8 answers

Rental Application Questions

What a landlord can ask for when you apply, application fees and holding deposits, credit and income requirements, and your rights if you are turned down.

How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee?It depends on your state — federal law sets no cap on application fees, but some states limit the fee to the landlord's actual screening costs. California also sets a dollar cap that started at $30 and rises with inflation.
What is a holding deposit, and do I get it back?Usually yes, but only if you follow through — a holding deposit takes a unit off the market while you finalize your application, and it's typically applied to your first month's rent or refunded if the landlord backs out first.
What can a landlord ask for on a rental application?A landlord can ask for income, employment, rental history, and consent to run a credit and background check, but federal fair housing law bars questions aimed at your race, religion, disability, or familial status.
Can a landlord deny my rental application because of bad credit?Yes — credit history isn't a protected characteristic, so a landlord can deny you for it, but federal law requires them to tell you if a credit report was the reason and how to get a free copy of it.
Can a landlord require my income to be three times the rent?Yes — income requirements like 3x the rent are a landlord's own underwriting standard, not something federal law regulates, though it still has to be applied the same way to every applicant.
Can a landlord deny my application because of a criminal record?In most cases yes — a criminal record isn't a federally protected characteristic, but a blanket policy that screens out applicants can still violate fair housing law if it has an unjustified discriminatory effect.
Can a landlord refuse to accept a Section 8 voucher?In most places, yes — federal law doesn't require private landlords to accept housing vouchers, though a growing number of states and cities have passed their own laws that do require it.
What does a co-signer or guarantor owe on a lease?A guarantor typically owes the same rent, fees, and damage costs the tenant does if the tenant doesn't pay — the exact scope depends entirely on the wording of the guaranty they sign, not on a standard legal default.

Read your lease before you sign it.

Upload it now and see your first red flags in the free preview.

Check my lease free