WHAT DOES THE RENTAL APPLICATION PACKAGE ON THIS SITE INCLUDE?
The residential rental application package provided on this website includes the following:

1. An application to collect all pertinent information from an applicant,
2. An authorization to run the applicant's credit (required by law)
3. Receipts for any fees charged (required by law).

The landlord should present this form to an applicant and have the applicant fill it out, sign it, and return it with any fees to be charged. The landlord can then give the provided receipt to the tenant.

IF YOU WANT A LEASE FOR A FIXED TERM TENANCY (EXAMPLE: 1 YEAR), CLICK HERE.

IF YOU WANT A MONTH TO MONTH RENTAL AGREEMENT, CLICK HERE.


WHAT IS AN APPLICATION SCREENING FEE?
An application screening fee means any nonrefundable payment of money charged by a landlord or his or her agent to an applicant, the purpose of which is to purchase a consumer credit report and to validate, review, or otherwise process an application for the rent or lease of residential rental property. California Civil Code section 1950.6(h)


HOW MUCH CAN A LANDLORD CHARGE FOR AN APPLICATION SCREENING FEE?
Under California law, a landlord cannot charge more than thirty dollars ($30) per applicant for an application screening fee (adjusted annually by the landlord or his or her agent commensurate with an increase in the Consumer Price Index, beginning on January 1, 1998). If the landlord's actual out-of-pocket cost is less than $30 dollars, the landlord must charge only for such out-of-pocket costs. Such costs can include, but are not limited to, the cost of using an applicant screening service or a consumer credit reporting service, and the reasonable value of time spent by the landlord or his or her agent in obtaining information on the applicant.


WHAT IF NO RENTAL IS AVAILABLE WHEN THE APPLICATION IS MADE?
If the landlord knows or should have known that no rental unit is available or will be available within a reasonable period of time, then the landlord (or the landlord's agent) may not charge an application screening fee, unless the applicant agrees in writing.


DOES THE APPLICANT GET A RECEIPT FOR THE FEE PAID?
Yes. The landlord (or the landlord's agent) must provide the applicant, personally, or by mail, with a receipt for the fee paid by the applicant. The receipt must itemize the out-of-pocket expenses and time spent by the landlord or his or her agent to obtain and process the information about the applicant. The Intelligent Questionnaire for Rental Application Package provides separate receipts for the landlord and the applicant.


IS THE APPLICATION FEE REFUNDABLE IN CASE THE APPLICANT DOES NOT RENT THE UNIT?
No. However, if the landlord does not perform a personal reference check or does not obtain a consumer credit report, then the landlord or his or her agent must return any unused portion of the screening fee to the applicant.


DOES THE APPLICATION SCREENING FEE COUNT TOWARD THE SECURITY DEPOSIT?
No. The application screening fee is a separate fee and does not count as part of the security deposit.


CAN THE APPLICANT GET A COPY OF THE CREDIT REPORT OBTAINED BY THE LANDLORD?
Yes. If an application screening fee has been paid by the applicant and if requested by the applicant, the landlord or his or her agent must provide a copy of the consumer credit report to the applicant who is the subject of that report.


THINGS TO CONSIDER

Federal or state housing assistance programs may have different provisions or regulations that govern the collection of deposits or fees. If the rental property in question is subject to such provisions or regulations, you should check with the appropriate governmental agency regarding such provisions or regulations.


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The material above is NOT a complete explanation of the law regarding the form's subject matter -- it only provides specific legal information regarding the associated form. It is not intended to provide information outside the scope of the associated form. It is intended to explain only certain legal concepts in simple terms in order to help the reader understand what the form is for and how it's generally used.

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