Montana Rental Application

What information should landlords collect?

Finding the right tenant starts with asking the right questions. Applications should be thorough and complete so that when it comes time to make a decision, landlords have access to all of the information they need.

Using an online rental application form is the easiest way to ensure your application is thorough and compliant with legal requirements. Try a free, fillable rental application template from TurboTenant to make the process simple.

Here’s what to inquire about in your Montana free rental application form:

• Personal details: Collect names (applicants, co-applicants, and co-signers), Social Security numbers, dates of birth, email addresses, phone numbers, vehicle information, smoking status, and an emergency contact.
• Financial overview: Review employment and income details to confirm you’ll be able to collect rent.
• Rental history: Request current and past residence information, including eviction history, to evaluate their track record as a tenant.
• References: Contact professional and rental references to verify the information provided.
• Pets: Include a section that outlines pet details, if applicable.

Some laws regulate the types of questions landlords can ask and how they use applications when making decisions. We’ll review these state and federal guidelines as we cover pre-screeners, application fees, pets, and denial processes.

Pre-Screener

The last thing a landlord wants is a flood of applications that don’t meet their criteria. A pre-screener can help you avoid unqualified interest and keep your inbox under control, so you spend your time on applicants who have a real shot at renting your place.

In short, pre-screeners are a brief set of questions that precede the official application form. If pre-screener results check all the boxes, then you should share your full Montana application form with the interested party.

A typical pre-screener will ask for:

• Contact details,
• Desired move-in date,
• Household size,
• Employment and income details,
• Self-reported credit score,
• Pets, and
• Smoking status.

Pre-screeners give landlords control over who can apply, but they’re not a substitute for a standard application form. They’re a crucial first step, but not the final determination.

Federal Application Laws

Whether a rental property is in Bozeman, Helena, or Missoula, all landlords in Montana must follow the same set of federal laws. Here’s everything you need to know:

Fair Housing Act (FHA): Landlords can’t discriminate against applicants based on:

• Race,
• Color,
• National origin,
• Religion,
• Sex,
• Familial status, or
• Disability.

Landlords can’t deny housing based on, or ask questions about, these FHA-protected characteristics. Questions like “What is your nation of origin?” are illegal.

The FHA bans discriminatory advertising and unequal rental terms. All landlords, property managers, and screening parties are subject to this law (42 U.S.C. §§ 3601–3619).

Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA): Landlords cannot discriminate against applicants based on protected factors, including receiving public assistance income. The law also regulates how landlords evaluate credit information and requires proper adverse action notices when denying applicants based on credit (15 U.S.C. §§ 1691–1691f).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Landlords can’t deny an application solely based on a disability, and must provide reasonable accommodations for renters with disabilities who live in their properties (42 U.S.C. §§ 12101–12213).

Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): Before conducting a full background check on a tenant, landlords must obtain the applicant’s written consent. If a landlord denies an applicant based on credit history, they must inform the applicant in writing (15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.).

Civil Rights Act of 1866: All landlords must treat all applicants equally. Discrimination against color or race is patently illegal (42 U.S.C. § 1981).

Montana Application Laws

Montana has state-specific landlord-tenant laws that regulate rental applications, which are part of the Montana Human Rights Act.

There are no laws in Montana that limit landlords from considering:

• Source of income (including housing vouchers and government assistance),
• Criminal history, or
• Eviction records.

Sexual orientation & gender identity: Montana law prohibits housing discrimination based on “sex,” but it does not explicitly include sexual orientation or gender identity as protected classes (Mont. Code Ann. § 49-2-303).

Portable tenant screening reports: As of 2026, Montana allows portable tenant screening reports, but doesn’t regulate whether a landlord must accept them.

Application fees: Montana now requires certain landlords to refund rental application fees when they do not use them to process an application. Property managers with four or more units must refund unused portions of the fee, though they may retain amounts attributable to actual screening costs (Mont. H.B. 311).

Pets, ESAs, and Service Animals

Many households include a pet or two (or more). Including a section for pets in your Montana rental application ensures you address this essential detail early on.

Pet information: Ask whether the applicant has any pets, ESAs, or service animals, and collect details such as type, breed, size, weight, and number of animals. This practice helps you apply your pet policy consistently and ensures you comply with fair housing laws when handling ESAs and service animals.

Fair Housing Act: Landlords can’t discriminate against tenants based on an ESA/service animal. Furthermore, they can’t charge a pet deposit, pet rent, or pet fee for an ESA or service animal. Denial based on the breed, size, or weight of an ESA/service animal is illegal.

Denial Process

How you deny one applicant is how you should deny every applicant. Always handle the denial process consistently across all potential renters. Failing to do so is grounds for discrimination claims (and future headaches). Here’s what you should know about denying renters in Montana:

Landlords can legally deny an application based on:

• Lack of income,
• Poor credit history,
• Rental history findings,
• Criminal background, or
• False or incomplete applications.

Denial notice: Montana doesn’t require landlords to send out denial notices. However, as a best practice, always treat all denials consistently to avoid potential discrimination claims down the line.

Credit/Background denials: The only time landlords are legally required to contact a renter about a denial is when it is based on a credit or tenant background check. The Fair Credit Reporting Act mandates that landlords send out an adverse action notice that contains:

• The name and contact details of the reporting agency, and
• An explanation of the tenant’s rights to dispute errors (15 U.S.C. § 1681m).

Document storage: Landlords aren’t legally required to hold onto denied applications and screening reports, but best practice is to keep all screening-related documents for at least 1 year. (These files are crucial for defending against claims of discrimination.)