Arizona Rental Application Form
Are you looking to rent property in Arizona? Those looking to relocate or lease real estate will need to fill out and submit an Arizona Rental Application Form.
This document is required before signing an Arizona lease agreement and is an official expression of interest from a potential tenant to lease a certain property and allows landlords to perform a background check on them.
Why is a background check necessary? The background check provides insight into aspects that may affect one’s tenancy. It helps landlords answer relevant questions like:
- Can the tenant afford to pay the monthly rent?
- Does the tenant pay rent on time based on their history as tenants?
- Does the tenant have a criminal or eviction record?
Having a criminal record doesn’t mean an application will be automatically rejected. However, the landlord will take into consideration the type of offense that was committed, its severity, and how much time has passed.
Applicants should also know their rights based on the Federal Fair Housing Act. According to the law, landlords are not allowed to discriminate against prospective tenants due to the color of their skin, national origin, religion, gender, familial status, and disability.
Rental Application Fee
There is no law limiting the amount the landlord may collect in rental application fees. However, Arizona regulations dictate that all applicants must be charged the same application fee. The usual application fee is between $30 and $40 but could be more, depending on the city.
Most rental application fees are non-refundable. The fee is meant to cover expenses for background checks, including the applicant’s credit and criminal history. In Arizona, landlords are required to provide applicants with a written list of things covered by the non-refundable fee.
Security Deposits
The maximum security deposit that an Arizona landlord can ask for should only be worth a month and a half’s rent. Most security deposits are refundable. However, if a deposit is non-refundable, the fact has to be explicitly stated in the lease agreement.
Upon the end of the lease, the security deposit should be returned to the tenant 14 days after moving out. Unpaid rent and property damage beyond regular wear and tear can be deducted from the deposit.
If the tenant has plans to move out, they must notify the landlord and provide a move-out date. They can also request a move-out inspection in the same letter to help the landlord determine if there is property damage that needs to be repaired and taken out of their security deposit.