Free Minnesota Rental Application Form

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

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

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.

There are two main types of rental applications in Minnesota. You must select the most relevant one depending on the type of property being rented, local laws, and the type of leasing agreement that will be used. 

Standard/General Minnesota Rental Application

The most common type of vetting document used by MN landlords is the Minnesota Standard Rental Application. This form can be customized according to the specific necessities of the property owner or manager. 

Department of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) Rental Application 

Landlords of low-income tenants or those offering Section 8 Housing should use a HUD rental application. It is specifically designed to only include information that is allowed under subsidized housing rules.

When you fill in a simple rental application form for Minnesota 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

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

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

Application Fee

There are limits in terms of what application fee can be charged by Minnesota landlords. Property owners may charge no more than the costs of screening the tenant necessary. Any money taken above this amount must be refunded. 

Security Deposit

Minnesota doesn’t set any limits on how much you can charge as a security deposit. However, it is recommended not to charge more than 1-2 months rent for this amount. 

Housing Discrimination Law

In Minnesota, there is no specific state law relating to housing discrimination. However, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) is in place. The FHA states that it is illegal to discriminate based on the following characteristics: 

• Race

• Color

• Nationality

• Religion

• Sex

• Familial status

• Disability

• Criminal history

As a consequence, you are not allowed to ask for any of these details on a Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 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).

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.

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:

• Minnesota Residential Lease Agreement

• Minnesota Eviction Notice