Are Rental Application Fees Legal in Delaware?
What Delaware lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
$50 max — An application fee may not exceed the greater of $50 or 10% of the monthly rent. If you aren't selected and the landlord didn't actually run a check, the fee is refundable.
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in Delaware that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Hard $ cap |
|---|---|
| The legal line | $50 max |
| Refund rights | Refundable if a screening was not performed; the cap is the greater of $50 or 10% of monthly rent. |
| Receipt required | Not specified |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | 25 Del. C. § 5514 |
Check your Delaware application fee
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How Delaware compares
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Informational only, not legal advice — verify 25 Del. C. § 5514 and current screening costs before acting.