Application Fees- what exactly are they? And why does every apartment charge for them? The Austin Tenants’ Council gives a very accurate description.
Landlords usually request an application fee to compensate the landlord for checking credit reports and processing the application. Typically, application fees are $25 to $35 per person, but there is no limit on what a landlord can charge for an application fee. Application fees are usually nonrefundable (except as noted below).