TXR-2003 (07-08-22)

Residential Lease Application — Plain English

An application, not the lease itself — used by a landlord/property manager to evaluate an applicant before deciding whether to enter into a lease. Includes the separate Authorization to Release Information and Keybox Authorization forms.

What This Form Actually Is

This is an application, not the lease itself. Its purpose is to give the landlord/property manager information to evaluate the applicant before deciding whether to enter into a lease. Each occupant and co-applicant age 18 or older must submit a separate application. Submitting an application does not reserve the property — unless otherwise agreed, the property stays on the market until a lease is signed by all parties.

Application FeeA non-refundable charge for processing/reviewing the application.

Application DepositDifferent from the fee — applied to the security deposit if a lease is executed, or returned if it is not.

Authorization (page 3)Signing gives Landlord permission to pull credit, run a criminal background check, and verify rental/employment history.

Page 4 — Release AuthorizationA separate signed permission letting employers, landlords, lenders, and banks release information directly to the landlord/broker.

Page 5 — Different Form EntirelyThe last page is TXR-1411 Keybox Authorization by Tenant — unrelated to the lease application, used when an occupied rental is being shown.

Quick Application Cheat Sheet

The whole form in one glance:

Property InfoWhat home am I applying for?

Applicant InfoWho am I?

OccupantsWho else will live there?

Rental HistoryWhere have I lived?

EmploymentWhere do I work and what do I earn?

Vehicles / AnimalsWhat will be parked or living there?

Background QuestionsEvictions, lease issues, credit, convictions, etc.

AuthorizationLandlord may verify the application

Fee vs DepositNon-refundable fee vs. potential deposit toward security deposit

SignatureApplicant confirms information is true

Page 4Permission to verify information with third parties

Page 5A separate keybox authorization form (TXR-1411)

One especially important distinction: this application does not itself create the residential lease. Even after an applicant is approved, the parties still need to enter into the actual lease agreement.

Page 1

Property, Applicant, Occupants & Rental History

"Received on _ at _"

Usually completed by the landlord, property manager, or agent — the date and exact time the application was received. This can help document application order.

Property Address, Move-In Date, Rent, Deposit & Term

Property Address: the address of the property the applicant wants to rent. Example: 123 Main Street, Houston, TX 77000.
Anticipated Move-In Date: when the applicant wants the lease to begin — this is the requested date, not necessarily an approved date.
Monthly Rent: the proposed/advertised monthly rent. Security Deposit: the proposed deposit — different from the application fee or application deposit discussed later.
Initial Lease Term Requested: how long the applicant wants the initial lease to last, in months.

Property Condition & Requested Repairs

Applicant checks HAS or HAS NOT viewed the property in person. The form strongly encourages viewing in person before applying.
A large blank lets the applicant request repairs or treatments the landlord should consider if a lease is entered into — this is only a request; it does not by itself mean the landlord agreed to perform the work.

How Applicant Was Referred

Check one: Real estate agent (fill in name/phone/email), Newspaper, Sign, Internet, or Other (describe, e.g. "Friend" or "Relocation company").

Applicant's Name & Co-Applicant

Enter the applicant’s full legal name.
"Is there a co-applicant?" YES or NO — if YES, the co-applicant must complete a separate application.
Former Last Name: a prior last name (maiden or married), if applicable — may help with identity/background verification.

Applicant Contact Information

Email, Home Phone, Work Phone, Mobile. If a category doesn’t apply, follow the property manager’s instructions rather than inventing information.

Social Security Number, Driver License, DOB & Physical Description

Soc. Sec. No.: sensitive personal information used for identity/credit screening — should be handled securely and never sent through an insecure public channel.
Driver License No. and issuing state.
Date of Birth, Height, Weight, Eye Color, Hair Color.
Marital Status: information the form asks for — not permission for a housing provider to use protected-status information improperly in a housing decision.

Emergency Contact

The form specifically says: do not insert the name of an occupant or co-applicant. Choose someone who does not live in the property and is not the co-applicant.
Fill in Name, Relationship, Address, City, State, ZIP, Phone, Email. Example: Maria Smith — Sister.

Other Persons Who Will Occupy the Property

For each person who will live there: Name, Relationship, Age. Example: Jane Smith — Daughter — 12.

Remember: any occupant/co-applicant who is 18 or older is supposed to submit a separate application.

Current Address & Current Landlord/Property Manager

Street address, apartment number if any, city, state, ZIP.
Current landlord/property manager’s name, email, day/night/mobile phone, fax — gives the new landlord a way to verify current rental history.
Date Moved-In, Move-Out Date, current Rent, and Reason for Move (e.g. "Need larger home" or "Relocating for work").

Page 2

Prior Rental History, Employment, Income, Vehicles & Animals

Previous Address

Address, apartment number, city/state/ZIP of the applicant’s prior residence, plus prior landlord/property manager name, email, phone numbers, fax, date moved in, move-out date, rent, and reason for move.

Easy meaning: where did you live before your current address, and who can verify it?

