Free California Rental Application Form

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Managing real estate can be tricky and it is essential to ensure that your activities are legally compliant at all times. Take advantage of the full range of property management legal documents below whenever you need to perform crucial tasks:

• California Residential Lease Agreement
• California Eviction Notice