Maryland Rental Application Form

The Maryland Rental Application Form is a formal document used to screen applicants before a lease is signed. It covers everything from employment history to income verification. Using this form allows you to vet candidates thoroughly while staying within the bounds of federal housing laws.

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Table of Contents:

What Is a Maryland Residential Rental Application?
Maryland Rental Application Sample
What To Include in a Maryland Rental Application Form
Maryland Rental Application Laws
Other Real Estate Documents
FAQs About Maryland Rental Application Form

What Is a Maryland Residential Rental Application?

A Maryland rental application is a legal document used by landlords and property managers to assess and choose an appropriate tenant for a rental property.

Having a rental application can prove highly important to make sure you get the right tenant into your property.

The process of screening prospective residents in this way allows you to discover any issues such as their inability to pay rent or the likelihood to cause a nuisance before signing a contract.

Maryland 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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What To Include in a Maryland Rental Application Form

When you fill in a simple rental application form for Maryland you’ll need to ask for some crucial details from the tenant to make the vetting process as effective as possible.

When you create your own application for a rental property you should request the following information:

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 property’s condition
Potential hazards to the tenant
Shared utility arrangements
Rent control rules
Smoking policy
The security deposit
Associated fees

Maryland Rental Application Laws

Maryland state has various laws regarding the use of Rental Applications. If your document is not compliant with MD law, you may get sued by the applicant and face legal consequences.

Application Fee

There is no limit on application fees in Maryland for landlords who rent out five or more units at one location. However, they can only use this money for credit checks or other expenses actually arising out of the application. If the fee exceeds $25 and there is unspent money, you must return the balance to the applicant within 15 days (§ 8-213).

Security Deposit

Maryland landlords can charge up to 2 months' rent as a security deposit for unfurnished apartments (MD Code, Real Property 8-203).

They must provide a receipt and return the deposit with interest (for deposits of $50 or more held for at least six months), minus damages, within 45 days after the lease ends. Overcharging penalties apply (§ 8-203(4)(b)).

Housing Discrimination Law

Maryland has comprehensive state-level protections under the Maryland Fair Housing Act. In addition to the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), state law prohibits discrimination based on:

Race and Color
National Origin
Religion
Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity
Marital Status
Familial Status
Disability
Source of Income

As a consequence, you are not allowed to use these details as a basis for rejection on a Maryland Rental Application form, nor to include them in the decision-making process.

Notice of Eligibility

Potential tenants must be informed about the screening criteria and reasons for denial or approval. To prove that these facts were shared, a signature of acknowledgment must be provided within the application or alongside it.

Consent Credit Check

Within Maryland, 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).

FAQs About Maryland Rental Application Form

Understanding what your Maryland 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 Maryland Rental Application?

Creating an MD 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 Maryland Rental Application?

A Maryland 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 Cannot Be Asked on Rental Applications in Maryland?

You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with a Maryland 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 Maryland Rental Application!

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Preview of your Rental Application Maryland

RENTAL APPLICATION

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

PREMISES INFORMATION

Application to rent property at the following address:

_________ , _________, NY _________

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