An Arizona Rental Application is a document to request detailed information from prospective renters. Property management companies and landlords can use the filled-out application to screen tenants before entering a lease agreement.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable (must have it in writing on the application)
- Fee Limits – No limits
- Security Deposit – ARS 33-1321(A) – Arizona security deposits cannot exceed one and a half month’s rent
State Laws
Application Fees
Arizona has no maximum application fees. However, you should only charge a reasonable fee close to the cost of running background checks, generally about $30 to $40 per applicant.
Regardless of the amount, for the fee to remain non-refundable, it must have “non-refundable” added in writing. According to Arizona Law (ARS 33-1321(B)), the applicant is entitled to a refund if the mention is not included in the document.
Security Deposits
While landlords cannot charge more than one and one-half month’s rent for a security deposit in Arizona, tenants can pay more than that in advance. Arizona security deposits are refundable unless bound by deductions.
Pet Deposits
Landlords and property management companies in Arizona can charge tenants pet deposits to cover potential damages to the property that these might cause. Pet deposits are typically marked as non-refundable.
Anything that isn’t covered by pet deposits can be deducted from the security deposits.
Other Resources
Landlords should be aware of additional resources to help them ensure their rental applications comply with state and federal laws:
How To Conduct an Eviction Record Search
Tenants tend to have patterns of behavior. They are probably not ideal tenants if they have received more than one eviction notice. Remember, eviction only happens in severe cases — for example, if a tenant repeatedly refuses to pay rent or damages their landlord’s property.
That’s why you should always conduct eviction record searches in Arizona when vetting potential tenants. To perform an eviction record search in Arizona:
- Go to Arizona Supreme Court Case Search.
- Type in the prospective renter’s name and date of birth.
- Pick the appropriate civil case to review eviction records.