Free California Rental Application Form

A California Rental Application Form is a screening tool used to evaluate a potential tenant’s eligibility. It requests personal, credit, and employment info to help you make an informed leasing choice. Proper use of this form protects your property and shows you follow all fair housing mandates.

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Table of Contents:

What is a California Residential Rental Application?
California Rental Application Sample
California Rental Applications by Type
What To Include in a California Rental Application Form?
California Rental Applications Laws
Related Documents
Rental Application FAQs

What is a California Residential Rental Application?

A California rental application is a legal form that is used by landlords and property managers to screen potential tenants before they sign a lease and move into a rental unit. This allows you to ensure that they will pay rent on time and not cause a nuisance.

Standard rental applications in the state of California can also be known by other alternative names such as:

Tenant application
Rental lease application
Lease application
Application for rental property

Having a professional and properly prepared rental application for your real estate is important to ensure that you choose the right person to live in your property. It allows both parties to securely and safely verify that an agreement can work out in the long term by providing crucial information up front in writing.

California Rental Application Sample

Looking over a readily prepared template of a rental application can make it much easier to create your own. Review our document sample below to get more familiar with what your application form will look like when it’s completed.

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California Rental Applications by Type

There are a few types of California applications for rental properties that can be used to screen tenants. The type you use ultimately depends on the kind of property you are leasing and the types of tenants you are looking to house.

Standard/General Rental Application

This is a customizable form that can be used by private landlords for standard rental properties. Most rental applications used in the real estate market today are standard/general documents.

Department of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) Rental Application

This is a standardized form created by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that is issued by providers of public housing. These forms are specially prepared to properly offer rental properties to low-income tenants and those eligible for Section 8 housing.

What To Include in a California Rental Application Form?

There are many important questions and sections that should be included in an effective application form. A simple rental application will usually request the following details from the tenant:

Personal data
Rental history
Employment details
Income information
Credit history
Personal references
Permission for background checks

Additionally, the landlord must provide several legal disclosures on a standard rental application. They must report information on:

The condition of the property
Hazards the tenant may encounter
Shared utility arrangements
Rent control rules
Smoking policy
The security deposit
Associated fees

California Rental Applications Laws

California has many rules and statutes regulating its housing market. These must be fully considered when preparing an application for rental properties in the state.

Failure to comply with these requirements could result in legal action from the applicant against you. Therefore, it is essential that your California rental application meets the correct legal standards.

Application Fee

Under California law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.6), you can charge a prospective tenant up to $66.92 (as of 2025) for the rental application. However, the price allowed may be adjusted yearly based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). You must also provide an itemized receipt for the costs incurred.

Security Deposit

Landlords cannot charge more than 1 month's rent for residential leases under California law (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(c)). This cap applies to both furnished and unfurnished units. Small landlords who own no more than two properties (totaling four or fewer units) may still charge up to 2 months' rent as a security deposit.

Housing Discrimination Law

Under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) you may not discriminate against potential tenants for a number of reasons. In California, you may not reject an application for any of the following purposes:

Race or ethnicity
Sexuality
Disability
Family status
Criminal record
National origin
Religion
Gender

Consent Credit Check

If you want to carry out any credit or background checks you must first request the potential tenant's permission on the application form. The applicant must sign and grant their express consent on the form or you will not be able to proceed with these forms of screening.

Rental Application FAQs

Understanding what your California rental application can and cannot do is vital before you create your own from scratch. Find out more about how these screening documents work and what you need to know when writing them.

How to Fill Out a California Rental Application?

Creating a California rental application can be easily done with the help of our contract maker and template tools. When you fill out a rental application form you will usually request the following information from the tenant:

Personal data
Rental history
Employment details
Income information
Credit history
Personal references
Permission for background checks

You must also include important legal disclosures on the property and the lease agreement being proposed. This will outline details on the condition of the property, any hazards, and information on details such as security deposit and fees. Our template designer will help you add the data that must be added.

Why Do I Need a California Rental Application?

A California rental application gives you the opportunity to learn more about your tenant before committing to a legal contract with them. The application lets you collect data on your prospective rental resident so you may carry out important checks to:

Review their rental history
Verify their employment and income
Learn of any criminal history or credit issues

What Are Credit References on a California Rental Application?

A credit reference is a document that provides information on the credit history of an applicant for a rental property. This may be requested on California rental applications so that landlords can properly assess whether a potential tenant will be able to meet the rental payment schedule.

What Cannot Be Asked on Rental Applications in California?

You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with a California rental application document. You must not request any of the following information from the applicant during this process:

Race or ethnicity
Religion
Sexuality
Immigration or citizenship status
Arrest records
Marital or familial status
Whether they have children or not

You are only a few steps away from your own California Rental Application !

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Preview of your Rental Application California

APPLICATION TO RENT

The following sections must be completed by the Applicant. Please note that, except for married couples, each occupant who is 18 years of age or older has to complete a separate application to rent.

Shall the Applicant have any question regarding the rental unit, please contact _________ at:
Email Address: _________
Phone: _________

The Applicant is a: (check one)

( ) Tenant
( ) Tenant with co-tenant(s)
( ) Guarantor/co-signor

PROPERTY INFORMATION

Application to rent property located at the following address:

_________ , _________, CA _________

Type of Property: House
Date of Availability: _________
Proposed Move-In Date: _________

APPLICANT'S INFORMATION

Please attach a copy of your Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, or Passport.

FULL NAME OF APPLICANT: ________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: _________________________ (Optional. For purpose of obtaining credit reports. Age discrimination is prohibited by state and federal law)
Driver's license number or any valid ID: _________________ State: ______________ Expires: _________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Home Phone: (______) ___________ Alternative Phone: (______) ___________

CO-APPLICANT'S INFORMATION (if applicable)

Please attach a copy of your Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, or Passport.

FULL NAME OF CO-APPLICANT: ________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: _________________________ (Optional)
Driver's license number or any valid ID: _________________ State: ______________ Expires: _________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Home Phone: (______) ___________ Alternative Phone: (______) ___________

OTHER OCCUPANTS’ INFORMATION (if applicable)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

EMERGENCY CONTACT

In case of emergency, please contact:

Emergency contact #1: ____________________________________________________
Relationship: _______________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________

Emergency contact #2: ____________________________________________________
Relationship: _______________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pets

Pets are not allowed in the rental property. However, as provided by law, a Service Animal(s) is not considered a pet, and every individual with a disability shall have a right to have a Service Animal(s) on the Property.

Waterbeds

The Landlord prohibits the use of waterbeds on the rental unit.

Smoking and Vaping

The Landlord does not allow smoking or vaping in the rental unit.

CONSENT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By signing this Residential Rental Application, the Applicant accepts and agrees to the following:

(i)	This is only an application to rent and does not guarantee that the Applicant will be selected as a tenant of the premises.
(ii)	The Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent could receive multiple rental applications for the premises and will only select the most qualified individual.
(iii)	Applicant represents the above information to be true and complete.

Applicant hereby authorizes the Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent to do the following:

(i)	Verify all of the personal information provided above.
(ii)	Obtain a credit report, as well as other reports, on the Applicant.
(iii)	Applicant further authorizes the Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent to disclose information to the owners or agents of the premises with whom the Applicant intends to have a rental relationship.

Does the Applicant wish to receive a copy of the reports that we may obtain?

Yes ( ) No ( )

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Landlord does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any approval/disapproval of this application.

_______________________________	___________
Applicant's Signature	Date

_______________________________	___________
Co-Applicant's Signature	Date