How to Ask a Landlord to Waive the Application Fee (Email and Text Scripts)
Updated November 3, 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. A landlord can say no, and nothing here guarantees a waiver.
Short answer: Ask politely, in writing, before you pay, and offer something that saves the landlord work or cost: a recent screening report, proof of income and a firm move-in date. The best moments to ask are before you schedule a viewing, right after a viewing when you are ready to apply, and when a new building is first filling its units. Below are scripts you can copy for each moment, plus what to do if the answer is no.
Is it okay to ask a landlord to waive the application fee?
Yes. A fee is a request for money, and asking whether it can be waived is a normal question. The worst realistic answer is "no, the fee is required." Landlords in several states may charge an application fee only to cover the cost of screening you, which is why the strongest request is the one that removes that cost, for example by handing over a screening report you already have.
Two cautions before you ask. First, do not skip or delay a fee you are legally required to pay in a way that costs you the unit. Ask first, then decide. Second, if you are in a state with a cap or a waiver rule, check it first with our guide to apartment application fees by state, because in some states you may not need to ask at all.
When is the best time to ask?
There are three natural moments. Each has a slightly different script.
Before you schedule a viewing. Ask in your first message whether the building charges an application fee and whether it can be waived if you provide a recent screening report. You learn the policy before you spend time on a visit.
After a viewing, when you are ready to apply. This is when your request is strongest, because you are a serious applicant with a specific unit in mind. Mention the move-in date you can commit to.
During lease-up. A new building that is still filling its units may be more flexible than a building that is nearly full. Ask whether any move-in specials include a waived or reduced application fee. Do not assume one exists; ask the leasing office what is on offer.
What can you offer in return?
A request is easier to grant when you make the landlord's job easier. These are the things worth offering:
A recent screening report. If you already paid for a tenant screening report, tell the landlord its date and ask whether they will accept it instead of running a new one. Some state laws speak to this directly, as described below.
Proof of income. Offer recent pay stubs or an offer letter, and say you can send them right away.
A firm move-in date. A tenant who can start on a specific date is easier to plan around.
A complete application. Say you will submit it the same day, with references and ID ready.
Offer only what is true and what you are comfortable sharing. Do not send a landlord documents you would not want in an email.
Script 1: Email before you schedule a viewing
Use this for a first message to a leasing office.
Subject: Question about the application fee for [Unit or building name]
Hello [Leasing agent's name],
I'm interested in [unit number or description] and would like to schedule a viewing. Before I apply, could you tell me the application fee and what it covers?
I have a tenant screening report from [month and year] that I can share, along with recent proof of income. If you are able to accept that report in place of a new screening, would you be willing to waive the application fee?
My target move-in date is [date]. Thank you for your time.
[Your name]
[Phone number]
Script 2: Text or email after a viewing
Use this once you have seen the unit and want to apply.
Hi [Name], this is [Your name]. Thanks for showing me [unit] today. I'd like to apply and can submit everything today, including proof of income. I have a screening report from [month and year] I can share. Would you waive the application fee if I use that report? I can move in on [date].
Script 3: Email when a building is in lease-up
Use this for a new or newly renovated building.
Subject: Application fee and move-in specials for [Building name]
Hello [Name],
I'm looking for a [bedrooms]-bedroom starting [date] and [Building name] is high on my list. Are any move-in specials available right now, and do they include a waived or reduced application fee?
I'm ready to apply as soon as I hear back and can provide proof of income and a recent screening report. Thank you.
[Your name]
Script 4: Follow-up if you do not hear back
Hi [Name], following up on my question about the application fee for [unit]. I'm still interested and can apply as soon as I know whether it can be waived with a recent screening report. Thank you.
What if the landlord says no?
You still have options, and none of them require an argument.
Ask what the fee covers. A polite question such as "Could you tell me what the fee covers?" is reasonable, and in several states landlords must be able to show their screening costs, as the table in our state guide shows.
Ask whether it is refundable. Some states require a refund in certain situations, such as when the unit is rented before your application is screened.
Ask for a reduced fee. If the full waiver is not possible, ask whether the fee can be lowered if you supply a recent report.
Compare other listings. Some listings advertise no application fee at all. See how to find apartments with waived application fees.
Know your state rules. If a fee looks higher than your state allows, you can ask the landlord in writing to explain it.
Do any states require a waiver when you bring a report?
Some do. These are the rules we verified in the state statutes on November 3, 2026:
New York: a landlord must waive the background and credit check fee if you provide a copy of a background or credit check done within the past 30 days (Real Property Law §238-a(1)(b)).
Colorado: a landlord may not charge a rental application fee if you provide a portable tenant screening report that meets the statute's conditions (C.R.S. §38-12-903(2)(b)).
Washington: the landlord must tell you in writing whether it will accept a comprehensive reusable tenant screening report before charging you for screening (RCW 59.18.257).
California: a landlord may accept a reusable screening report but is not required to (Civ. Code §1950.6).
Outside these states, a waiver is up to the landlord. The full citations and links are in our guide to apartment application fees by state.
FAQ
Is it rude to ask a landlord to waive the application fee?
No. A short, polite question in writing is normal. Keep it specific, say what you can offer, and thank the landlord whatever the answer is.
Will a landlord actually waive the fee?
Sometimes, but there is no guarantee. A landlord may have a fixed policy, a screening company that charges per application, or a state law that sets the rules. Your best odds come from asking before you pay and offering a recent screening report or a quick, complete application.
Can I ask for a reduced application fee instead?
Yes. If the landlord will not waive the fee, ask whether it can be lowered when you provide a recent report or when you apply for more than one unit. The landlord may say no, but the question costs nothing.
Can I pay one fee and apply to several apartments?
In Oregon, a landlord may require only a single applicant screening charge within any 60-day period, regardless of how many of that landlord's units you apply for (ORS 90.295(1)(b)). In other places it depends on the landlord and the screening company, so ask before you apply to more than one unit.
For landlords: should you waive the fee?
Many landlords decide case by case. If you accept a reusable report, you can skip a charge that the applicant has already paid for elsewhere, and the rental applications tool keeps everything in one place. See Hoozzee's rental applications and start free with up to 5 units and no card. Paid plans include a 90-day trial; see the plans.
Sources: New York Real Property Law §238-a (Justia reproduction); Colorado Revised Statutes §38-12-903 (Justia reproduction); Revised Code of Washington 59.18.257 (app.leg.wa.gov); California Civil Code §1950.6 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov); Oregon ORS 90.295 (oregonlegislature.gov). All read November 3, 2026.