zillow Rental Manager, you can invite prospective renters to complete the tenant application form online. Paper applications may use a credit or debit card, check or money order. If they’re applying online, the fee is usually paid with a credit or debit card. Rental application fees are paid by the renter when they apply. How are rental application fees collected? However much you charge, it’s always important to be upfront about the cost. If you’re using Zillow’s Rental Manager tool, the applicant pays a $35 rental application fee to use the tool for up to 30 days (during which time they can apply to any properties that accept Zillow applications). The fees vary by location - some states allow landlords to charge a market-based rental application fee, and others have a limit on the amount you can charge. Generally, application fees also cover the cost of performing a credit and background check. The typical rental application fee among renters who paid one is $50, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019. What is the average rental application fee? If you’re renting your property to multiple people, each person can list co-applicants on their tenant application form, but everyone over 18 should also complete their own application.

See how it works:ĭoes each tenant need to fill out a rental application ?Īll prospective tenants over 18 years of age should complete their own rental application. Zillow Rental Manager offers an easy online rental application and screening process. A rental application form can provide valuable information in an easy-to-review format, whether you’re renting a single-family property, apartment, vacation rental or just a room in your house.

While you’re not required to use a rental application form, you should always employ a consistent system to gather and review information about prospective tenants. Do I have to use a rental application form ? By looking at income and other financial conditions, you can feel assured that the applicant will be able to pay rent each month. The rental application and tenant screening process (including criminal and background checks) provide critical information about the renter’s background and history. These laws prevent discrimination due to race, religion, ethnic background or nationality, gender, age, family status, disability and more. When applications are completed, they will be available in your Zillow Rental Manager account under the Applications section of your listing.Īs you review rental applications, it’s important to understand and comply with all applicable fair housing laws. This means the renter only has to pay once to submit a rental application to an unlimited number of participating landlords within a 30-day period. Zillow uses an online rental application that is portable. You may be familiar with rental applications in the form of a downloadable PDF. What is a rental application ?Ī rental application is a document used by a landlord or property manager to assess prospective tenants who are interested in renting a room, unit or property. Zillow’s online rental application and tenant screening tool - which includes features like third-party background checks and credit screening - is a great way to find tenants for your property. According to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019,* 87% of renters submitted at least one rental application before signing a lease. And the first step in finding reliable renters is your rental application and screening process. How does the tenant screening process work?Ī big part of successfully managing a rental property is finding reliable tenants.What should I include in a rental application?.What is the average rental application fee?.
