How-to guides, articles, and any other content appearing on this page are for informational purposes only, do not constitute legal advice, and are no substitute for the advice of an attorney.

Employment and salary verification form: How-to guide 

A key element of selecting new tenants is ensuring they can make the required rent payments. An employment and salary verification form allows you to confirm the applicant’s employment status, salary, and job stability.

Together, an employment and salary verification document and a reliable real estate lease reduce your liability risk and help protect your investment. They also build a strong foundation for the ongoing relationship between you and your tenant.

What's an employment and salary verification form?

Free employment and salary verification form template by LegalZoom. Create and download forms for free!

Confirming an applicant's ability to pay the rent is a good practice when considering them. Use an employment and salary verification document to determine your rental applicant’s income and make an informed decision.

What is a rental application?

Successful property management begins with good documentation, and most landlords start their leasing arrangements with rental applications. A rental application lets a landlord organize and evaluate applicants and use the information provided to run credit and background checks on those individuals. This information can be used to select tenants who’ll pay rent sincerely before the due date and care well for the property. It shields the landlord from claims that applicants were chosen for improper and discriminatory reasons.

How can you evaluate whether an applicant can pay the rent or not?

As you review submitted rental applications, consider the following:

  • Does the prospective tenant have a stable income from their employer?
  • Do they get bonus opportunities as an employee?
  • Do they have a shaky employment history?

A little deliberation up front could save you time and money down the road. Set the rent amount based on the city and state of the property. Calculate the rent-to-income ratio to evaluate whether an applicant will be able to pay the required rent. Based on this, you should accept the candidates who qualify to rent your property.

Is a rental application considered an agreement?

A rental application and its supplementary documents don’t collectively form a rental agreement. A rental application is a document to obtain all the necessary information about the applicant to the property owner. The owner isn’t obligated to rent to applicants simply because they’ve completed these forms.

What is the need to verify an applicant’s salary?

A signed employment verification application acts as proof of the applicant’s financial status. Although it may seem like a mere formality, thoroughly investigating the individual with their consent is always a good idea. Rather than taking your applicant’s word for their employment status or salary and facing the repercussions, it is advised to do a background check as a responsible landlord.

Should all applicants complete the above form?

Yes, if you ask one applicant to complete an employment and salary verification form, you must ask all applicants to do so. Requiring all prospective tenants to complete their rental application and supplementary documents helps insulate you from discrimination lawsuits.

You may never discriminate among your applicants based on the following:

  • Race
  • Color
  • National origin
  • Ancestry
  • Gender
  • Sexual orientation
  • Age
  • Marital status
  • Religion
  • Military/veteran status
  • Disability
  • Receipt of public assistance or housing subsidy
  • Children with certain limited exceptions

If you’re accused of rejecting someone’s application based on the above points, you can show the applications you received and have written documentation supporting your selection.

What information do you need to create an employment verification form?

Here's the information you'll need to describe in your employment and salary verification document:

  • Who it's for: Know the prospective tenant's name applying for rent
  • Contact information: Add your name and email address for a reply with the requested information
FREE
ATTORNEY-DRAFTED

Employment and Salary Verification Form - Free Template

Give your rental property to the eligible applicant confidently. An employment and salary verification form allows you to check the applicant's income and employment background.
Complete your document with ease
Fill your responses and download document
Personalize with a rich editor (additional fee)
eSign document easily and securely (additional fee)
Protect your rental property
Create a residential lease Preview Banner

Related categories

Related templates

Consent to Drug Testing Form

Consent to Drug Testing Form

Secure permission for drug testing with a consent to drug testing form. Ensure a drug-free workplace or academic environment by obtaining the necessary approval professionally and efficiently.

Employee Handbook Acknowledgment Form

Employee Handbook Acknowledgment Form

Ensure your employees read the employee handbook and clearly understand the company policies. An employee handbook acknowledgment form helps you to get a written confirmation of the same.

Employee Release of Information Form

Employee Release of Information Form

Make informed hiring decisions with an employee release of information form. Request prospective employees to authorize the release of their employment history and personal information for employee verification.

Employee Written Warning Form

Employee Written Warning Form

Handle employee relations professionally with our employee written warning form. Address violations, improve performance, and maintain a well-documented record.

Time off Request Form

Time off Request Form

Write a formal note to your supervisor to accept your leave request. A time off request form makes it simple.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT: Attorneys advertised on this site are independent attorneys. in your area who’s responsible for this advertisement. LegalZoom.com, Inc. is not an "attorney referral service" or a law firm. The information you provide to LegalZoom is not protected by attorney-client privilege. about this advertisement if you live in Alabama, Missouri, or New York.