Free rental application templates
Standard rental application (3 pages)
Applicant, two residences, employment, other income, occupants, pets, vehicles, history questions, two references, emergency contact and screening authorization.
Download PDFWith co-applicant / guarantor page
Adds a page for a co-signer or guarantor with identity, residence, employment and signature.
Download PDFRoom rental application
For renting a room in a shared home: includes a question on schedules and shared spaces.
Download PDFFilled-in sample (fictional)
A completed example so applicants and new landlords can see what a good answer looks like.
Download PDF
Want your property address, rent, application fee and screening criteria printed on the form? Customize the rental application template and download your own version.
How to use a rental application template
- Decide your screening criteria first (income ratio, rental history, credit) and write them down.
- Give every adult applicant the same template and the same criteria sheet.
- Collect the fee only when a unit is available and your state allows it.
- Verify answers with landlords and employers, and run screening only with the signed authorization.
- Send an adverse action notice if you deny or add conditions based on a consumer report.
- Store completed applications securely and shred them when you no longer need them.
What makes a good template
The best rental application templates are short enough that applicants finish them, and complete enough that you can verify every claim. That means contact details for each previous landlord and employer, a monthly income figure you can compare against rent, and a clear, signed authorization. Ours also prints a fair housing statement and, if you choose a state, the application fee notice.
Avoid templates that ask for a marital status, number of children, religion or country of birth. Those questions serve no screening purpose and can be used as evidence of discrimination. See the Fair Housing checklist.
Template vs online application
| PDF template (free) | Online link (Pro) | |
|---|---|---|
| How applicants fill it | Print and write, or email back | On their phone, no account |
| SSN and ID numbers | Optional fields on paper | Never collected |
| Where answers go | Wherever you keep paper | Encrypted inbox, auto-deletes in 7 to 30 days |
| Price | $0 | $39/year or $5.99/month |
Frequently asked questions
Can I edit these rental application templates?
Yes. Use the builder on our homepage to change the title, sections, number of residences and references, add your property, fee and criteria, and add custom questions. Landlord Pro adds a fillable PDF version applicants can type into.
Are these templates valid in every state?
A rental application is not a regulated form in most states, but application fees and screening notices are. Choose your state in the builder to print the right fee notice where we have verified the statute, and check your city rules too.
Do I need a Word version?
Most landlords print or email a PDF because it keeps the layout fixed. If you want to change wording, the builder does it without Word: every change is reflected in the PDF you download.
Can I use these templates for commercial property?
These are residential rental applications. Commercial leasing usually needs business financials and guarantor details that are not included here.
Last updated · Written and checked by the RentalApplicationMaker editorial team against official state statutes. A template, not legal advice.