Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Tenant Application

Finding the right tenant for your accessory dwelling unit (ADU) requires more than a standard rental application. ADUs—whether they're granny flats, garage conversions, or backyard cottages—come with unique considerations around shared property, utilities, and proximity to the primary residence. This Accessory Dwelling Unit Tenant Application template helps property owners gather everything they need to make informed decisions while ensuring legal compliance and clear expectations from day one.

Why ADU Applications Need Special Attention

Unlike traditional rental properties, ADUs exist on the same parcel as the main home, often with the owner living just steps away. That means tenant screening needs to cover not just creditworthiness and rental history, but also compatibility with shared spaces, utility arrangements, and house rules that might not apply in a standard lease. This template is designed specifically for those nuances, helping you collect detailed information about prospective tenants while documenting the unique characteristics of your ADU setup.

What Makes This Template Different

This form goes beyond basic contact and employment information. It includes dedicated sections for:

• Owner-occupied verification and proximity considerations, ensuring tenants understand they'll be sharing property with the owner
• Separate entrance access details, clarifying whether the ADU has its own private entry or shares access points
• Utility sharing arrangements, documenting whether utilities are included, separately metered, or split based on usage
• Background and reference checks, including previous landlord contacts, employment verification, and credit authorization
• Pet policies and vehicle information, critical for shared driveways and outdoor spaces
• Emergency contacts and move-in preferences, streamlining the transition once approved

The form uses conditional logic to adapt questions based on household size, pet ownership, and other factors, creating a streamlined experience for applicants while giving you comprehensive data for decision-making.

Perfect for Landlords, Property Managers, and Homeowners

Whether you're a homeowner renting out a newly built ADU, a property manager handling multiple accessory units, or a real estate investor expanding your portfolio, this template provides a professional foundation for tenant screening. It's particularly valuable for:

• Homeowners with backyard cottages or converted garages who need to vet tenants carefully due to close proximity
• Property managers overseeing ADU portfolios who require standardized applications across multiple properties
• Real estate investors building ADU-focused rental businesses in markets with housing shortages
• Landlords in California, Oregon, Washington, and other ADU-friendly states where regulations around accessory units continue to evolve

The template is designed to work within the legal frameworks common to ADU rentals, including disclosures about shared utilities, owner occupancy, and property access that may be required in your jurisdiction.

Streamline Screening with Paperform

Built on Paperform's flexible platform, this template makes tenant screening faster and more organized. Applicants can complete the form from any device, upload required documents (like pay stubs, ID, and references) directly into the submission, and even pay application fees via integrated payment processing through Stripe or PayPal.

On your end, every submission flows into your email, spreadsheet, or property management software via Paperform's native integrations with tools like Google Sheets, Airtable, and Notion. You can set up conditional email notifications to alert you when high-quality candidates apply, or use Stepper (stepper.io) to automate your entire screening workflow—running background checks, sending follow-up emails, and coordinating lease signing without manual work.

Once you've selected your tenant, you can seamlessly transition to Papersign (papersign.com) to send the lease agreement for secure eSignature, keeping the entire process digital, organized, and linked back to the original application for a clean audit trail.

Designed for Compliance and Clarity

Fair housing laws apply to ADUs just as they do to traditional rentals, and this template is built to help you stay compliant. It focuses on relevant tenant qualifications—financial stability, rental history, and household composition—without straying into prohibited areas. You can customize the form to include any state- or city-specific disclosures required in your area, such as lead paint notices, owner-occupancy statements, or utility cost estimates.

The professional layout and clear language also set the right tone from the start, signaling to prospective tenants that you take your ADU rental seriously and expect the same level of professionalism in return.

Customizable to Your ADU Setup

Every ADU is different, and this template is fully editable to match your specific situation. Add or remove questions about parking arrangements, laundry access, yard use, noise policies, or any other house rules unique to your property. Adjust the utility section to reflect whether you use sub-meters, flat monthly fees, or include utilities in the rent. Update the design to match your property branding or personal style using Paperform's doc-style editor—no coding required.

Whether you're renting a studio ADU with shared laundry or a two-bedroom cottage with completely separate utilities, this template adapts to your needs while maintaining a polished, professional experience for applicants.

Save Time, Make Better Decisions

Switching from paper applications or email-based screening to Paperform means fewer missed details, faster turnaround times, and better-organized applicant data. You'll spend less time chasing down incomplete forms and more time evaluating qualified candidates. Plus, with built-in calculations, you can even auto-screen applicants based on income-to-rent ratios or other criteria you set, flagging top candidates automatically.

Trusted by landlords, property managers, and real estate professionals worldwide, Paperform is SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliant, ensuring applicant data is handled securely. Start using this ADU Tenant Application template today and bring a new level of professionalism and efficiency to your accessory dwelling unit rental process.