Free Pennsylvania Rental Application Form

A Pennsylvania rental application is a legal document used by landlords and property managers to assess and choose an appropriate tenant for a rental property. They are sometimes known by other common names such as:

• Tenant applications
• Rental lease applications
• Lease applications
• Applications for a 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.

It’s sensible to look over the template for a Pennsylvania rental application before starting your own. This can help to give you a better idea of what your final form will look like and the kind of information you’ll need to add to it.

There are two main types of rental applications in Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania Rental Application

The most common type of vetting document used by PA landlords is the PA 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 Pennsylvania 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 rental 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

Pennsylvania has many rules and statutes regulating its housing market. These must be fully considered when preparing an application for rental properties in the state. 

Application Fee

This law states that there is no limit in terms of what application fee can be charged by Pennsylvania landlords. Furthermore, the application fee is non-refundable regardless of its amount.

Security Deposit

Landlords cannot charge more than 2 months’ rent if they are leasing an unfurnished apartment under PA law (§ 511.1(a)).

This deposit must be returned within 30 days of the tenant moving out. 

For any security deposit over $100, landlords must keep that money in an escrow account or place it in an interest-bearing account (§ 250.511b).

Landlords are also not required to supply a receipt for the security deposit. 

Housing Discrimination Law

In Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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. 

If you need a consumer report for an applicant, such as criminal history, and take an adverse action against them, you have to give the applicant a notice letter. 

This letter is known as an adverse action notice.

You need to provide one if you reject the applicant, require a co-signer, require a large security deposit, or require higher rent. 

Consent Credit Check

Within Pennsylvania, a 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).

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: 

• PA Residential Lease Agreement
• PA Eviction Notice