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What is a Residential Tenancy Application?
A Residential Rental Application is a form used by rental property owners, property managers, and landlords to gather information on potential tenants looking to lease a living space.
Typically, the information collected in applications is used to find reliable and reputable renters. Information provided on a Residential Rental Application can help with reference checks, criminal background checks, and more.
Why should I use LawDepot's Residential Tenancy Application?
Our Tenancy Application template makes the tough task of finding a tenant a breeze. A Residential Tenancy Application allows you to:
- Collect information from each applicant, such as their name, contact info, rental history, proof of income, etc.
- Screen applicants to ensure they’re suitable for the property and can meet their financial obligations.
- Obtain an applicant’s authorisation to conduct a credit history check and criminal background check.
- Verify the information provided by the applicants by checking landlord references, credit reports, and more.
- Propose lease terms such as the rental amount, bond, lease duration, and availability date.
What can a landlord ask for on a Residential Tenancy Application?
Landlords can ask applicants for any information that is directly related to their future role as a tenant. Our template allows landlords to ask for contact information, residential rental history, employment details, banking information, and more.
However, there’s one thing to keep in mind: landlords and letting agents must follow the relevant jurisdiction’s regulations and human rights codes. For example, landlords and letting agents in England cannot deny a rental application because of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, religion, race, or ethnic group. The same goes for Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
LawDepot’s Residential Tenancy Application template is custom-built with your jurisdiction’s specific regulations in mind, so you can rest assured that your application is legally compliant. If you have any questions or require further clarification, try speaking with a lawyer.
How to create a Residential Tenancy Application
Creating a Residential Tenancy Application is easy when you use LawDepot’s template. Simply answer a series of questions and you’ll receive an application form that is custom-built for your specific rental property.
First, provide some information about the property in order to prepopulate the template. This might include:
- The property’s address
- The availability date
- If parking is provided
- If pets, smoking, or marijuana are allowed in the unit
- Any additional lease details that you would like to provide
Next, we’ll ask you what kind of applicant details you would like to collect. This might include:
- National Insurance Number (NINO)
- Past rental history
- Employment details
- Proof of income
- Background check authorization
Once you provide this information, our template will include blank fields that applicants can use to provide their details. Additionally, we’ll automatically include blank fields for the applicant’s name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and desired move-in date.
Additionally, LawDepot’s Residential Tenancy Application includes a statement that authorizes a reference check, criminal background check, and credit check, once signed by the applicant.
Finally, we’ll ask you for your name, phone number, and email address. This information will be included on the application form so that prospective tenants can get in touch with you.
Then, once you’ve collected applications and determined the best possible tenant, you can proceed with creating a Tenancy Agreement.
Residential Tenancy Applications and Tenant Privacy Rights
Although collecting personal information from prospective tenants makes the rental process easier, it is important to treat this sensitive information with care.
In the United Kingdom, landlords must comply with the Data Protection Act 2018. This legislation sets out ‘data protection principles,” which ensure that any personal information collected by landlords must be used fairly, lawfully, and transparently.
Residential Tenancy Applications and National Insurance Numbers (NINO)
Landlords in the United Kingdom sometimes request an applicant’s National Insurance Number. However, as the United Kingdom encourages citizens to keep their personal numbers private to help prevent identity theft, landlords should only request it if they need it for a specific reason.
Instead of using a National Insurance Number to confirm a prospective tenant’s identity, landlords might request a passport or immigration document. This is particularly useful in England and Ireland, where tenants can also use these documents to prove their right to rent.