RentForms

Tenant pre-screening questions builder

Choose the questions you want answered before you spend time on a showing. Copy or print the list, or start a free application form with the same questions.

Free. No signup required.

Choose your questions

Questions collect information for you to review. They don’t set requirements or reject anyone.

Timing and length of stay
Household
Income and employment
Rental history and references
Screening consent
Getting to know them

Your questions (7)

1. When would you ideally like to move in?
   Choose one: Immediately / Within 1 month / Within 3 months / Flexible

2. How many people would be living in the property?

3. Do you have any pets? If yes, please share some details.

4. Does anyone in your household smoke?

5. What is your approximate monthly income?

6. Could you provide your previous landlord’s contact information?

7. Would you be comfortable authorizing a credit check?
   Yes / No

Collect these answers with a form

Start a free RentForms application form with these questions already added. Share its link in your listing and review answers before you schedule showings.

  • 7 selected questions, which you can still edit
  • You review every application yourself; nothing is rejected automatically
Use these questions in a form

Free to start. You can publish without an account; we email you a link to verify the form.

What pre-screening questions are for

Pre-screening happens before a showing. A few short questions tell you whether an applicant’s timing, household and basic situation fit the rental, so you only schedule showings that are likely to go somewhere.

Pre-screening doesn’t replace full screening. Credit checks, income documents and reference calls usually come later, once you know someone is interested and could qualify. Read more in how to pre-screen tenants before showings.

Questions to avoid

The federal Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status and disability. Many states and cities protect additional groups. Don’t ask about those characteristics, and avoid questions that stand in for them, such as:

  • Whether an applicant is married, pregnant or plans to have children
  • The ages of children or who in the household is related
  • Where someone was born, their religion or their first language
  • Health conditions, disabilities or medications

Asking how many people will live in the property is different: it lets you apply the same occupancy limit to everyone. Ask for a count, not ages or relationships.

Make answers easy to compare

  • Ask every applicant the same questions, in the same order.
  • Use multiple-choice or yes/no answers where you can, so answers are quick to scan.
  • Keep open questions for things that need context, like rental history.
  • Decide what you’ll do with each answer before you ask the question.

See which application questions tell you the most or try a sample application to see the applicant’s side.

Common questions

How many pre-screening questions should I ask?
Ask only what helps you decide whether to schedule a showing. Five to eight short questions is usually enough. Longer forms take applicants more time, and you can ask for details later in your full screening.
Are these questions the same as screening criteria?
No. Questions collect information. Criteria are the requirements you compare that information against, such as a minimum income. Use the screening criteria builder to write those down.
Will applicants be rejected automatically based on their answers?
No. RentForms shows you every application. You can filter answers and decide who to invite, but nobody is rejected automatically.
Can I change the questions after I start a form?
Yes. The questions arrive in the form creator, where you can edit, reorder, remove or add questions before you publish.

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