Texas Rental Application (2026)

A landlord's tenant application with lawful screening questions, fee disclosure and FCRA consent, adjusted to your state's rules.

Updated September 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against 15 U.S.C. § 1681m

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Rental Application. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Texas are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Property, rent and desired move-in date
Application fee within the state cap and receipt
Pre-screening notice where the state requires it
Applicant identity and co-applicants
Residence history for 3 years
Employment and income, including lawful sources
Eviction and bankruptcy questions where allowed
Fair-chance criminal-history rules
Tenant selection criteria and equal-housing statement
FCRA consent and adverse-action notice

Texas rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	No statutory capSource: No statutory limit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.351(1) defines application fee as nonrefundable)
Refund rule	Nonrefundable, but must be refunded (and landlord is liable for $100 + attorney fees) if the landlord fails to give the tenant-selection-criteria notice (§ 92.3515(c)); an application DEPOSIT must be refunded if the applicant is rejected or not notified within 7 days (§ 92.352, § 92.3515(b))Source: No statutory limit (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.351(1) defines application fee as nonrefundable)
Must give applicant a copy of screening report	Not required by state law (FCRA adverse-action notice still applies)Source: 15 U.S.C. § 1681m
Criminal-history questions	No state limit (Austin Fair Chance Housing ordinance was invalidated; HUD guidance applies)
Source of income protected	Not protected statewide (check local ordinances)Source: Not protected; local ordinances requiring acceptance of housing vouchers preempted (Tex. Local Gov't Code § 250.007)
Holding deposit	Application deposit (holding deposit) must be refunded if the applicant is rejected or deemed rejected after 7 days without notice; landlord acting in bad faith is liable for $100, 3x the deposit and attorney fees (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 92.351–92.355)

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Rental Application in Texas

Use one application per adult. Collect the Social Security number only on the signed paper copy, never by email. Apply the same written criteria to every applicant and keep denied applications for at least two years in case of a fair-housing inquiry.

Charge only a fee that Texas permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days. Hand the applicant your written selection criteria with the application; the signed acknowledgment is on the form.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in Texas?

Yes; Texas has no statutory cap (Tex. Prop. Code § 92.351), but the fee must be disclosed and applied uniformly.

What questions are illegal on a rental application?

You may not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability, nor about arrests without conviction. Texas adds: no additional classes. This form omits those questions automatically.

Do I have to give the applicant a copy of the screening report?

Federal law requires an adverse-action notice naming the reporting agency; Texas does not separately require a copy of the report.

Other names

tenant application form
apartment application
lease application
rental application form
tenant screening form
renter application
housing application

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.