Rent & fees
Can my landlord charge an application fee?
Usually yes - most states allow a screening fee. Some cap it, some require it to reflect real screening costs, and a few require a refund if no screening was done.
An application fee covers the landlord's cost of pulling credit and running background checks. It is separate from the security deposit and is normally non-refundable once the screening has been run.
Rules vary widely. Some states and cities set a maximum amount or require an itemized receipt; others say nothing. Fees charged per adult applicant add up fast when you apply to several places, so ask what the fee covers before you pay.
Never pay an application fee for a place you haven't been able to see or verify. Fees for listings that turn out not to exist are a common scam pattern.
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General educational information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and city and change over time - for a specific situation, contact a local tenant-rights organization.