If you are a landlord leasing residential property, you must file an Oklahoma Rental Application Form. This document is necessary to verify the credibility and eligibility of any potential tenants.
Last Update May 6th, 2023
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- What Is an Oklahoma Residential Rental Application
- Oklahoma Rental Applications by Type
- What to Include in an Oklahoma Rental Application Form
- Oklahoma Rental Application Laws
- Oklahoma Rental Application Sample
- FAQs About Oklahoma Rental Application Form
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What Is an Oklahoma Residential Rental Application
Landlords use Oklahoma rental applications to screen and assess potential tenants before committing to an official lease. This real estate legal document allows you to safely and confidentially collect this data from the applicant to make an informed decision on if they are the right option for your rental property.
Rental applications are also sometimes known as:
Applications for a rental property
Lease applications
Rental Lease applications
Tenant applications
The rental application document you use must be designed with OK’s statutes in mind. Nevertheless, you can use a rental agreement to collect the following information:
The tenant’s rental history
Information about their income
Details on criminal record and credit history
Personal references for the applicant
Oklahoma Rental Applications by Type
There are two main types of rental applications in Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma Rental Application
The most common type of vetting document used by OK landlords is the Oklahoma 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.
What to Include in an Oklahoma Rental Application Form
When you fill in a simple rental application form for Oklahoma 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 involve the property’s condition, potential hazards to the tenant, shared utility arrangements, rent control rules, smoking policy, security deposit regulations, and associated fees.
Oklahoma Rental Application Laws
Oklahoma state has various laws regarding the use of rental applications. If your document is not compliant with OK 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 OK statutes. The fee that is paid is also non-refundable to the tenant.
Security Deposit
Oklahoma 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 (OK Stat § 41-115)
Housing Discrimination Law
There are no set laws in Oklahoma that specifically limit housing discrimination. However, all states must adhere to the Fair Housing Act (FHA) (§25-1451-508). The FHA is a federal law that prevents landlords from discriminating against tenants based on their:
Race
Nationality
Religion
Sex
Familial status
Disability
Criminal history
Notice of Eligibility
Potential tenants must be informed about the screening criteria and reasons for possible denial or approval in advance. To prove that this information has been shared, a signature of acknowledgment must be provided within the application or alongside it.
Consent Credit Check
Within Oklahoma, 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).
Oklahoma Rental Application Sample
Before starting your own Oklahoma 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.
FAQs About Oklahoma Rental Application Form
Having a good idea of what you can and cannot use an OK rental application for is important. In our FAQs below, we explain what is and isn’t allowed when you create your own form.
How to Fill Out an Oklahoma Rental Application?
Creating an Oklahoma rental application can be easily done with the help of our contract maker and template tools. Almost all application forms for rental properties request information from the tenant, this usually includes their personal data, rental history, employment details, income information, credit history, personal references, and permission for background checks.
You must also include important legal disclosures on the property and the lease agreement being proposed. This will outline details on the condition of the property, any hazards, and information on aspects such as security deposit and fees. Our template designer will help you add the data that must be added.
What Is The Screening Process in Oklahoma?
When you wish to rent out your property to a tenant, you can use an OK rental application to check the potential resident before they move in. This allows you to get important background information from the applicant.
In Oklahoma you might use a rental application to find out any of the following about a prospective tenant:
Whether they can afford rent or not
If they have a positive or negative rental history
If they are employed
Their credit history
Whether they have committed any crimes or felonies
What Cannot Be Asked on Rental Applications in Oklahoma?
You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with an Oklahoma rental application document. You must not request any information from the applicant regarding their race or ethnicity, religion, sexuality, immigration or citizenship status, arrest records, marital or familial status, and whether they have children or not.
However, in OK, certain exemptions from fair housing laws exist. These are as follows:
Housing for older persons: it is allowed to ask for an applicant’s age for age-restricted communities (such as senior housing).
Familial status: landlords may ask whether children will occupy the premises for two-family owner-occupied buildings.
Private clubs: clubs that do not operate publicly and do not rent for commercial purposes can give preference to certain applicants.
Religious organizations: religion can be used as a basis for giving priority to certain applicants for properties that are owned or managed by a religious organization that does not rent with commercial intent.
Mrs. Murphy exemption: dwellings with four units or fewer, in which one unit is occupied by the owner, and where the landlord is not represented by a real estate agent, are exempt from fair housing requirements.