Every landlord is looking for excellent tenants, but top landlords use their Mississippi rental application as a roadmap to find them. A free application template does more than just collect information. It builds relationships.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how you can use a rental form and online landlord software to achieve your landlord goals — because at the end of the day, it all begins with finding tenants to fill your vacancy.
Whether you’re looking to stress less, free up time, or scale your business, the right tools can help you live the dream. Let’s get into the details:
Information to Collect
Your Mississippi rental application form should ask renters to submit the following:
- Applicant/co-signer names
- Social Security number (SSN)
- Date of birth
- Contact details
- Employment and income
- Rental history
- References
- Household animals
- Smoking status
- Vehicles
- Emergency contacts
Since applications collect sensitive information (such as a renter’s income, SSN, and private documents), laws regulate:
- What information landlords can ask for
- Which questions landlords can include on an application
- How landlords use application details to make decisions
Quick Guide to Screening a Tenant
From expert tips to legal regulations, here’s a complete overview of tenant screening in this corner of the Southeast.
1. Pre-Screen
Instead of spending hours combing through a sea of rental applications, narrow down your focus with a pre-screener. Pre-screeners help you sort through leads early based on a sample of their information.
Once a renter finds your online listing, pre-screeners collect their:
- Name and contact information
- Employment, income, and credit details
- Household size (including animals)
- Smoking status
- Vehicles
- Move-in timeline
Pre-screeners only ask a few quick questions, so you’ll need to follow up with your complete Mississippi rental application form to learn more.
2. Conduct Showings
Show the rental through open houses or private tours to meet renters in person and consider reaching out to listing agents in your area, as well. Not all renters use an agent to find a rental unit, but some do. Who knows, your next tenant may be one of them.
3. Distribute and Collect Applications
After all of your preparations, it’s time to share your online rental application forms. While collecting the forms, double-check that every applicant has signed the consent and acknowledgment section. You’ll need their signature for tenant screening.
Mississippi Application Laws
Here’s a quick overview of Mississippi rental application laws and landlord-tenant rights:
Protected characteristics: Mississippi’s fair housing laws prohibit landlords from discriminating against renters based on:
- Race
- Religious principles
- Color
- Sex
- National origin
- Ancestry
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Handicap
- Age
- Children (Miss. Code § 43-33-723)
Criminal background: Landlords can consider criminal background check results when selecting a tenant.
Eviction records: Mississippi landlords can consider eviction history when making their decision.
Source of income: There are no state laws prohibiting landlords from considering an applicant’s source of income (including Section 8 vouchers).
Portable tenant screening reports: Mississippi landlords may use portable tenant screening reports if they choose to accept them.
Pets, ESAs, and Service Animals
Use your rental application to gather information about pets, service animals, and Emotional Support Animals (ESAs). Consider including a table like the one below:
| Animal Name | Breed | Weight (lbs) | Service Status (ESA or Service Animal) |
| Fido | Golden retriever | 50 lbs | Yes, ESA |
| Tom | Tuxedo cat | 10 lbs | No |
The Fair Housing Act protects renters with service animals and ESAs from discrimination. It prohibits landlords from:
- Denying renters solely based on their service animal or ESA
- Charging a pet fee (or pet rent/deposit) for service animals or ESAs
- Discriminating against renters based on their service animal or ESA’s breed, size, or weight (Fair Housing Act)
However, tenants are liable for any damage caused by their animals.
Federal Application Laws
Ready to take notes? These are four rental application laws every landlord must comply with:
The Fair Housing Act (FHA): Landlords can’t discriminate against renters based on their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or disability. The FHA also prohibits unequal rental terms and discriminatory advertising (Fair Housing Act).
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA): The ECOA protects renters who have received public assistance or have lived in public housing. It also defines how landlords assess rental applications and provides reporting guidelines for applicants (Equal Credit Opportunity Act).
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Landlords can’t discriminate against or deny renters solely based on a disability, and must make reasonable accommodations for their condition (Americans with Disabilities Act).
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): U.S. landlords must obtain an applicant’s written consent before pulling their credit report. When you deny applicants based on credit history, you must notify them (Fair Credit Reporting Act).
4. Use a Third-Party Screening Service
Take the hard work out of tenant screening by using TurboTenant’s online tool for tenant background checks, credit checks, and pulling eviction history.
5. Check Application References
Reach out to the applicant’s past landlords and employers to ask the following questions:
- Did they ever miss payments?
- Did they damage the property?
- Did they break the lease?
- Would you rent to them again?
6. Approve or Deny Applications
Accept multiple applications on a first-come, first-served basis. When making your decision, always consider:
- Rental history: If the renter has less than 1 year of rental history, it’s in your best interest to ask for a co-signer.
- Rent-to-income ratio: For an ideal rent-to-income ratio, the monthly rent is less than 30% of the renter’s gross income.
- Credit score: Most landlords set a minimum credit score requirement starting at 600–670.
It’s important to fact-check every Mississippi rental application. If you come across false information, you have the right to reject the applicant.
Denial Process
Always keep your denial process consistent. If your approach varies across applicants, you risk claims of discrimination. In Mississippi, you can reject applicants due to income, rental history, credit score, false information, and criminal background.
Denial notice: In Mississippi, you don’t have to send a tenant rejection letter when you deny an applicant.
Credit/background denials: If you deny applicants because of their credit or background check, the FCRA requires you to notify them. You must send them an adverse action notice, including:
- The reporting agency’s name and contact details
- The renter’s right to dispute any errors in their report
Document storage: Store application files for at least 3 years. If anyone files a discrimination claim, you can use it to defend yourself in court.
Avoiding Fraud
Spotting fraud begins with these best practices:
- Never skip the background, credit, or eviction check
- Verify the applicant’s identity, income, and employment details
- Confirm the details of all documents
