Landlords and property managers use Missouri Rental Application forms to vet prospective tenants.
From employment verification to a background check, a standard Missouri rental application form is an efficient way to determine if an applicant is a good fit for your property.
Once you select an applicant for a rental unit, create a legally binding contract using our Missouri Residential Lease/Rental Agreement form.
Missouri Rental Application Fees
There are no statutes that limit rental application fees in Missouri.
However, you may require a reasonable fee from each applicant to cover the expense of processing their rental application.
What Is Missouri’s Limit on Security Deposits?
Per Missouri Revised Statutes § 535.300, Missouri landlords may not request a security deposit of more than two months’ rent.
Missouri’s 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 Missouri 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 — Missouri 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, Missouri requires landlords to inspect the dwelling when the tenant can be present.
Use our rental inspection checklist at the start of a lease to document the condition of the rental unit for comparison later during the final inspection.
Does Missouri Limit Pet Deposits?
There is no statutory limit on pet deposits in Missouri, so you can charge a pet deposit at your discretion.
Authorization for Background Check in Missouri
Under the U.S. Fair Credit Reporting Act, landlords must obtain written consent to conduct background investigations such as credit checks.
A background check authorization form ensures that you are legally compliant in obtaining the necessary consent, collecting relevant information, and disclosing how you will use the information.
How To Conduct a Missouri Eviction Record Search
Missouri landlords sometimes use third-party services and software to perform an eviction record search, but you can also do an eviction search for free by following these steps:
- Open the Missouri Courts Homepage.
- Choose “Search for a Case.”
- Select “Litigant Name Search.”
- In the dropdown, you can select a particular court or “All Participating Courts.”
- Enter the applicant’s last name.
- In the “Case Type” dropdown, select “Civil.”
- Click “Find” to view results and case information.
Researching a potential tenant’s history of Missouri evictions may spare you the need for an eviction notice later.
Other Resources for Landlords in Missouri
Additional federal and state resources are available to aid the Missouri tenant screening process.
Missouri 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 Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Sex Offender Registry.
Additional Protections Under Missouri Fair Housing Laws
Like the Federal Fair Housing Act, Missouri law makes it illegal to deny housing based on an applicant’s race, religion, sex, familial status, disability, color, or nationality.
The Missouri Human Rights Act also specifically prohibits discrimination based on ancestry. Landlords should ensure their Missouri rental applications and agreements follow all federal and state regulations.
How to Write a Rental Application
Follow the steps below to write a rental application in Missouri.
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 Missouri Rental Application Form
Below is an example of a standard Missouri rental application form.
You may download this free form or use our document builder to create a customized Missouri rental application that covers all the details unique to your real estate needs.