MHCO Community Updates

The Rental Application Form

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The Rental Application form provides the basic information needed to make a decision on accepting the applicant. Under current Oregon Law you will have not more than 7 days from application to accept or decline a prospective resident. Used properly, the rental application and personal interview will prove helpful in countering charges of discrimination in renting spaces. When completed, a rental application should reveal:

  • Financial information
  • Employment information
  • Residence history
  • Household members
  • Social security number(s)
  • Driver license number(s)
  • Ownership or lien-holder of the unit
  • Age, size and condition of the unit
  • Information about motor vehicles
  • Pets
  • Age verification if the community is classified as 55 or older or 62 or older housing
  • Credit references
  • Emergency contacts
  • Authorization to do credit and criminal checks
  • Acknowledgement of receipt of disclosure documents

At the time the prospective tenant returns an application for residency, the manager or landlord should provide the prospective tenant with copies of the Statement of Policy, the rent history of the space, the Rental Agreement and the Rules and Regulations. These documents may have been provided earlier in the application packet. You may provide these documents anytime prior to the signing of the rental/lease agreement (ORS 90.510(3)(a). However, make sure that the receipt for receiving these documents is signed prior to signing the rental agreement.

As mentioned earlier, it is advisable to provide the prospective resident these documents with the application so that the prospective resident can make an informed decision regarding where they would like to apply. Take time to make sure the prospective resident is aware of the content of each of these documents. It will do the community or the resident little good to have the prospective resident move in without taking the time to read and understand the Statement of Policy, the rent history of the space, the Rental Agreement and the Rules and Regulations. Poorly informed residents will likely result in future problems in the community.