New York Rental Application
Fill out a New York rental application below and download a print-ready PDF — identity, rental history, employment, references and screening consent. Free, no signup.
New York application-fee rule · as of July 2026
Capped: $20 (or actual cost, whichever is less)
RPL §238-a — The application fee itself is banned; only background/credit cost up to $20 — waived if the applicant brings their own report ≤30 days old.
Source: NY Senate — Real Property Law ↗. Laws change — confirm the current rule before you rely on it.
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Rental Application
State of New York
Date: __________. Applicant __________ (phone __________ , email __________ ) applies to rent __________ , desired move-in __________ .
Residence history. Current address: __________ . Current landlord: __________ . Other occupants: __________ .
Employment & income. Employer: __________ . Gross monthly income: $______. Reference: __________ .
Authorization. Applicant certifies the information above is true and authorizes the landlord or agent to verify it and to obtain consumer reports (credit and background) for tenant-screening purposes, as permitted by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the laws of the State of New York.
Generated with SealFormsReflects New York fee rules · verified July 2026
Know your New York rules
Application-fee rules come from state law, not the form: in New York, capped: $20 (or actual cost, whichever is less) (RPL §238-a). Cities can add their own caps. Check the currentNew York screening rules before charging or paying a fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a landlord charge for a rental application in New York?
New York caps application fees at $20 (or actual cost, whichever is less) under RPL §238-a. The application fee itself is banned; only background/credit cost up to $20 — waived if the applicant brings their own report ≤30 days old. Source: NY Senate — Real Property Law.
What does a rental application include?
Identity and contact details, the property applied for, current address and landlord, employment and gross income, references, other occupants — and the applicant's signed consent to run background and credit checks, which federal law (FCRA) requires before screening.
Is the application a lease?
No. The application only collects information for screening. If approved, landlord and tenant then sign a lease — see our New York lease agreement template, which reflects New York's deposit and notice rules.
What can't a landlord ask?
Federal fair-housing law bars questions about race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status and disability, and several states add protections (source of income, criminal-history limits). Stick to screening-relevant facts: identity, housing history, income and references.
How does New York compare? See application-fee limits in all 50 states, every rule cited to statute.
Rental application in other states
More New York legal forms
Different state? See rental applications by state →