"I am convinced that teaching people the basics of our legal system will lead to more community involvement, which will in turn benefit not just the students, but their children and their entire community."
--Amanda DuBois
Civil Survival E-Learning
Sample Rental Applications
For this activity you can search for your own choice of Web sites or use the ones listed below. Remember that the questions that follow are just a starting point. They’ll help you compare rental applications. Some Web sites provide a checklist of information you’ll need to have handy in order to complete an application. Like many Web sites and many documents, some of these want you to pay for copies. The links are offered below so you can study the applications. Note: You should not need to buy any forms to complete this exercise. Choices include:
www.mrlandlord.com. On this site rental owners ask landlording questions and get answers and tips from other landlords.
www.uams.edu/studentlife. This is a site from the medical school at the University of Arkansas where you can learn about campus housing.
Explore, Dig Deeper, Debate 1. Look at the rental application for the medical school in Arkansas. What is different about renters in a university setting?
2. Who is the “landlord” for a university dorm rental? Do you think this would change anything in the process of applying to rent?
3. Rental application forms often have spaces where you explain any gaps in your rental history. What are some possible reasons for such gaps? Why would a landlord want to know that? If you’re researching a different state, see if this question shows up on the forms you study.
4. Do you think it’s fair to have to tell a landlord about your credit history? Give reasons for both sides of this question.
5. What is the most unusual question you found on any of the sample application forms? What could have caused the landlord to put that particular question in the rental application?
6. Why do landlords want the license numbers of cars you use?
7. Explore these Web sites thoroughly. Find out what “earnest money” refers to when you’re looking for an apartment. Then find out if the states or cities you’re looking at have specific rules about earnest money.
