Free Mississippi Rental Application Form

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

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.

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 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). 

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.

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 free printable templates for the following legal forms: 

Residential Lease Agreement

A  Mississippi Residential Lease Agreement outlines the terms and conditions of a tenancy in a residential rental property. It establishes the rights and duties of both the renter and the landlord.

Eviction Notice

When a tenant is in violation of their lease agreement, a Mississippi Eviction Notice must be used to inform them of the breach.