Free tool
Is My Rental Application Fee Legal?
Enter your state and the fee you paid. We check it against your state's law and the real ~$30 cost of screening — and hand you a refund letter if you were overcharged.
Informational only, not legal advice.
What you'll get
A clear verdict — within the law, a refundable overcharge, or above your state's cap — plus the markup over real cost and a one-click refund letter.
How we decide
Three things set the answer: your state's law (some ban fees, some cap them in dollars, some allow only the landlord's actual cost), what screening really costs (about $30 for a full credit + criminal + eviction check), and what you were charged. The gap between the real cost and your fee is the markup.
See the whole picture on the Markup Index, or read your state's rule in full.