Kentucky Rental Application Form
People who want to live in Kentucky should know more about the rental application form, which is the first step to tenancy.
A Kentucky rental application form is a document that a potential tenant submits to a landlord as an official expression of interest to lease any form of property. The landlord may receive multiple application forms, which will be used to screen applicants and to decide on the best candidate for tenancy.
The rental application form also gives the landlord the authorization to perform background checks on applicants. Aspects for evaluation typically include income and credit scores to help determine applicants’ financial status and ability to pay. Many landlords will also check if applicants have a criminal history.
In addition, landlords typically conduct an eviction check. They can call previous landlords or see if a prospective tenant has an eviction record that may show up in the credit check. People gain an eviction record when a third party is used to collect their overdue rent.
As a rental applicant, it is also important to know the provisions of the Federal Fair Housing Act. The law prohibits landlords from discriminating against applicants based on disability, familial status, national origin, race or color, religion, and sex.
Rental Application Fee
Every rental application form comes with a non-refundable rental application fee. No law in Kentucky dictates how much a landlord should charge. The money will be used to do the background check, which is done by an agency or an app.
Even if the application is rejected, the fee is still non-refundable since the payment is used to process an application and isn’t based on one’s application being accepted. However, the landlord is required to give the applicant the result of the background check and the reason for a rejected application.
Security Deposits
When the rental application is successful, the next step is to sign a lease agreement form and pay the security deposit. A security deposit is money a landlord charges and keeps until the end of the tenancy. The amount is refundable but subject to deductions in case there is damage to the property and if the tenant has unpaid rent. The full or partial amount should be returned to the tenant within 60 days from the end of the lease.
There is no Kentucky statute limiting the amount of security deposit a landlord can collect. However, the landlord must inform the tenant of the account details of the security deposit (Kentucky Revised Statutes § 383.580 (1)).