A rental application asks for what the written criteria need and nothing else, carries the Texas selection-criteria notice and acknowledgment, and states what the applicant is paying and whether it comes back. Property Code §92.3515 requires the landlord to make available, with the application, printed notice of the selection criteria and the grounds for denial, and to obtain the applicant’s signed acknowledgment — which may be part of the application if underlined or in bold. §92.352 then gives the landlord seven days to accept, failing which the applicant is deemed rejected. The consumer-report consent belongs on the same form (FTC).
The form
| Section | Ask for | Why / rule |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant identity | Full legal name, date of birth, government ID number (seen, not necessarily copied), phone, e-mail | Screening and lease drafting; keep identifiers secure |
| Occupants | Names of all proposed occupants; adults apply separately | §92.010 occupancy ceiling; every adult signs the lease |
| Residence history | Current and prior addresses, landlord contacts, dates, rent, reason for leaving | Rental-history criterion |
| Income | Employer or income sources, gross monthly amount, evidence type | Income criterion; all lawful sources |
| Criminal history | Convictions only, with dates; individualised review promised in the criteria | Criteria; fair housing |
| Consent | Authorisation to obtain consumer, tenant-screening and criminal reports and to contact references; purpose stated | FCRA permissible purpose (FTC) |
| Fees | Application fee (non-refundable) and any application deposit (refundable on rejection) — labelled with the statutory terms | §92.351 |
| Criteria acknowledgment | The §92.3515(c) statement, underlined or bold if inside the application; signature | §92.3515 |
| Signature and date | Applicant and any co-applicant | Rejection of one co-applicant rejects all (§92.352(b)) |
What not to ask
- Race, color, religion, national origin, familial status beyond occupant names and count, disability, or any proxy for them (Texas Property Code Chapter 301; HUD).
- Whether the applicant has children or plans to — the occupant list is the lawful question.
- Arrests without conviction; a blanket question about any record invites an unlawful blanket policy.
- A Social Security number in a channel you cannot secure; see the data security guide.
After receipt
- Stamp the date and time the application was complete; process in that order.
- Run the reports the consent covers; verify income and references against the criteria.
- Decide within seven days and give notice — telephone or postmarked mail satisfies §92.353; write it anyway.
- If a consumer report contributed to a denial or a condition, send the adverse action notice.
- Refund any application deposit on rejection; refund the fee too if the criteria were not made available (§92.3515(e)).
Frequently asked questions
What must a Texas rental application include?
Printed notice of the selection criteria and grounds for denial, with a signed acknowledgment (underlined or bold if part of the form), plus the fee labels the statute uses (Property Code §§92.3515, 92.351).
Can an application ask for a Social Security number?
It may, for screening; collect it through a secure channel, restrict access and dispose of it securely when no longer needed (FTC).
How long can a landlord take to decide?
Seven days from a completed application; an applicant not notified of acceptance by then is deemed rejected and any application deposit is refundable (Property Code §92.352).
Sources
Rules change and the right answer can depend on the home, the city, the lease and the timing. These are the official pages this guide relies on; check them before signing, charging a fee, sending a notice or making a legal decision.
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 92 — Residential Tenancies ↗
- FTC — Using consumer reports: what landlords need to know ↗
- HUD — Fair Housing Act overview ↗
- Texas State Law Library — Leases ↗
General information for U.S. landlords, with a Texas focus. This guide is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Consult a qualified professional for your situation. Written by the rentalfreelease.com Editorial Team; last reviewed September 19, 2026.