Rental Application in Delaware

A rental application that collects what landlords commonly ask for. Follow your state's limits on application fees and fair-housing rules: ask every applicant the same questions.

What Delaware law says

Application / screening fees	Capped at the greater of 10% of the monthly rent or $50. Landlord must give a receipt for the full amount and keep application-fee records for at least 2 years; demanding more than allowed entitles the applicant to double the fee charged. Credit/investigation charges may not exceed the specific cost of the investigation, and no other 'assurance money' may be taken from an applicant (other than a deposit reserving the unit for a set time). Application records must be kept 6 months; the AG Consumer Protection Unit enforces. The fee cap, receipt, 2-year record and double-damages rules are in § 5514(d) (chapter 55); the 'assurance money' ban, investigation-cost limit, 6-month application records and Consumer Protection Unit enforcement are in § 5310 (chapter 53: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c053/index.html). No portable-screening-report statute found. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: 25 Del. C. §§ 5514(d), 5310
Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income	Yes. Statewide ban on refusing to rent, or renting on different terms, because of source of income, defined to include any lawful income and rental payments from any government or private assistance program (covers housing vouchers). Landlords may still apply income-sufficiency and credit criteria in a commercially reasonable way without regard to source. A landlord may deny an application if a public housing authority fails to follow the standardized voucher tenancy-approval sequence. § 5116 (Title 25) at https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c051/sc01/index.html. Owner-occupied buildings of 4 or fewer units are largely exempt from § 4603 (§ 4607(e)); § 4607 has versions effective until and after Dec. 31, 2028. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: 6 Del. C. §§ 4602(29), 4603(b), 4607(h), (j); 25 Del. C. § 5116

Application / screening fees

Capped at the greater of 10% of the monthly rent or $50. Landlord must give a receipt for the full amount and keep application-fee records for at least 2 years; demanding more than allowed entitles the applicant to double the fee charged. Credit/investigation charges may not exceed the specific cost of the investigation, and no other 'assurance money' may be taken from an applicant (other than a deposit reserving the unit for a set time). Application records must be kept 6 months; the AG Consumer Protection Unit enforces.

The fee cap, receipt, 2-year record and double-damages rules are in § 5514(d) (chapter 55); the 'assurance money' ban, investigation-cost limit, 6-month application records and Consumer Protection Unit enforcement are in § 5310 (chapter 53: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c053/index.html). No portable-screening-report statute found. Re-verified 2026-10-27.

Source: 25 Del. C. §§ 5514(d), 5310

Statewide ban on refusing Section 8 / source of income

Yes. Statewide ban on refusing to rent, or renting on different terms, because of source of income, defined to include any lawful income and rental payments from any government or private assistance program (covers housing vouchers). Landlords may still apply income-sufficiency and credit criteria in a commercially reasonable way without regard to source. A landlord may deny an application if a public housing authority fails to follow the standardized voucher tenancy-approval sequence.

§ 5116 (Title 25) at https://delcode.delaware.gov/title25/c051/sc01/index.html. Owner-occupied buildings of 4 or fewer units are largely exempt from § 4603 (§ 4607(e)); § 4607 has versions effective until and after Dec. 31, 2028. Re-verified 2026-10-27.

Source: 6 Del. C. §§ 4602(29), 4603(b), 4607(h), (j); 25 Del. C. § 5116

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RENTAL APPLICATION — [rental address]

Applicant name: [applicant name] Phone: [phone] Email: [email]

Current address: [current address] How long: [time at current address] Current rent: $[current rent]

Current landlord: [current landlord name and phone]

Previous address and landlord: [previous address and landlord]

Employer: [employer] Position: [position] Monthly income: $[monthly income] Other income (including housing vouchers or benefits): [other income]

Other adults who will live in the unit: [other adult occupants] Number of minors: [number of minors]

Pets or assistance animals: [pets] Vehicles: [vehicles]

Application fee: $[application fee] (see your state's rule above). Screening company used: [screening company name and contact]

I authorize the landlord to verify this information and obtain a tenant screening or credit report. Signature: ____________ Date: [date signed]

Rental Application for other states · Delaware tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.