The Renter's Ledger
Itemize per-adult fees, per-property costs, and holding money across one or more apartments before you pay.
Itemize per-adult and per-application fees while keeping potentially refundable holding money separate from entered nonrefundable costs.
Per adult or per property
Application and screening fees are multiplied by adult applicants and then by applications. Administrative, holding, and other costs are entered once per application, so they are not multiplied by applicant count.
Cash is not always cost
The full holding payment contributes to modeled application-stage cash. Only the portion you enter from the written terms is shown as potentially refundable; the remainder is included with entered nonrefundable costs.
A narrow application stage
The worksheet does not predict approval. Security deposits, rent, moving, utilities, furnishings, and other post-approval costs belong in a separate move-in plan.
Formula
Modeled application-stage cash = applications x (adult applicants x per-adult fees + per-application fees + holding payment).
Before paying
A $50 application fee, $35 screening fee, $100 administrative fee, and fully refundable $300 holding payment produce $485 in modeled cash: $185 entered as nonrefundable and $300 potentially refundable.
With $45 application and $25 screening fees per adult, plus $75 administration, a $200 holding payment with $150 refundable, and $20 other cost, each application uses $435 in cash. Three applications total $1,305.
Two applications for one adult at $60 each produce $120 in modeled cash when the optional-cost section is disabled.
It includes entered application and screening fees per adult, plus administrative fees, holding payments, refundable holding portions, and other application-related costs per property.
Refundability depends on the property's written terms and applicable rules. The calculator treats application and screening fees as nonrefundable planning amounts unless you leave them out; review the written fee terms before paying.
Application and screening fees are multiplied by the number of adults for each application. Per-application fees are not multiplied by the number of adults.
It shows the full holding payment as application-stage cash, then separates the portion you enter as potentially refundable from the remaining nonrefundable amount. It does not assume every holding payment is a deposit or refundable.
Security deposits, first or prorated rent, moving expenses, utility setup, furnishings, and other post-approval move-in costs are excluded. Use the Move-In Cost Calculator for that later stage.
Last reviewed August 8, 2026 - This calculator provides an informational estimate and is not legal, financial, tax, or housing advice.
