Alabama Rental Application Form
The state of Alabama has one of the lowest costs of living. If you’re interested in renting a residential property in the area, the first thing you need to do is submit an Alabama Rental Application Form.
A rental application form is a document that allows the landlord to collect personal and employment information about a prospective tenant. The landlord will check the applicant’s income and credit to see if they have the capacity to pay the monthly lease. Other necessary information that a landlord will look into includes the applicant’s tenancy background and eviction record if any.
Applicants with a criminal history need to disclose the fact to their prospective landlord. In any case, landlords will likely discover such details while conducting a background check. Any attempts to hide or keep any criminal history under wraps will reflect badly on the applicant.
The tenant should also be knowledgeable about their rights. According to the Federal Fair Housing Act, landlords are not allowed to deny an application based on a tenant’s race or skin color, religion, national origin, gender, familial status, and disability.
If the landlord approves your rental application form, you will proceed with signing the Alabama rental lease agreement form.
Rental Application Fee
There are no rental application fee laws in Alabama. This means that there is no limit to how much a landlord can collect as an application fee. Most fees in the United States cost around $30; however, it can also go as high as $150 depending on the area’s cost of living.
What is the purpose of the application fee? Your rental application fee will cover the expense the landlord may incur while running a background check. Background checks can incur administrative costs and may entail hiring a third party who can perform them.
Security Deposits
The security deposit will cover any damage to the property at the end of the lease’s term. The landlord may also charge extra for tenants with pets.
In Alabama, security deposits are not mandatory. If the landlord charges a security deposit, it should not be more than a month’s rent.
Likewise, landlords are not required to provide an acknowledgment receipt for the deposit. They also don’t have to set up a separate account for it. When the tenant moves out, the landlord has up to 35 days to return the security deposit (or part of it) to the tenant. Aside from damage, the landlord can also withhold the security deposit for unpaid rent.