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Free rental application form template (Word)

An application for a rental home: the property and rent, any application fee, the applicant's contact details, current and previous landlords, employer and income, other occupants, pets, vehicles, references, consent to screening and a fair housing statement.

No sign-up. Your answers stay in your browser. Who it is for: Landlords choosing a tenant for a house, apartment or room, and applicants who want to prepare their details before they apply.

Updated · Word (.docx) · Free to use and adapt

Need more than one? Download all 87 templates as one .zip file.

What is in the rental application

  • Property, rent and move-in date
  • Optional application fee
  • Applicant and contact details
  • Current and optional previous address and landlord
  • Employer, position and monthly income, plus other income
  • Other occupants
  • Pets and vehicles, with a note on assistance animals
  • References
  • Consent to verify and screen
  • Fair housing statement and signature
First page of the free rental application template for Word

Read the full template

This is the complete wording. [Labels] are filled in from your answers, and highlighted text only appears when it applies; hover over it to see when.

RENTAL APPLICATION

Property: [Property address]

Monthly rent: [Monthly rent]. Requested move-in date: [Move in date].

Landlord or manager: [Landlord name]

Application fee: [Application fee amount] for each adult applicant, to cover the cost of screening. It is charged only as far as the law allows, and a receipt will be given.There is no application fee.

1. Applicant

Full name: [Applicant name]

Phone: [Applicant phone] Email: [Applicant email]

Current address: [Current address]

Lived there since: [Lived there since]

Current landlord: [Current landlord name], [Current landlord phone]

Reason for moving: [Reason for moving]

Previous address: [Previous address], lived there [Previous dates lived]. Previous landlord: [Previous landlord name], [Previous landlord phone].

2. Employment and income

Employer: [Employer name]

Position: [Job title] Since: [Employment start]

Supervisor or HR contact: [Employer contact]

Gross monthly income: [Monthly income amount]

Other income: [Other income details]

3. Other occupants

The following people will also live at the property. Each adult will complete their own application.No one else will live at the property.

  • [Occupant name]

4. Pets and vehicles

Pets: [Pet details]No pets.

Assistance animals are not pets and do not need to be listed here.

Vehicles: [Vehicle details]

5. References

Names and phone numbers of two people who are not relatives: [Reference details]

6. Authorization

I confirm that the information in this application is true and complete. I authorize the landlord and its screening company to verify it, including by contacting my employer and landlords and obtaining a consumer credit report and tenant screening report, as the law allows. I understand that false or missing information may be a reason to reject this application or to end a tenancy.

Landlord does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

____________________________ [Applicant name] Date: ______________

The questions you answer

Clausery turns the template into a short questionnaire. Optional parts only appear when they apply.

QuestionTypeAsked when
Property addressLong textAlways
Monthly rentMoneyAlways
Move in dateDateAlways
Landlord nameShort textAlways
Charges application feeYes / noAlways
Application fee amountMoneyIf “Charges application fee” is yes
Applicant nameShort textAlways
Applicant phonePhoneAlways
Applicant emailEmailAlways
Current addressLong textAlways
Lived there sinceShort textAlways
Current landlord nameShort textAlways
Current landlord phonePhoneAlways
Reason for movingLong textAlways
Has previous addressYes / noAlways
Previous addressLong textIf “Has previous address” is yes
Previous dates livedShort textIf “Has previous address” is yes
Previous landlord nameShort textIf “Has previous address” is yes
Previous landlord phonePhoneIf “Has previous address” is yes
Employer nameShort textAlways
Job titleShort textAlways
Employment startDateAlways
Employer contactShort textAlways
Monthly income amountMoneyAlways
Has other incomeYes / noAlways
Other income detailsLong textIf “Has other income” is yes
Has other occupantsYes / noAlways
Occupants
For each item: Occupant name
Repeating groupIf “Has other occupants” is yes
Has petsYes / noAlways
Pet detailsLong textIf “Has pets” is yes
Has vehiclesYes / noAlways
Vehicle detailsLong textIf “Has vehicles” is yes
Reference detailsLong textAlways

How to use it

  1. Open it

    Click Fill it in now. The template opens in Clausery with its questionnaire ready.

  2. Answer the questions

    Work through the sections. Drafts save as you type, on your device.

  3. Download the document

    Get a finished Word file with your formatting intact, or print it to PDF.

Prefer to start from your own wording? Download the Word file, edit it, keep the {tags}, and upload it to Clausery. See the template syntax.

Questions

What can I ask on a rental application?

Identity, rental history, income and references are standard. Do not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status or any other protected characteristic. Some states and cities also limit questions about criminal records, eviction records or immigration status, so check the rules where the property is.

Why is there no Social Security number field?

Screening companies usually collect it directly from the applicant when they run a credit check, so it does not need to sit in a document on your computer. If you do collect it, store it securely and delete it when you no longer need it.

How much can I charge for an application fee?

It depends on the state. Some cap the fee or limit it to the actual cost of screening, and some require a refund of any part not used. The fee paragraph is optional, and you can switch it off.

Is it really free?

Yes. The download is free, and filling it in with the Clausery app is free too, with unlimited documents. Library templates never count towards a plan limit, and no account or card is needed.

Is my information uploaded anywhere?

No. Clausery runs entirely in your browser. Your answers and the finished document are created and stored on your own device.

Is this legal advice?

No. These are general samples. Laws differ between countries and states, so have the wording reviewed for your situation before you rely on it.

Guide: What to include in a residential lease agreement

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This template is a general sample and not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction; have it reviewed before use.