Arizona Rental Application Form

Last Updated: September 16, 2025 by Roberto Valenzuela

From Scottsdale to Flagstaff, you’ll need an Arizona rental application form to find stellar tenants and generate rental income.

Here’s a guide to using an Arizona rental application like a pro. We’ll review tenant screening tips, denial processes, and how online tools can simplify the entire process.

Information to Collect 

A well-designed Arizona rental application form collects the following: 

  • Applicant, co-applicant, and co-signer names 
  • Email and phone number
  • Social Security number
  • Date of birth 
  • Employment, rental, and income history 
  • References
  • Current and past addresses
  • Information on smoking status, pets, and vehicles 
  • Emergency contact

Since application forms collect sensitive renter information, laws dictate the following: 

  • The information landlords collect
  • The questions landlords can ask
  • How landlords use the information to approve or deny an applicant 

Before we begin discussing rental application laws, let’s go over our quick guide to tenant screening. 

Quick Guide to Screening a Tenant 

Every Arizona rental application and its circumstances may be unique, but we’ve outlined a six-step process covering most aspects of responsible tenant screening: 

1. Pre-Screen 

As the first step in tenant screening, pre-screeners help you determine if a renter qualifies for your home or apartment before they apply. After renters find your listing, pre-screeners ask for: 

  • Name, phone number, and email address
  • Employment status
  • Income details
  • Self-reported credit score
  • Desired move-in date
  • Household size
  • Smoking status, pets, and vehicles

Pre-screeners are a smart way to save time, stay organized, and sort through leads. However, they’re not a substitute for an Arizona rental application form. 

2. Conduct Showings 

Show the rental by hosting open houses, scheduling walk-through tours, and meeting with interested renters.

3. Distribute and Collect Applications 

After generating interest through showings and your online listing, send renters your online rental application. After renters fill them out, collect the completed forms and fees. Always check that the applicant signed the consent and acknowledgment section.

Arizona Application Laws

Application laws and landlord-tenant rights vary across the country. Arizona has state-specific laws regulating what landlords can ask on an application and how landlords use the form to approve or deny an applicant. 

The Arizona Revised Statutes outlines these laws. Here’s what you need to know: 

Renters with children: Landlords can’t discriminate against renters who have children or place rental restrictions against children (A.R.S. § 33-1317). 

Criminal/eviction history: You can legally reference a renter’s criminal and eviction history, but you must practice consistent tenant screening across all applicants. 

Portable tenant screening reports: Arizona law allows landlords to accept portable tenant screening reports, but they’re not required to use them.

Pets, ESAs, and Service Animals

Every rental application in the Grand Canyon State should include a section for animals. You can’t legally discriminate against applicants who have an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or service animal, but you can have renters pay for any damage their animals cause.

Pet information: Always ask if the renter has a pet, service animal, or ESA in the application. Collect animal details (breed, service status, and size).

Fair Housing Act: Landlords can’t discriminate against renters with ESAs/service animals. The FHA prohibits landlords from: 

  • Charging a pet deposit, pet rent, or pet fee for ESAs/service animals
  • Denying housing based on the animal’s breed, size, or weight

Federal Application Laws

Landlords, take notes. These four federal laws apply to every Arizona rental application:

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): You must get an applicant’s written consent to conduct a credit check. If you deny applicants based on credit history, you must inform them (Fair Credit Reporting Act).

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA): The ECOA protects renters who have received public assistance, dictates how landlords assess credit reports, and sets reporting guidelines for applicants (Equal Credit Opportunity Act).

Fair Housing Act (FHA): Landlords and employees who select tenants can’t deny housing based on these legally protected characteristics:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National origin
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial status
  • Disability 

The FHA bans discriminatory advertising and unequal rental terms. Landlords must follow FHA guidelines and attract applicants based on objective criteria (Fair Housing Act).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Landlords can’t discriminate against or deny an applicant due to a disability, and they must accommodate the renter’s condition (Americans with Disabilities Act).

4. Use a Third-Party Screening Service 

Once you’ve collected your completed applications, it’s time for tenant screening. Utilize a free online service, such as TurboTenant, to conduct credit and criminal background checks.

5. Check Application References 

Did the applicant provide landlord and employer references? If so, reach out and ask about their experience with the tenant. Start with these sample questions: 

  • What was the tenant paying for monthly rent? 
  • Did they ever miss rent payments? 
  • Did they leave the house/apartment in an undamaged, clean condition? 
  • Did they ever break the lease? 
  • Would you rent to this tenant again?

6. Approve or Deny Applications 

We recommend accepting multiple applications on a first-come, first-served basis. Use the following criteria to make your decisions: 

  • Rental history: Landlords usually require a cosigner on the lease if the renter has provided less than a year of rental history. 
  • Rent-to-income ratio: Always check their rent-to-income ratio. Ideally, the monthly rent is no more than 30% of the renter’s gross income. 
  • Credit score: It’s a best practice to set a minimum credit score requirement somewhere within the 600–670 range. 
  • Fact check on rental application: Whether it’s a little white lie or a glaring error, false information on an application gives landlords immediate grounds for denial.

Denial Process

Fair housing laws require landlords to handle denials in a legal, consistent manner across all applicants. You can deny an Arizona rental application due to: 

Denial notice: Arizona landlords are not required to send rejection letters to applicants they deny.

Credit/Background denials: If you deny an applicant based on a credit or background check, the FCRA requires you to send the applicant an adverse action notice that includes:

  • The credit/background check provider’s name and contact details
  • The tenant’s right to dispute errors

Document storage: In Arizona, landlords must store denied applications for at least one year (A.R.S. § 32-2175). 

Avoiding Fraud

Spot rental application fraud with these landlord best practices: 

  • Verify the applicant’s identity and documents 
  • Conduct credit, background, and eviction checks 
  • Confirm employment and income details
  • Contact the renter’s previous landlords
  • Keep an eye out for red flags 

Rental Application Forms in Other States

Other Arizona Rental Templates