Arkansas state has various laws regarding the use of rental applications. If your document is not compliant with AK law, you may get sued by the applicant and face legal consequences.
Application Fee
You can charge as much as you wish as a rental application fee. There are no laws in Arkansas providing a set limit, although it is recommended to only charge enough to cover the costs of any background checks. Any amount charged to the tenant is also non-refundable.
Security Deposit
Landlords who collectively own 5 or fewer properties in Arkansas can charge any amount they choose as a security deposit. However, landlords owning over 5 properties cannot charge more than 2 months’ rent under Arkansas law (§ 18-16-304 & § 18-16-303).
Housing Discrimination Law
Arkansas has no specific statutes policing housing discrimination. Nevertheless, the Fair Housing Act (FHA), is enshrined in federal law meaning that landlords may not refuse a tenant for discriminatory reasons.
Under the FHA you may not reject a tenant application for reasons such as their race, religion, sex, family status, or because they have any disabilities. You may also not discriminate against their criminal history (whether or not a background check is carried out) or nationality.
Notice of Eligibility
Tenants must be told about any specific screening criteria, as well as the reasons that they could be denied or approved by the landlord. To show that this information has been shared, a signature of acknowledgment from the tenant is required.
Consent Credit Check
Within Arkansas, federal law is in effect that requires potential renters to provide written consent for a credit history check during the application process. This is known as the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).