Our customizable pre-screening application allows you to quickly and efficiently screen potential tenants. Adding custom questions and disclosures to your online applications can help you set initial expectations and self-eliminate unwanted applications.
You might want to…
Ask any questions not included on the standard application. Example: Why are you moving?
Disclose maximum income limits on LIHTC and other income restricted properties.
Explain your rental internal application process and next steps.
Disclose any application fees.
Add state specific real estate disclosures.
Add real estate agency disclosures (a requirement for licensed real estate agents).
Include an introduction to your property or property management firm.
How to add custom questions and disclosures
You can add up to 10 different questions or disclosure statements. Here's how:
First, navigate to your Listings, select More Actions for a specific listing, and then Pre-screening Settings
Scroll down to the Custom Questions and Disclosures section and select + Add Question.
Then, you can add the following types of customized fields:
Text entry: Ask an open-ended question with a text field for the renter to respond to.
Select one: Ask a question with possible answers that you specify. Renters can only select one answer (such as a Yes/No question).
Select multiple: Another question type with available answers that you provide, but renters could select multiple answers that apply to them.
Disclosure statement: Add this to provide information to a renter before they apply. These could be short statements, or longer legal disclosures.
When you save these settings for any listing, you have the option to apply the same settings to all of your listings - simply check "Apply changes to all listings"
All renters will be required to answer these questions when they apply. The questions will not be applied retroactively to renters who already submitted an application to you.
What NOT to put in the rental application
Regardless of where your rental property is located, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) stipulates that certain protected classes cannot be discriminated against. These protected classes are:
Race
Color
Religion
Sex
Disability
National origin
Familial status
Questions about the above protected classes are not considered relevant or fair, so should not be included in your rental application. For example, it can be considered discrimination to ask any of the following questions:
The birthplace of the applicant
The sexual orientation of the applicant
Any disabilities that the applicant has
Asking about the applicant’s children
The religion of the applicant
Source of income*
*Source of income is also a protected characteristic under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). In many states and localities, source of income is also considered a protected characteristic, meaning that landlords cannot discriminate against tenants based on their source of income. You cannot choose to NOT rent to someone because they have a Section 8 voucher.