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 – § 535.300 – security deposits cannot exceed two months’ rent.
State Laws
Application Fees
There are no statutes that limit fees in Missouri. However, you may require a reasonable amount from each applicant to cover the expense of the screening process.
Security Deposits
Per Missouri Revised Statutes § 535.300, landlords may not request a security deposit of more than two months’ rent.
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 can charge a pet deposit at your discretion.
Sex Offender Registry
Missouri Revised Statutes § 566.147 restricts the residency of certain sexual offenders near designated public places, including schools and childcare facilities.
To comply with these laws and safeguard other renters, you can search prospective tenants in the Sex Offender Registry.
Fair Housing Laws
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] .
Sample
Below is an example of a standard Missouri rental application form.
