An Arkansas Rental Application helps property owners and landlords vet prospective tenants. Gathering information through a thorough screening process from a high volume of applicants is an essential step in finding reliable and trustworthy tenants.
State Laws
Below, you can find essential information on application fees in Arkansas, including security deposits and pet deposits, guidelines for eviction record searches, and further landlord resources.
Application Fees
While there are no state statute limits on the amount of money a property owner can charge for a rental application, the rental application fees should still be reasonable and comparable to the costs of background checks.
Security Deposits
There are several Arkansas-specific rules governing security deposits:
- A security deposit may be up to two months’ rent if the landlord rents six or more properties in the state.
- A property owner with less than six rental properties and who doesn’t employ a property manager to handle leasing or collect rent may charge a “reasonable” security deposit under Arkansas state law.
- There is no requirement for an Arkansas landlord to provide a tenant with a receipt for any fees or rent paid to them, but it is best practice to do so.
- Some states have laws governing how landlords must hold security deposits to ensure that the deposit is always available for repayment. Arkansas does not have regulations regarding this.
Pet Deposits
Pet deposits are a common component of the security deposit. Arkansas doesn’t have any state-specific laws governing pet deposits. However, under the Federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability, a landlord cannot charge a pet deposit or fee where the animal in question is a service animal.
How to Conduct an Eviction Record Search
The Arkansas Judiciary allows anyone access to court records about past legal actions against a renter, including failure to pay rent or to vacate a property after proper written notice. Simply click “CourtConnect” and search by the applicant’s first and last name.
If you find a reason to disqualify a potential renter from your property, you should send a rental application rejection letter, although the state of Arkansas doesn’t require it.
Other Landlord Resources
A thorough rental application process helps you select reliable and trustworthy tenants. Here are some additional resources landlords in Arkansas should be aware of:
Sample
Below you can see an example of a standard Arkansas rental application form.
