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If you are just starting out your journey as a landlord, there are many resources and tools you will need to learn about to make your life easier and to mitigate the risk of choosing bad tenants. One of the most important forms you will be using will be a Rental Application. You are likely familiar with the concept of a rental application, but do you know the details about what a rental application should include? How it will be useful to you? And the best way to go about getting interested parties to apply?

Find out the answers below in our quick breakdown of rental applications and the tenant application process.

What Is A Rental Application?

Who?

When you implement a rental application, consistency will be key. In order to cover your bases, have any interested party apply to your property. If multiple people will be living in the home, everyone over the age of 18 should fill out an application. You will want to use your online rental application as the springboard for tenant screening. Choose an application that will integrate with a screening report. The best way to safeguard yourself from nightmare tenants is to require applications and screening for everyone interested in your rental.

What?

A rental application should be a form that allows you to gain important insights into the person applying for your property. It should include items like employment history, rental history, income, and other critical pieces of information. This info can help you weed out anyone who will not qualify for your property. Remember, always follow the regulations of the Fair Housing Act when choosing a tenant.

Where?

Your rental application should be easily accessed online, from both desktop computers and mobile devices. Paper applications are cumbersome, easily lost, and require you to be responsible for sensitive personal information. Using an online rental application, instead, will allow you to easily accept dozens of applications at once, without becoming disorganized. An online rental application will also prevent you from being in charge of personal information, as everything will be handled through a secure, online portal.

When?

You can allow people to apply at any point in the process. If they see your property online and they are interested in renting, they can quickly fill out the application at that very moment. If they prefer to see the property first, you can provide a showing and then ask them to fill out the application online afterwards if they are interested in the rental. Most applicants will prefer to see the property first before they fill out an application.

Why?

Using a rental application is an important way of protecting your investment. Your goal as a landlord is to find a responsible tenant who will pay their rent and keep your property in good condition. A rental application allows you to learn more about their employment, their rental history, and gives you a chance to ask for references.

Get Started Today With A Free Online Rental Application

If you are interested in listing your property online and requiring potential tenants to apply, check out our free online rental applications. With TurboTenant, you can do everything in one place, from listing your property across the web to accepting applications and screening potential tenants. The best part about our landlord software is that is 100 percent free for landlords.