What is a Residential Rental Application?

A Residential Rental Application is a form used by landlords to collect information from potential tenants before offering a lease. 

Landlords can use information from a rental application form to help identify reliable, reputable renters and conduct reference checks, background checks, or credit checks, where permitted. 

A Residential Rental Application is also known as a:

• Rental application form
• Tenant application form
• Rent application form
• Tenancy application

LawDepot’s Residential Rental Application can be used for rental properties across all Canadian provinces and territories.

If you’re looking to lease commercial properties, such as office spaces, warehouses, or retail units, use LawDepot’s Commercial Lease Application.

Why should I use LawDepot's Residential Rental Application?

LawDepot’s Residential Rental Application form helps landlords collect consistent information from prospective tenants to make informed screening decisions.

A Residential Rental Application allows landlords to:

1. Collect information from each applicant, including their name, contact information, rental history, and proof of income. 
2. Screen applicants to assess whether they’re suitable for the property and can meet financial obligations.
3. Request authorization to conduct a credit history check, reference check, or background check, where permitted.
4. Verify information provided by applicants using landlord references, credit reports, and other sources.
5. Propose lease terms, including the rental amount, security deposit, lease duration, and availability date.

What information can landlords ask for on a Residential Rental Application?

Landlords can ask rental applicants for information directly related to assessing their suitability as potential tenants.

A Residential Rental Application may ask for details such as:

• Contact information
• Current and previous addresses
• Residential rental history
• Employment details
• Proof of income or financial details
• References
• Banking information, where permitted
• Consent for credit, reference, or background checks, where permitted

What information should landlords avoid asking for?

When collecting personal information, landlords and property managers must follow applicable privacy laws, rental regulations, and human rights legislation in their province or territory.

For example, landlords in Ontario must comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code. According to the Code, a potential tenant cannot be denied housing on protected grounds, such as:

• Race

• Religion

• Marital status

• Disability

• Family status

• Other protected identity factors

Landlords using a BC rental application form may also wish to review guidance from the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Branch when collecting applicant information.

LawDepot’s Residential Rental Application template prompts landlords to include application requirements for their jurisdiction. Landlords with questions about what information they can request from an applicant should consider speaking with a lawyer.

How to create a Residential Rental Application

A Residential Rental Application helps landlords collect rental property details, outline key rental terms, and choose what applicant information to request.

LawDepot’s template guides landlords through each step, making it easy to build a rental application form for their province or territory.

1. Property details

First, provide the property’s location and additional information about the rental. 

This might include:

• The type of rental property, such as a house, apartment, basement, condo, duplex, mobile home, room, or townhouse

• The property’s province or territory

• The property’s address

• Whether designated parking is provided

• Whether pets, smoking, cannabis, or waterbeds are allowed

• Whether the property is already available for rent

2. Rental terms

Next, choose whether to include additional lease details in the application.

This might include:

• Lease term

• Rent amount

• Security deposit

• Availability date, if the property is not already available

• Any additional lease details

3. Applicant information

Finally, choose which applicant details to collect and what screening authorizations to request.

This might include:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN), if requested

• Past rental history

• Employment details

• Proof of income

• Credit history check authorization

• Criminal background check authorization

LawDepot’s template then includes blank fields for applicants to enter their details. The template also includes fields for the applicant’s name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and desired move-in date.

An applicant’s Social Insurance Number is not required for credit or background checks. If landlords choose to request a SIN, they should ensure the request is appropriate and handle the information according to applicable privacy laws.

After collecting applications and determining a suitable tenant, landlords can create a Residential Lease Agreement. Before move-in, they may also want to complete a Rental Inspection Checklist.