Setting Up Your Online Rental Application Form

Your Rentec Direct customizable online application allows you to streamline your rental process. Effortlessly collect, organize, and approve rental applications, with all data security stored within your software

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



Customize Your Online Rental Application Questions and Fee Requirements

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

    Tip: If you would like to make any of the default questions required, indicate No and add the question to your Custom Questions.

  5. Add any Additional Instructions you would like to have displayed on the application. This is a great place to add a breakdown of fees applied for the pre-tenancy process.
  6. The last default question option - Provide instructions for completing or sending application / supporting documents is a great place to:
    1. Include a breakdown of fees
  7. Under Custom Questions, click on +Add Question
  8. Type in your Custom Question and indicate Single or Multiple lines for the applicant's response
  9. Required - Check this box to require the question to be answered. (Applications with unanswered required fields will not be submitted.)
  10. Add additional questions as needed
  11. Under Application Fees, enter
    1. Application Fee amount
    2. Choose if you want the application fee income applied to the property ledger
    3. Select the bank account (with an active merchant account) that the application fee applies to. If no bank is selected, the default income bank for the property will be used.
    4. Choose which category is used for application fees

Pro Tips:

  • Online Application Fees

    • Not yet set up with a merchant account to receive application fees and other online payments? Click here to get started Online Payment Processing Settings | Enrollment
    • Create an Income Category

    • Application fees are automatically posted to the property ledger. If you keep the fee, learn more about Paying Out Fees.

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

      Pet Screening

      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".

    • 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

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


Once your Online Rental Application is set up, you can direct potential tenants to your Rentec Direct Website or use the following steps to send them a link:

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 the 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.

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