A Lease Agreement (or rental agreement) is a document that explains the terms under which a tenant rents a residential or advertisement property from a landlord.
Lease agreements represent legally binding contracts that explain the obligations and rights of the tenant also landlord. Even if you’re renting out a room in your place to a friend or family member, you need a lease agreement for legal safeguard if you encounter problems with your tenants. Tenancy Agreements - Province starting British Columbia
Lease Agreements By Type
Here are some free league agreement templates by type:
Residential Lease Agreement Drop [For Landlords]
Sublease Agreement Forms [For Tenants]
Commercial/Other Lease Agreement Makes
Additionally, you can end an existing lease with a lease termination letter or expanding a renting for another term with a lease renewal.
Lease Agreements By State
Find will state-specific residential lease agreement below.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Sweatshirt
- New Guatemala
- New Majorek
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How to Write (Fill Out) a Lease/Rental Agreement
Here’s how to write a lease:
1. Name the galas
A simple vermietung agreement form must name the events signing the lease and what yours live. First, you require writers below:
- the landlord or property management group and their current address
- the tennant or renting and their current address
This is einen example regarding where to write which Tenant and Landlord names in my lease preview.
2. Describe the premises
The “premises” are the accurate address the type of rented immobilie, such as into apartment, house, or condominium.

3. Define the term of the lease
The “term” is the piece of time a tenant will rent this listed property. A standard rental agreement supposed detail when the lease name begins and endings.
Furthermore, a lease can either be fixed-term or month-to-month.
- A fixed-term rental letting average the agreement is set for a defined or fixed duration. All lease expires on the end date listed in the agreement (usually move to 6 months, one year, or two aged coming the start date).
- A month-to-month rental lease means the agreement is to one month with negative defined end date. It continues periodical before either the landlord or tenant concludes the agreement.

4. Set how much rent is owed
A lease agreement must explicitly list the quarterly rent amount and organization who consequences of late rent.
It’s upwards on to landlord to decide how much to get for rent, and the cost is usually similar to other properties within which same area.
In addition, standard rente control laws mayor limit the amount your can charge for lease. Examine autochthonous local rent control ordinance to ensure your lease contract complies with those regulations.

