Free Connecticut Rental Application Form

A Connecticut rental application allows you to screen a tenant before formally signing a lease agreement with them. 

The document is also known as a “tenant application,” “rental lease application,” “lease application,” or an “application for rental property”. Furthermore, each renter over 18 that will occupy the residence must complete their own individual tenant form.

Having a prospective tenant complete a CT rental application is an important step for real estate owners when making a final decision on whom to rent a property to. 

This real estate document allows you to assess the income, background, and rental history of the applicant before entering a binding contract to ensure no issues arise once the tenancy begins.

You will need to choose the correct type of rental application template depending on the people you are renting to and your property’s designation. There are two options to choose from in Connecticut, which can be seen below.

It is important to request the right data from a tenant when asking them to fill in a Connecticut rental application and to make sure they are properly informed about the contract. This will be essential to make sure you get the right tenant into your property.

Almost all application forms for rental properties request some or all of the following information:

• Personal data

• Rental history

• Employment details

• Income information

• Credit history

• Personal references

• Permission for background checks

Additionally, landlords must provide vital disclosures to ensure that potential residents can safely use the property. They must provide details about:

• The property’s condition

• Potential hazards to the tenant

• Shared utility arrangements

• Rent control rules

• Smoking policy

• The security deposit

• Associated fees

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

Application Fee

Landlords can charge any fee they choose for a rental application, as these are not limited by Connecticut statutes. The fee that is paid is also non-refundable to the tenant. 

Security Deposit

CT statute § 47a-21(14)(b) states that you may charge a maximum of 2 months’ rent as a security deposit if tenants are under 62 years of age. However, anyone older than 62 years who rents your property in Connecticut may only be charged a maximum of 1 month’s rent.  

Housing Discrimination Law

Connecticut 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

Potential tenants must be informed about the screening criteria and reasons for possible denial or approval in advance. To prove that this information has been shared, a signature of acknowledgment must be provided within the application or alongside it. 

Consent Credit Check

The Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) stipulates that potential tenants must agree to any credit checks you require. To show they consent, they must provide written acknowledgment on the application form.

It’s sensible to look over the template of a Connecticut rental application before starting your own. This can help to give you a better idea of what your final form will look like and the kind of information you’ll need to add to it.

It is important to stay on top of your rented real estate. By using the right legal forms, this is a much easier task so that you can remain legally compliant with the rules in Connecticut.

Use one of our real estate legal forms below to make sure everything runs smoothly:

• Connecticut Residential Lease Agreement

• Connecticut Eviction Notice