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Free Michigan Rental Application Form

The Michigan 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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Last Update April 21, 2026

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What Is a Michigan Residential Rental Application?Michigan Rental Application SampleWhat To Include in a Michigan Rental Application Form?Michigan Rental Application LawsRelated DocumentsFAQs About Michigan Rental Application Form

What Is a Michigan Residential Rental Application?

A Michigan rental application is a legal document used by landlords and property managers to assess and choose an appropriate tenant for a rental property. They are sometimes known by other common names such as:

  • Tenant applications
  • Rental lease applications
  • Lease applications
  • Application 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.

Michigan 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.

Rental Application Michigan Sample
Create Your Michigan Rental Application
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What To Include in a Michigan Rental Application Form?

When you fill in a simple rental application form for Michigan you’ll need to ask for some crucial data 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

Furthermore, landlords must make a number of important disclosures on a standard rental application form. This information might include:

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

Michigan Rental Application Laws

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

Application Fee

In Michigan, there is generally no limit on the amount a landlord can charge for a rental application fee, and these fees are typically non-refundable. However, as of 2026, the Michigan legislature has seen introduced measures (such as House Bill 4770) aiming to cap these fees at $50 and require they be refunded if an application is denied. You should ensure your fee is reasonable and covers only the actual cost of background screening.

Security Deposit

Landlords cannot charge more than one and a half months' rent for a security deposit, regardless of whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished (Michigan Compiled Laws, Chapter 554, Section 554.602). Contrary to common misconceptions, Michigan law does not provide a higher 3-month limit for furnished properties.

Housing Discrimination Law

Michigan has robust state-level protections under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) and the Persons With Disabilities Civil Rights Act. These laws are broader than the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA). It is illegal to discriminate based on:

  • Race and Color
  • National Origin
  • Religion
  • Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity or Expression
  • Familial Status
  • Disability
  • Age
  • Marital Status
  • Height or Weight

As a consequence, you are not allowed to use these details as a basis for rejection on a Lawdistrict Michigan 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 Michigan, 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).

Related Documents

There are various other legal documents that landlords must take into account when considering new tenants. Get expert guidance on preparing other personalized property forms with our other printable templates for the following legal forms:

FAQs About Michigan Rental Application Form

Having a good idea of what you can and cannot use a Michigan rental application for is important. In our FAQs below, we explain what is and isn’t allowed when you create your own form.

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 MI rental applications so that landlords can properly assess whether a potential tenant will be able to meet the rental payment schedule.

It's a simple process to search for eviction records in the state of Michigan. They are available to the public through the court's search system.

You can find any eviction that has been registered by the courts.

Go to the Michigan Courts Case Search and search by name. Then find the court case of the applicant if any exist.

This is a good way to see if an applicant has any past issues with landlords.

You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with a Michigan 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

It is not usually necessary to request a Social Security number (SSN) on an MI rental application. However, you may consider requesting this data from an applicant if you want to run certain background checks on them.

Additionally, you must always get written permission from the tenant on the application form if you want to use their SSN. When you handle someone else’s Social Security information you always need consent first and must disclose that you will properly handle this data. 

These days, most screening companies can obtain the applicant’s SSN directly by requesting it securely from the applicant via email. Remember, however, that you must always inform the potential tenant and have their permission before you run any background checks. 

Preview of your Michigan Rental Application

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: (please check one)

(   ) Tenant
(   ) Tenant with co-tenant(s)
(   ) Guarantor/co-signor
PROPERTY INFORMATION
Application to Rent Property located at the following address:

_________ , _________, MI _________

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 SignatureDate
__________________________________________
Co-Applicant's SignatureDate
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