A Kentucky Rental Application allows landlords to properly vet any applicant before offering a lease agreement. The document streamlines the screening process by collecting vital information from prospective renters.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable
- Application Fee Limits – No limits (no statute)
- Security Deposit – No limits (no statute)
State Laws
A thorough screening process in Kentucky follows applicable federal and state laws and ensures you can protect your interests. Below you will find some of the essential points that tenants and landlords need to keep in mind.
Application Fees
Kentucky is lenient regarding fees you can assess tenants or prospective tenants. There is no state law that prevents landlords from charging rental application fees in Kentucky.
There are also no restrictions on the amount you can charge, but it should be reasonable and within the costs of processing the rental application. Landlords typically require an application fee for every adult applicant.
Security Deposits
There are no limits on what a landlord can charge a tenant and no restrictions on requiring security deposits (Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.580). However, there are strict rules on how you handle deposits:
- Kentucky law mandates you place the security deposit into a bank or lending institution used only for such money. You must also provide the renter with the name and location of the financial institution and the account number.
- Before collecting any money, you must provide the tenant with a detailed list of any damages pre-existing in the rental unit. The potential renter must be able to inspect the property, and both parties must sign the damage list to acknowledge its accuracy.
Pet Deposits
In Kentucky, landlords are also allowed to charge a separate pet security deposit in a fair amount. No deposit may be collected for service animals, granting every individual with a disability the right of having their service pet in the rental property.
How To Conduct an Eviction Record Search
Regardless of whether you wish to conduct a thorough background check, you should at least search for eviction records. Kentucky has an open records law allowing access to public records, including evictions (KRS § 61.872). You do not need permission to look at these documents.
You can use the Kentucky Court of Justice website to conduct a check. Just search using the last name and date of birth or the first and last name along with the driver’s license or social security number. The site allows for a statewide search, which will show all court cases for the individual in Kentucky.
Other Landlord Resources
As you review the application, you may find the state’s Fair Housing Law helpful. Avoid discrimination in assessing potential tenants that would open you up to lawsuits.
Another resource is the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry. Check out each adult applicant to ensure they are off the list. Registration can prevent individuals from living in certain areas, which could disqualify them as a renter.
It is time to decide once you review the application and run all background checks. If you are ready to move forward, you’ll want to send a rental application approval letter.
Sample
Below is an example of a standard Kentucky rental application form. You may download this for free in Word & PDF or use our document builder to create a customized rental application.
