A Utah rental application is a document landlords and property managers utilize to screen potential tenants, ensuring they are reliable and can pay rent on time. Landlords can use this form to identify any red flags, such as bad credit, background check issues, and employment gaps, to find qualified tenants.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable.
- Fee Limits – No limits.
- Security Deposit – No security deposit limit is provided by state law.
Application Fee
- No Fee Limit: Utah law doesn’t impose any limit on application fees. However, landlords typically keep the fees reasonable to remain competitive and in line with the cost of processing the rental application.
- No Application Fees Allowed in Some Circumstances: A landlord can’t charge an application fee for any unit with no vacancy in the near future. [1]
- Before Accepting the Fee: Before a landlord accepts an application fee, they must provide (in writing) an estimate of the rent amount and the amount of each fixed, non-rent expense that is part of the rental agreement. [1]
Fair Housing Protections
State law prohibits discriminatory practices in housing based on color, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, sex, religion, national origin, disability, and income source. Specifically, it’s illegal to participate in the following activities: [2]
- Refuse to rent or negotiate housing.
- Deny access to a dwelling.
- Discriminate in the terms or conditions of housing or related services.
- Misrepresent a dwelling’s availability.
- Advertise in a way showing discrimination or preferences.
- Use application forms indicating discrimination or preferences.
- Deny reasonable accommodations or modifications for people with disabilities.
- Use intimidation to persuade renting based on discrimination.
Please note that these protections also apply to associations with others who have these characteristics.
Security Deposit Limits
- No Limit: Utah doesn’t set any limit on how much a landlord can charge for a tenant’s deposit.
- Refundable: Security deposits are refundable unless the landlord deems them “non-refundable” in writing to the tenant when the landlord obtains the deposit. [3]
- Handling: There is no state law dictating how a landlord must store or handle a tenant’s security deposit.
- Return: The landlord should return the deposit within 30 days of the tenant’s departure. They must also present an itemized list explaining any deductions. [4]
Pet Deposits
There are no state laws governing pet deposits.
Sample
