Apartment Renting: How to Fill out a Rental Application Form

With more and more home owners losing their homes to foreclosure and bankruptcy, the rental market is on fire.  Owners are requiring rent-to-income ratios, credit reports and critiquing potential renters like never before.  Learn how to find an apartment and successfully lease in this rental market.

In most cases, landlords require all new tenants to fill out a rental application form. You will be required to divulge information about your previous addresses, employment and credit history. You will also have to give references to substantiate that you are a good tenant. Knowing how to fill out the application form is important.

 

Finding an apartment for lease or rent

 

After you have located an apartment for rent that you want to move to, it is time to think about the apartment lease. The lease application will need to be filled out completely and then signed before an answer can be given to you on whether you will be accepted. Rental laws have changed and everything must be in writing and signed in ink.

 

Important things to remember when applying for a lease

 

Housing rentals are in high demand and you need to have good credit or a good excuse about why you don't. There are some things to remember when applying for a home to lease.

• A rent lease is binding, even if you never move in.
  
• Be honest and upfront. Lying or dishonesty can be a reason for refusal.
  
• If you have bad credit, tell that to the landlord before he runs the credit report.
  
• Be extremely nice and always compliment the home.
  
• Never bring young and disorderly children with you.

 

What to expect

Take the rental application form with you and never fill out the application form in the leasing office. You need to take your time and think about what you want to write down. Also, get permission to use the names of your references prior to writing their names down. Landlords will want to see important people on your form, such as doctors, dentists, teachers or attorneys to show your credibility.

Fill out your application form in a blue or black ink, never red or any other color. Be very neat with your writing and if you can't, then print. The application form will need to include:

• Your name, address and phone number.
  
• Names and ages of everyone who will occupy the apartment.
  
• Do you own any pets?
  
• Social security number and driver's license numbers for the credit report.
  
• Bank name, account numbers and balances, which will be verified.
  
• List of prior addresses and landlords, which will be verified.
  
• Why are you moving?
  
• Permission to run a credit report.
  
• Signatures verifying the application is truthful.

After you have completely filled out the application and after having placed non-applicable in any blank places, you must return to the landlord and present the application to him with a check for the application fees and credit report.


HP 35S Scientific Calculator - Calculators