Free West Virginia Rental Application Form

Prepare a printable, free WV rental application form to verify potential tenants. Tailor your application to West Virginia’s statutes now, with all the critical details required by law.

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Table of Contents:

What Is a West Virginia Residential Rental Application
West Virginia Rental Applications by Type
What to Include in a West Virginia Rental Application Form
West Virginia Rental Application Laws
West Virginia Rental Application Sample
Related Documents
FAQs About West Virginia Rental Application Form

What Is a West Virginia Residential Rental Application

Using a West Virginia 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 a WV 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.

West Virginia Rental Applications by Type

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

The most common type of vetting document used by WV landlords is the West Virginia 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 a West Virginia Rental Application Form

It is important to request the right data from a tenant when asking them to fill in a West Virginia rental application and to make sure they are properly informed about the contract. This will be essential to make sure you get the right tenant into your property.

Almost all application forms for rental properties request some or all of the following information:

Personal data
Rental history
Employment details
Income information
Credit history
Personal references
Permission for background checks

Additionally, landlords must provide vital disclosures to ensure that potential residents can safely use the property. They must provide details about:

The property’s condition
Potential hazards to the tenant
Shared utility arrangements (WVC § 37-6A-1)
Rent control rules
Smoking policy (WVC § 16-9A-1)
The security deposit
Associated fees

West Virginia Rental Application Laws

There are a few laws that must be followed in West Virginia when you create a rental application for tenants. Failure to comply with these rules could lead to serious legal consequences and allow the tenant to sue.

Application Fee

Landlords can charge any fee they choose for a rental application, as these are not limited by West Virginia statutes. The fee that is paid is also non-refundable to the tenant (§ 37-6A-1(2)).

Security Deposit

Similar to the application fee law, there is no West Virginia statute defining a limit on the amount landlords can charge tenants for security deposits (§ 37-6A-2).

Housing Discrimination Law

In West Virginia, 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 West Virginia 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

The Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) stipulates that potential tenants must agree to any credit checks you require. To show they consent, they must provide written acknowledgment on the application form.

West Virginia Rental Application Sample

Before starting your own West Virginia 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.

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FAQs About West Virginia Rental Application Form

Understanding what your West Virginia 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 a West Virginia Rental Application?

A West Virginia 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 a West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia?

You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with a West Virginia 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 West Virginia Rental Application!

Download our professional examples

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Preview of your West Virginia Rental Application

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:

_________ , _________, WV _________

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 law, 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.

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.

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.

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

Yes ( ) No ( )

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Landlord does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any approval/disapproval of this application.

_______________________________	___________
Applicant's Signature	Date

_______________________________	___________
Co-Applicant's Signature	Date