Property owners and landlords in Georgia can use a lease or rental application to evaluate prospective tenants.
This document is often the first step in the rental process and ensures finding a financially sound and responsible renter.
Georgia Rental Application Fees
Applicants typically pay a rental application fee to cover the cost of the credit and criminal background checks, regardless if their application is approved or not.
While a rental application fee typically covers the cost of background checks and other administrative expenses, some property owners in Georgia may apply the fee to a tenant’s first month’s rent.
Georgia doesn’t stipulate a maximum amount you can charge for a rental application fee, security deposit, or pet deposit. It’s best practice to provide a receipt for any fees a tenant pays so that both parties have records of the financial transactions.
You can use our rent receipt as proof of collecting charges and fees.
Authorization for Georgia Background Checks
Your rental application can contain statements in which applicants give consent to have relevant background checks conducted, including looking into their credit history.
The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires you to obtain written permission from an individual before running a credit check.
But written permission is also a good idea before conducting criminal background checks and gathering other pertinent information to help with your decision to enter into a Georgia rental agreement with the applicant.
Alternatively, you may use a standalone background check authorization form separate from the rental application.
Credit Check
A comprehensive credit check can give you information regarding an applicant’s income, credit history and score, and any past bankruptcies, which may make them an unreliable tenant.
Criminal Background Check
Conducting a criminal background check on an applicant can reveal if they have committed acts that may put others at risk. Such crimes include those against children and crimes of a violent nature.
A criminal background check may also tell you if the applicant has a conviction for selling drugs or stalking another person.
How To Conduct an Eviction Record Search in Georgia
Eviction record searches uncover legal actions taken against a prospective tenant within the past seven years. These may include failure to pay rent or vacate a property after appropriate written notice.
By searching an applicant’s name, you can conduct eviction history searches through the Georgia Judicial Services portal.
- Create an account.
- Search by the county and court to be redirected to that page.
- Enter the applicant’s first and last name.
Other Resources for Georgia Landlords
Here are a couple of other helpful resources for landlords in Georgia to help you in the selection process:
How to Write a Rental Application
Follow the steps below to write a rental application in Georgia.
Step 1 – Fill in Property Address Information
Write the date of the rental application and the address of the rental property.
Step 2 – Collect Basic Rental Applicant Information
This section provides the applicant(s) basic identifying information about themselves.
Step 3 – Collect Applicant’s Residence History
In this section, the applicant(s) provides their residence history including addresses, dates of residency, and reasons for moving.
Step 4 – Gather Applicant’s Employment History
This section is for the applicant(s) to provide current and previous employment information and other sources of income.
Step 5 – Gather Applicant’s Financial History
This section is for the applicant(s) to provide bank account and credit card information.
Step 6 – Collect References
The applicant(s) provides personal references’ names and contact information in this section.
Step 7 – Additional Questions and Verification
This section contains additional questions to determine more information about the applicant such as smoking or pets.
Sample Georgia Rental Application Form
Download our sample Georgia Rental Application Form for free, or use our document builder to create a customized rental application form that meets your unique needs.