Free Ohio Rental Application Form
Prepare a printable, Ohio rental application form to verify potential tenants. Tailor your application to Ohio’s statutes now with all the critical details required by law.
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Last Update September 17th, 2023
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What Is an Ohio Residential Rental Application
An Ohio 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.
Ohio 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 Ohio, 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 an Ohio Rental Application Form
Both landlords and tenants need to provide specific information on an Ohio rental application. This is so it complies with state laws and allows an informed decision to be made. The details each party should provide can be seen below.
Data the Tenant Can Be Asked for | Essential Disclosures from the Landlord |
---|---|
Personal data | The property’s condition |
Rental history | Potential hazards to the tenant |
Employment details | Shared utility arrangements |
Income information | Rent control rules |
Credit history | Smoking policy |
Personal references | The security deposit |
Permission for background checks | Associated fees |
The information offered by either the landlord or tenant will vary from application to application. However, it is vitally important that both sides get the clearest picture possible about the nature of the lease before signing an agreement.
Ohio Rental Application Laws
Ohio State has various laws regarding the use of rental applications. If your document is not compliant with OH law, you may get sued by the applicant and face legal consequences.
Application Fee
There are no OH laws regarding application fees. Therefore there is no limit in terms of what application fee can be charged by Ohio landlords. Furthermore, the application fee is non-refundable regardless of its amount.
Security Deposit
Ohio 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 (Ohio Revised Code Annotated § 5321.16).
Housing Discrimination Law
Ohio has no specific statutes policing housing discrimination. Nevertheless, the Fair Housing Act (FHA), is enshrined in federal law meaning that landlords may not refuse a tenant for discriminatory reasons.
Under the FHA you may not reject a tenant application for reasons such as their race, religion, sex, family status, or because they have any disabilities. You may also not discriminate against their criminal history (whether or not a background check is carried out) or nationality.
Notice of Eligibility
Tenants must be told about any specific screening criteria, as well as the reasons that they could be denied or approved by the landlord. To show that this information has been shared, a signature of acknowledgment from the tenant is required (§ 4141.28)
Consent Credit Check
Within Ohio, 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).
Ohio Rental Application Sample
Under the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), tenants being screened in Ohio must consent to any credit checks you wish to carry out. To make sure you comply with the law, the applicant must provide written acknowledgment of the screening on the application form.

FAQs About Ohio Rental Application Form
Understanding what your Ohio 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 an Ohio Rental Application?
An Ohio 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 an Ohio 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 Ohio 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 Ohio?
You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with an Ohio 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 Ohio Rental Application !