Free Washington Rental Application Form

The Washington Rental Application Form is a formal document used to screen applicants before a lease is signed. It covers everything from employment history to income verification. Using this form allows you to vet candidates thoroughly while staying within the bounds of federal housing laws.

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Table of Contents:

What Is a Washington Residential Rental Application?
Washington Rental Application Sample
What to Include in a Washington Rental Application Form
Washington Rental Application Laws
Related Documents
FAQs About Washington Rental Application Form

What Is a Washington Residential Rental Application?

A Washington 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
Application for a rental property

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.

Washington Rental Application Sample

It’s sensible to look over the template of a Washington 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.

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What to Include in a Washington Rental Application Form

When you fill in a simple rental application form for Washington 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

Washington Rental Application Laws

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

Application Fee

An application fee can be charged by Washington landlords as long as it is only used to cover the costs of any checks or tenant screening. Under current regulations, this fee is generally capped at $50 plus the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) adjustment. You will need to provide a screening cost receipt to the tenant to show that the money given has only been used for this purpose.

Security Deposit

Washington state law generally limits security deposits to the equivalent of one month's rent (though some local jurisdictions or specific circumstances for furnished units may allow up to two months). Additionally, landlords must provide a written checklist describing the condition of the unit before collecting any deposit.

Housing Discrimination Law

In Washington, housing provider actions are governed by both the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). It is illegal to discriminate based on the following characteristics:

Race or Color
Nationality or Ancestry
Religion or Creed
Sex, Sexual Orientation, or Gender Identity
Familial status (presence of children)
Disability
Marital status
Veteran or Military status
Age (except in designated senior housing)
Source of Income (such as Section 8 vouchers)

As a consequence, you are not allowed to ask for any of these details on a Washington 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.

Consent Credit Check

Within Washington, 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).

FAQs About Washington Rental Application Form

Understanding what your Washington 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.

How to Fill Out a Washington Rental Application

Creating a Washington rental application can be easily done with the help of our contract maker and template tools. When you fill out a rental application form you will usually request the following information from the tenant:

Personal data
Rental history
Employment details
Income information
Credit history
Personal references
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 details such as security deposit and fees. Our template designer will help you add the data that must be added.

What Cannot Be Asked on Rental Applications in Washington?

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

How Much Can A Landlord Charge For An Application Fee?

In Washington state, a landlord may only charge a fee that covers the cost of any tenant screening checks. When a fee is paid to process a rental application the landlord must provide the tenant with a screening cost receipt as evidence of these costs.

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RENTAL APPLICATION

The following sections must be completed by the Applicant. Please note that, except for married couples, each occupant who is 18 years of age or older has to complete a separate application to rent.

Shall the Applicant have any question regarding the rental unit, please contact _________ at:
Email Address: _________
Phone: _________

The Applicant is a: (check one)

( ) Tenant
( ) Tenant with co-tenant(s)
( ) Guarantor/co-signor

PREMISES INFORMATION

Application to rent property at the following address:

_________ , _________, WA _________

Type of Property: House
Date of Availability: _________
Proposed Move-In Date: _________

APPLICANT'S INFORMATION

Please attach a copy of your Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, or Passport.

FULL NAME OF APPLICANT: ________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: _________________________ (Optional. For purpose of obtaining credit reports. Age discrimination is prohibited by state and federal law)
Driver's license number or any valid ID: _________________ State: ______________ Expires: _________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Home Phone: (______) ___________ Alternative Phone: (______) ___________

CO-APPLICANT'S INFORMATION (if applicable)

Please attach a copy of your Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, or Passport.

FULL NAME OF CO-APPLICANT: ________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: _________________________ (Optional)
Driver's license number or any valid ID: _________________ State: ______________ Expires: _________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Home Phone: (______) ___________ Alternative Phone: (______) ___________

OTHER OCCUPANTS' INFORMATION (if applicable)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

EMERGENCY CONTACT

In case of emergency, please contact:

Emergency contact #1: ____________________________________________________
Relationship: _______________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________

Emergency contact #2: ____________________________________________________
Relationship: _______________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pets

Pets are not allowed in the rental property. However, as provided by RCW 49.60.222, a Service Animal(s) is not considered a pet, and every individual with a disability shall have a right to have a Service Animal(s) on the Property.

Waterbeds

The Landlord prohibits the use of waterbeds on the rental unit.

Smoking and Vaping

The Landlord does not allow smoking or vaping in the rental unit.

The Landlord does not allow smoking or vaping of marijuana in the rental unit.

Is the Applicant a medical or recreational marijuana user?

Yes ( ) No ( )

CONSENT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By signing this Residential Rental Application, the Applicant accepts and agrees to the following:

(i)	This is only an application to rent and does not guarantee that the Applicant will be selected as a tenant of the premises.
(ii)	The Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent could receive multiple rental applications for the premises and will only select the most qualified individual.
(iii)	Applicant represents the above information to be true and complete and recognizes that such information is notified to be the selection criteria as required under RCW 59.18.257.

Applicant hereby authorizes the Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent to do the following:

(i)	Verify all of the personal information provided above.
(ii)	Obtain a credit report, as well as other reports, on the Applicant.
(iii)	Applicant further authorizes the Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent to disclose information to the owners or agents of the premises with whom the Applicant intends to have a rental relationship.

Landlord Requirement of Disability and/or Medical Proof

In accordance to RCW 49.60.040(25), the Landlord may require the Applicant to provide documents from a doctor or qualified medical professional to prove that he or she requires a service animal for his or her disabilities. The Landlord may also require the Applicant to provide his or her medical marijuana patient authorization to accommodate his or her medical needs.

Potential Tenant's Right to Dispute Records

Pursuant to RCW 59.18.257, the Applicant may dispute or challenge the accuracy of consumer reports and ask the Landlord for all of the information regarding the screening process, including a copy of the screening report and the name, address and phone number of the screening business, if any, that processed the Applicant's application for tenancy.

Does the Applicant wish to receive a copy of the reports that we may obtain?