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Capture the information you need to screen tenants — identity, income, references, and consent — in one signed form.
A rental application is the form a prospective tenant completes when applying for a rental property. It records identity, employment, income, references, and consent to tenancy database and credit checks. For landlords and property managers, it is the first and most important screening step before offering a lease.
Common situations where this document is the right tool for the job.
A prospective tenant is applying for a property you own or manage.
You want a standardised way to collect applicant information.
You need written consent to perform tenancy database and credit checks.
You want documented references and income verification.
You want a paper trail if you later decide to decline (anti-discrimination protection).
You manage multiple properties and need a consistent process.
The essential provisions every rental application should include.
Full legal name, date of birth, current address, contact details, and identification (driver's licence, passport, or Medicare).
Current employer, job title, length of employment, gross income, and contact details for income verification.
Previous addresses for the last 2-3 years, reason for leaving, landlord or agent contact details, and rent paid.
Two to three personal or professional references the landlord can contact. Name, relationship, phone, and email.
Names of all adults who will sign the lease and all occupants who will live at the property, including children and pets.
Savings, other income sources, outstanding debts, and any history of bankruptcy or insolvency.
Written consent for the landlord or agent to perform tenancy database checks (NTD, TICA, Equifax), credit checks, and reference checks.
Disclosure of how personal information will be collected, used, and stored, and the applicant's rights under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Statement that information provided is true and complete, with acknowledgement that false information may result in the application being refused or the lease terminated.
Each adult applicant signs and dates the form.
Tenancy databases (NTD, TICA, Equifax) require written consent from the applicant before you can run a check. The rental application is where that consent is captured.
Anti-discrimination law prevents refusing a tenant based on protected attributes. A signed application with objective screening data (income, rental history, references) provides documented non-discriminatory reasons for any decision.
Standardised applications make comparing candidates quick. Scattered emails and phone calls do not.
Requiring photo ID and multiple verification points reduces the risk of a fraudulent application — a real and growing problem in Australian rental markets.
Yes. A rental application is an ordinary commercial contract under Australian law. Electronic signatures on it are recognised as valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth)and the state-based equivalents (e.g. Electronic Transactions Act 2000 (NSW), Electronic Transactions (Victoria) Act 2000, Electronic Transactions (Queensland) Act 2001).
Under section 10 of the Commonwealth Act, an electronic signature is valid if it identifies the signer, indicates their intent to be bound, and uses a method as reliable as appropriate in the circumstances. SignBolt captures timestamp, IP address, and signer identity — which meets this "reliable method" test for ordinary commercial signing.
Certain document types are excluded from electronic-signing provisions in some states (wills, statutory declarations in some contexts, land titles documents). A rental application is not in those excluded categories — electronic signature is valid.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For high-value or unusual arrangements, obtain a one-off review from a qualified Australian legal practitioner.
Questions we get about the Rental Application template.
Landlords can ask for information relevant to assessing the application: income, rental history, references, identity. They cannot ask questions that directly or indirectly relate to protected attributes under anti-discrimination law — race, religion, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, marital status (in some states). Income and employment questions are fine; family-structure questions generally are not.
Yes. Tenancy database operators require written consent from the applicant before a check can be run. The consent must be clear, specific, and separable (the applicant should be able to consent or not consent knowing exactly what they are agreeing to). Running a check without consent can breach privacy law and expose the landlord to damages.
Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), personal information should only be kept as long as it is needed for the purpose it was collected for. For rejected applications, that is usually 3-12 months (long enough to defend a complaint, not long enough to be excessive). Specify your retention period in the privacy disclosure on the form.
Yes. Electronic signatures on rental applications are valid under the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth). SignBolt produces a timestamped audit trail that is particularly useful if an applicant later disputes the information they provided.
Most Australian states prohibit or restrict charging a rental application fee. Some states allow a small administrative fee; others prohibit any charge. Check your state's Residential Tenancies Act before charging applicants anything.
Typical attachments are: 100 points of ID (driver's licence + Medicare, or passport), 2-3 recent payslips or tax return, bank statements showing savings, and written references from previous landlords or employers. Some landlords require a letter from the applicant explaining why they want the property.
Yes, as long as the refusal is not based on a protected attribute. Most state residential tenancy laws do not require a landlord to provide reasons for refusal. However, documenting the objective reasons (income too low, poor rental history, couldn't verify references) protects against any later discrimination claim.
Free plan covers 3 documents per month — more than enough to get this signed today. No credit card required.