1. Submitting a Rental Application: submission of a rental application that the most landlords require.
- Application fees: Application fees may be required and are usually not refundable. The fee may be applied to the first month’s rent. Always get a receipt for any fee or deposit.
- Information on application: Landlords have broad discretion to ask for information on rental applications and the following information is commonly requested: Name, social security number, current landlord’s name, employer’s name, applicant’s job title and annual income, past employment information, relative references, identity of nearest relative and consent for a credit report and criminal record check.
- Background check: Landlords may require the tenant to consent to a credit and criminal background check as part of the application. Credit reporting agencies can provide information about tenants to a prospective landlord without the tenant’s consent.
2. Reviewing and Signing a Lease: If the landlord accepts the tenant’s application and determines that the tenant meets its requirements to lease, the next step is to enter into a rental agreement called a lease.
- Landlords should be careful about language included or left out of a lease and consider consulting with an attorney who regularly handles landlord and tenant matters.
- Tenants should always read the lease before signing. Leases differ from landlord to landlord. Tenants are not excused from honoring a lease simply because they did not understand or read it. A tenant may request a copy of the lease to review a day or two in advance of meeting with the landlord to sign and ask an attorney for help understanding the lease if necessary. The tenant should always receive a copy of the signed lease and maintain it in a safe place.