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Free Mississippi Rental Application Form

Prepare a printable Mississippi rental application form to help you vet prospective tenants for your property. Create and customize your screening document with easy instructions and professional templates.

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Last Update May 1st, 2023

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What Is a Mississippi Residential Rental Application

Using a Mississippi 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 an MS rental application is an important step for real estate owners when making a final decision on whom to rent a property to.

This legal 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

Mississippi Rental Applications by Type

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 Mississippi, which can be seen below.

Standard/General Rental Application Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rental Application
Which landlords can use it? Private landlords Landlords with Section 8 housing
What kind of tenants is it designed for? Any Tenants eligible for subsidized housing

What to Include in a Mississippi Rental Application Form

When you fill in a simple rental application form in Mississippi 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

Mississippi Rental Application Laws

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

Application Fee

Landlords can charge any fee they choose for a rental application, as these are not limited by Mississippi statute (No Statute). The fee that is paid is also non-refundable to the tenant. 

Security Deposit

Similar to the application fee law, there is no Mississippi statute defining a limit on the amount landlords can charge tenants for security deposits (MS Code § 89-8-21) There is also no requirement for the provision of receipts or holding requirements. However, the landlord is obligated to keep valid records of any security deposits they are sent. 

Housing Discrimination Law

In Mississippi, 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

  • Nationality

  • Religion

  • Sex

  • Familial status

  • Disability

  • Criminal history

As a consequence, you are not allowed to ask for any of these details on a Mississippi Rental Application form, nor to include them in the decision-making process.

Notice of Eligibility

You must disclose the screening criteria used during the application process, as well as anything that could lead to a refusal. To make sure individuals understand this in advance of the application, they must provide a signature of acknowledgment on the application. 

Consent Credit Check

Within Mississippi, 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)

Mississippi Rental Application Sample

Before starting your own Mississippi rental application, it’s a good idea to look over a sample document first. Use our example rental application below to get a clearer idea of what you should include and how the final form will appear.

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FAQs About Mississippi Rental Application Form

Understanding what your Mississippi 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.

Why Do I Need a Mississippi Rental Application?

A Mississippi 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 Are Credit References on a Mississippi Rental Application?

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

What Cannot Be Asked on Rental Applications in Mississippi?

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

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