A Missouri rental application is a document landlords and property managers utilize to evaluate potential tenants. From conducting employment verification to performing background checks, this form is highly efficient in assessing whether an applicant is suitable for your property.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable
- Fee Limits – No limits
- Security Deposit – Cannot exceed two months’ rent.
Application Fee
There are no restrictions on the amount a landlord can charge for the application fee, and these fees are non-refundable.
Fair Housing Protections
Like the Federal Fair Housing Act, state law makes it illegal to deny housing based on an applicant’s race, religion, sex, familial status, disability, color, or nationality.
The Human Rights Act also specifically prohibits discrimination based on ancestry. Landlords should ensure their application follows all federal and state regulations. [1]
Protected Classes
The law protects against discrimination based on race, color, sex, familial status, national origin, disability, religion, ancestry, and pregnancy. [2]
Exemptions
Fair housing protections do not apply in specific situations [3] , such as:
- Selling/renting a limited number of units if the owner lives in one of them.
- Renting rooms in the owner’s residence.
- Single-family housing sold or rented by an owner with a limited number of homes.
- Housing operated by religious organizations or private clubs.
- Housing intended for the elderly.
- When the presence of a renter/buyer poses a direct threat to safety or property.
- Discrimination against individuals convicted of manufacturing or distributing illegal substances.
Sex Offender Registry
Missouri Revised Statutes restricts the residency of certain sexual offenders near designated public places, including schools and childcare facilities. [4]
To comply with these laws and safeguard other renters, you can search prospective tenants in the Sex Offender Registry.
Penalties for Violations
- Penalties include fines and misdemeanors for violating the law. [5]
- Fines increase based on the number of past violations. [6]
Security Deposit Limits
Landlords may not request a security deposit of more than two months’ rent. [7]
Security deposit statutes also include provisions for:
- Deductions — Landlords may withhold deposit funds for unpaid rent, inadequate termination notice, and damage beyond reasonable wear and tear.
- Returning Deposits — If a landlord fails to return deposit balances and provide a written itemized list of deductions within 30 days after lease termination, a tenant may recover up to two times the amount wrongfully withheld.
- Holding Funds — Landlords must hold deposits in accounts separate from personal funds and in a bank or institution insured by the federal government.
- Move-Out Inspections — At the end of a lease, landlords need to inspect the dwelling when the tenant can be present.
Use our rental inspection checklist at the start of a lease to document the rental unit’s condition for comparison later during the final inspection.
Pet Deposits
There is no statutory limit on pet deposits in Missouri, so you may charge a pet deposit at your discretion.
Sample
Below is an example of a standard Missouri rental application form.
