Washington 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 RCW 59.18.257 · 15 U.S.C. § 1681m · Seattle Mun. Code 14.09.025

State:EN ES RU 中文 UZ

Free to fill & preview · $19 PDF + WordBlank PDF (free, no account)

View larger

What you'll get

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

PDF
Word
Print

This preview updates as you type. Blank fields show as ____ .

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

Washington rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	actual costSource: RCW 59.18.257(1)(b) (screening fee may not exceed the actual cost of the screening service, or actual in-house cost for self-screening)
Refund rule	No fee may be charged if the landlord accepts a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report and one is provided; landlord must give written notice before chargingSource: RCW 59.18.257(1)(b) (screening fee may not exceed the actual cost of the screening service, or actual in-house cost for self-screening)
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	Prohibited before a conditional offer in: Seattle (SMC 14.09); Tacoma; Spokane. No statewide limit. Seattle Fair Chance Housing Ordinance (SMC 14.09): landlords may not inquire about or consider criminal history (except sex-offender registry with legitimate business reason); Tacoma and Spokane have related ordinances.Source: Seattle Mun. Code 14.09.025
Source of income protected	Yes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: RCW 59.18.255; RCW 49.60.222 (HB 2578, eff. 9/30/2018)
Additional protected classes	creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, source of income, use of a trained dog guide or service animal, citizenship or immigration status
Holding deposit	Landlord accepting a holding fee/deposit must sign a written receipt stating the conditions of forfeiture and give the applicant a written statement of any deductions; deposit is applied to move-in costs or refunded, and may be retained only if the applicant backs out (RCW 59.18.253)
Written notice before screening	Required — this application contains itSource: RCW 59.18.257(1)(a)
Reusable screening reports	Landlord chooses whether to accept; if accepted, no fee may be chargedSource: RCW 59.18.257(1)(a)(iv)

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

How to use this Rental Application in Washington

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. Give the applicant this form — it contains the written notice Washington requires BEFORE you obtain any screening report.

Charge only a fee that Washington permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in Washington?

Rule: actual cost (RCW 59.18.257(1)(b)).

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. Washington adds: creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, honorably discharged veteran or military status, source of income, use of a trained dog guide or service animal, citizenship or immigration status. Criminal-history questions are barred before a conditional offer in Seattle (SMC 14.09), Tacoma, Spokane. 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; Washington 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.