Setting Up Your Online Rental Application Form

Rentec Direct property management software allows you to conveniently collect and organize rental applications and quickly approve the most qualified applicants. Any data collected with the online rental application is securely stored within your software. 

This article reviews:

• Customizing Your Rental Application Questions and Fee Requirements
• Collection Application Fees Online
• How to Send a Link to Your Online Application to Potential Tenants
• Blank Rental Application

Tip: Click on the links throughout the article for more helpful information

Customize Your Online Rental Application Questions and Fee Requirements

With Rentec Direct property management software, you can create an Online Rental Application that perfectly suits your company's needs. The ability to add Custom Questions and Required Fields indicated with a red '*' ensures that only complete applications are received. 

Important Note: Please ensure your rental application and fees comply with federal, state, and local landlord-tenant laws.

The following steps walk through how to create an Online Rental Application

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Settings
2. Under Program, click on Rental Applications
3. Enable Online Applications by checking the Yes radio button 
4. Select your preferred Default Questions. To make the question required, indicate "No" and add it to Custom Questions
5. Add any Additional Instructions you would like to have displayed on the application
6. Add Custom Questions  (i.e., additional occupants, vehicle information, etc. up to 2500 characters)   
   1. Select single or multiple line response
   2. Indicate if a response is required. (Applications with unanswered required fields will not be submitted.)
   3. Click on +Add Question to add additional questions
7. If you have a merchant account and would like to require an application fee, continue to the next step, otherwise Click on SAVE
8. Under Application Fees, enter:
   1. The Amount of the Fee
   2. Indicate if the fee received is to be Applied to the Property Ledger as Income
   3. Select which Bank Account that is linked to a merchant account, the fee should credit to. By default the fee will deposit into the property Income Account.
   4. Select the Income Category to be applied to the fee

Check out how easy it is to order Tenant Screening Reports directly from Online Rental Applications received here: Managing Rental Applications.

Pro Tips:

• If you are set up with PetScreening, set "Ask primary applicant to list pets?" to:
  • Yes, If you would like Pet Screening to be required of only the primary applicant If they indicate they have a pet
  • No, If you would like all applicants to complete Pet Screening even if they indicate they don't have a pet
    • PetScreening allows you to establish legal documentation of applicants indicating they don't have a pet and that they are aware of your pet policy if they acquire a pet at a later date. There is no additional fee for applicants with "No Pet".

Learn more about PetScreening.com and add Pet Screening to your Rentec Direct application process Getting Started with Pet Screening

Collecting Application Fees Online

Application fees can be required and received with online applications through your Rentec Direct property management software. 

If you're not yet setup with a merchant account to receive application fees and other online payments, here's some helpful links to get started:

• Learn more about Online Payment Processing with your Rentec Direct software
• Learn more about creating an Income Category for Application Fees received
• By default application fees show on the property ledger. If you keep the fee, learn more about Paying Out Fees

Important Note: Please ensure your rental application and fees comply with federal, state, and local landlord-tenant laws.

How to Send Links to Applicants

It's easy for potential tenants to apply to your available properties.

Once your Online Rental Application is set up, you can either:

1. Direct them to your Rentec Direct Website

   Send them a link to your application

   In your Rentec Direct account:

   1. Click on Properties
   2. Right-click on the property and select Marketing Info
   3. Under Resources, right-click on This Property's Public Page for the specific property or All Public Listings and select copy link address
   4. Email link to applicant

Blank Rental Application Form

A blank, generic rental application is available to print out and provide to rental applicants here: Rental Application Form

Important Note: The example document may need to be modified to meet your state requirements before use.