Current Employer

Employer/company name and full address.
Employment Verification Contact — name, phone, fax, email of the person who can verify employment.
Start Date, Gross Monthly Income (before taxes/deductions), Position.

A self-employed applicant may be asked for prior tax returns attested by a CPA, attorney, or other tax professional.

Previous Employer

Same concept: employer name, address, verification contact, phone, fax, email, employed from/to, gross monthly income, position — helps establish employment history.

Other Income

A blank to describe other income the applicant wants considered — for example, income from another job or another documented source. Not every possible source needs to be listed here.

Vehicles

For every vehicle that will be parked at the property: Type, Year, Make, Model, License plate number/state, Monthly payment. Example: SUV | 2023 | Toyota | RAV4 | ABC1234/TX | $550.

Animals

First, YES or NO — will animals be kept at the property? The definition is broad: dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish, and other animals.
If YES, identify each animal: Type & Breed, Name, Color, Weight, Age in Years, Gender, then Neutered? Bite History? Rabies Shots Current? Assistance Animal? (each Y/N).

If an animal is an assistance animal, appropriate documentation may be provided with a reasonable accommodation request.

Other Yes/No Questions

Waterbeds or water-filled furniture on the property? Does anyone who will occupy smoke? Will Applicant maintain renter’s insurance?
Applicant or spouse in the military? If yes: serving under orders limiting the stay to one year or less?

Page 3

Rental/Credit History, Background Authorization & Fees

Background Yes/No Questions

Has Applicant ever: been evicted? been asked to move out by a landlord? breached a lease or rental agreement? filed for bankruptcy? lost property in a foreclosure?
Been convicted of a crime? If yes, provide location, year, and type of conviction in the comments area.
Is any occupant a registered sex offender? If yes, provide location, year, and type of conviction.
Had any credit problems, slow-pays, or delinquencies? If yes, explain below.
Is there additional information Applicant wants considered? If yes, explain in Additional Comments.

Be accurate and complete — the applicant later represents that the information is true and complete.

Additional Comments

A box to explain "Yes" answers or give relevant context. Example: "Bankruptcy discharged in 2021 following medical expenses."

Authorization

By signing, the applicant authorizes the landlord/agent to: obtain the applicant’s credit report; obtain a criminal background check concerning applicant and occupants; and verify rental history, employment history, and other application information.

Property Can Keep Being Shown

Unless landlord and applicant separately agree otherwise, the property stays on the market until a lease is signed by all parties — the landlord may continue showing it and accept another offer.

Submitting an application does not reserve the property by itself.

Application Fee vs. Application Deposit

Application Fee: a non-refundable fee submitted to a named entity/individual for processing and reviewing the application.
Application Deposit: applicant either SUBMITS a deposit amount (applied to the security deposit if a lease is executed, or returned if not) or WILL NOT SUBMIT one.

Fee = non-refundable processing/review fee. Deposit = money that may become part of the security deposit if a lease is executed.

Acknowledgment & Representation

Applicant acknowledges having the opportunity to review the landlord’s tenant selection criteria (may include criminal history, credit history, current income, rental history).
Applicant understands inaccurate or incomplete information may result in rejection, loss of the application fee, and potentially breach consequences under a later lease.
Applicant represents the statements are true and complete, and is responsible for costs associated with obtaining information.

Applicant's Signature & For Landlord's Use

Applicant signs and dates — activating the representations and authorizations in the application.
"For Landlord’s Use" (applicants generally do not complete this): date and person who notified the applicant, notification method (phone/mail/email/fax/in person), Approved or Not Approved, and reason for disapproval.

Page 4

Authorization to Release Information

A Separate Authorization Form

This page lets third parties give information directly to the landlord/broker/property manager.
Applicant enters their full name and the full property address being applied for.
Enter the Landlord/Broker/Representative who is authorized to receive the information: name, address, city/state/ZIP, phone, fax, email.

What Applicant Is Authorizing

Current and former employers may release employment and income history.
Current and former landlords may release rental history.
Current/former mortgage lenders may release mortgage payment history on property the applicant owns or previously owned.
Bank/savings & loan/credit union may verify funds on deposit.
Landlord/broker/representative may obtain a consumer/credit report and background information.

Easy meaning: "I give these people permission to verify the information I provided." Applicant signs and dates this separate authorization.

Page 5

Important — A Different Form Entirely (TXR-1411 Keybox Authorization by Tenant)

Not Part of TXR-2003

The last page in this packet is a separate form, TXR-1411 — Keybox Authorization by Tenant, used when an occupied rental property is being shown and the tenant gives permission for a broker to place a keybox on the property.

Key Blanks

Property Address: the property where the tenant currently lives.
Broker: the listing broker.
Paragraph D: tenant authorizes placement of a keybox.
Special Provisions: any additional terms concerning the keybox.
Tenant Signatures & Phone/Email: tenant contact information and signature/date.

The form warns the tenant that a keybox creates risks such as unauthorized entry, theft, property damage, or personal injury, and advises the tenant to secure valuables.

Want the original PDF handy?

Open the actual TREC form alongside this plain-English guide.