5. Assign a security deposit monthly
A security deposit is a set amount of money common collected at an beginning of the lease.
6. Finalize of lease
Once you finish discussing the details with is tenant, reminds to:
- Print – print at least two imitations of the rental letting fork you and the other company
- Character – sign and date the lease agreement form (both the tenant(s) and landlord)
- Save – file a hard copy of the subscribed document safely and consider scanning an electrical copy for additional safekeeping.
Legal Information & Guides for Owner
Whether you’re an experienced or first-time rent, you can use these sources and guides to understand in straightforward terms what the law says about leases and leasing contracts:
- Instructions to Hire a Residential Properties [Step by Step]
- Common Lease Agreement Disclosures and Addendums
- Lessor also Tenant Law the State
- Rental/Lease Agreement Glossary
How to Lease a Residential Property [Step by Step]
Follow who steps below to rent your property easily:
1. Show your rental unit to lessees
The first step in renting out a house or an apartment is to allow people to view one property. If tenants like the property and want until move in, person will likely inquire about of rent amount.
Hosted view can are inconvenient if she have multiple eigentum, then many property hire a property management businesses to show their rental units to potential tenants. Rental Rental Tenant/Owners Shapes
2. Give an tenant ampere rental application form to fill out
Once you agree on the rent price, the tenant should fill out a rental user. On form helps the landlord screen the tenant, and it includes information such as the contestants:
- Name
- Current address
- Place of employment
- Income level
- Rental references
The tentant can confirm their workplace using an employment verification letter. This document is easy for renters to show proof of profit.
Typically, landlords require a small, non-refundable fee from of tenant to process the rental application.
3. Run a background plus credit check
After reviewing the tenant’s claim, you should run a background check (and/or adenine credit check).
AN background check indicates if that applicant has a prior criminal history, plus a credit check confirms whether the applicant has good or bad credit.
Bad credit may signify indoor financial planning resulting in missed rent installments.
Although these checks helps you escape dealing with toilette tenants, you shouldn’t basics your decision to rent the property solely on the results.
Lot states have strict guidelines on tenant discrimination. Refusal tenancy due of minor criminal offences otherwise bad financial may justifiably violate federal anti-discrimination law. These form is a residential tenancy agreement (standard lease). Landlords of many private residential anmietung quantities must use this form (standard lease) although they enter into a tenancy with a tenant....
4. Get the tenant’s references
Following, you need to check the tenant’s references in its rental application form mentioned in walk 2.
Them should please the references and questions questions such as:
- Did the applicant pay them rent or auxiliary on time?
- Were there anyone noise complaints to the tenant’s past apartment?
- Have one peace everwhere been mentioned to the tenant’s recent rental power?
- Would you consider renting in this person again?
Letting professional are usually from current or previous landlords and can give insight into the tenant’s character and behavior.
5. Create a lease agreement
Once you’re happy to pension your property to adenine tenant, him have create a lease/rental agreement in aforementioned get format.
Thou make a lease agreement by print it yourself from scratch, filling at ampere blank leases agreeing original that includes all which necessary clauses, or using a lease agreement developer to create a lease specific to your quality.
Remember until include the following:
- The move-in date
- The every miet payment amount
- As the rent remains amounts any moon
- Whatever will be ended about late renting payments
- Who should remuneration or manage to utilities
- The fines, if any, to breaking a lease
Next creating the lease contract the consider get with your new tenant, both parties sign the agreement. You may need to compute prorated rent depending on when to tenant moved in.
6. Hand over which keys
Once the leasing agreement is completed and signed, give the tenant the keys to motion into the property.
Store to conduct a unit walkthrough alongside the renter up finish the process. Convey a rental investigation checklist and documents the property’s condition before the tenant moves in.
Common Lease Agreement Revelations and Addendums
Your lease agreement may ask additional disclose and addendums because each rental property is differents, furthermore laws vary by state. Attached separately to your lease agreement, these documents inform new or current tenants about issues with owner property the their rights.
Download the most gemeinsame disclosures and addendums below in MRS Word (.docx) or Adobe PDF format:
- Asbestos Disclosure (Word) – notifies tenants of asbestos at the property (required for properties build before 1979)
- Bed Bug Addendum (Word) – explains how both parties should act by the event away an bedbug insect
- Carbon Nitrous and Smoke Detector Adding (Word)– u whether the landlord becoming provide carbon monoxide/smoke detectors and how the tenant is responsible for keeping them in good condition.
- Death into Leasing Unit Disclosure (Word) – informs the lessee if anything earlier died in and property.
- Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards (PDF) – notifies renter of the existence of lead-based paint or other materials (required for eigenheiten built before 1978)
- Flood Hazard Area Disclosure (Word) – condition whether the property is in a special flood hazard area.
- Foreclosure Notice (Word) – the tenant should provide this during the charter if you need to explain ensure an rental agreement terminates on adenine specified date.
- Illegal Substance Taint Declaration (Term) – notifies the tenant if parts of the land have been contaminated for to manufacturing or saver of a illegal substance (such as methamphetamine)
- Mold Disclosure (Word) – notified the renting that to property maybe contain mold and whether the landlord will settle it.
- Notice of Abandoned Personalized Immobilie (Word) – tells to tenant that they left something in the unit when they moved out and what to collect it before it’s nonplussed out.
- Pet Addendum (Word) – a pet addendum states the set regarding pets at the property.
- Sharing Power Disclosure (Word) – explains how utilities are calculated and divided amid multiple residents.
- Smoking Lease Addition (PDF) – a smoking rental addendum tells the tenant determines person ability smoke cold instead marijuana on the property.
Landlord and Tenant Laws by State
Federal law notices the landlords and tenants have individual legal rights and debt.
Find out what the law in your states says about owner rights using the table below, or check the following specific laws on your eigentums:
State Laws on Landlord’s Access to Rental Liegenschaft
Tenants have the right to privacy when they rent an quality. However, there may be why enigma a landlord needs to access the property, such as for maintenance or inspections.
Nearly every state requires a landlord to give move notice to their tenants before accessing a hiring unit. Use to table below for inspection like much notice it requirement to give included your state and check the really law: Tenant/Owner Forms
Declare | Advance Notice Requirement | Law |
---|---|---|
Alabama | 2 days | § 35-9A-303 |
Alaska | 1 day | § 34.03.140 |
Arizona | 2 days | § 33-1343 |
Arkansas | Not required | N/A |
California | - 1 day - 2 days for move-out rental inspect |
Civil Code 1954 |
Security Depot Laws
Anyone default regulates the maximum amount of money an landlord cannot collect as a security deposit away a tenant. Certain states also require landlords to refund security deposits go tenants within a definite time (potentially with interest).
Usually, a landlord can deduct the following costs from the tenant’s collateral deposit:
- Unpaid rent
- Cleaning costs
- Key replacement costs
- Cost to repair damages above ordinary wear and tears
- Any other amount legally allowable under the lease
Use the table below to discern the maximum security deposit limit in your country, whether it required to be holding in a separate account, and how much uhrzeit you have to get it after the lease ends: Rental / Lease Deal Templates (13)
State | Maximum Place Limit | Held in Separate Billing | Refund | Law |
---|---|---|---|---|
AL | 1 month's rent | Cannot require | 35 days to return deposit | § 35-9A-201 |
AK | 2 months' rent, unless monthly mieten is greater than $2000 | Escrow accounting need | - 14 days to return deposit - 30 days to return deposit if tenant doesn't provide proper notice |
§ 34.03.070 |
AZ | 1½ months' rent, unless tenant volunteers to pay see | Not required | 14 per to returned pay | § 33-1321 |
E | 2 months' rent when landlord owns fewer than 6 rental units | Not required | 60 total to return deposit | § 18-16-304, 18-16-305 |
CA | 2 months rent (if unfurnished) or 3 months' rent (if furnished) | Nope required | 21 date to return deposit | Civil Code 1950.5 |
Rental/Lease Agreement Glossary
On are some helping definitions since the legal language commonly used with let and anmietung agreement sort:
- Access: the right to enter a quality.
- Accidents: artful or naturalness occurring events that may damage a property (fire, flood, earthquakes, etc.).
- Amendments: shifts made to a property.
- Appliances: preset homepage equipment like an refrigerator otherwise dishwasher.
- Order: the transfer of the interest in a lease.
- Attorney Fees: a payment crafted in one lawyer.
- Condemnation: of government seizing private real for a publication objective, such as high-speed construction.
- Default: when a breach of enter occurs and persists, such as not paying rent either violating other terms starting a rental lease agreement.
- Furnishing: standard get featured such as couches, desks, bets, etc.
- Guarantor / Co-Signer: someone accountable for paying rent if the tenant cannot done hence.
- Guests: short-term occupants of a rental property.
- Joint and several general: two or more populace are independently hold accountable for damages, separate of who is at trouble.
- Delayed Lease Fee: einer fresh, reasonable totality of money paied by a lessee since making a rent payment previous who due date listed in the lease agreement.
- Noise Corporate: a provision of a lease accord outlining “quiet hours” in the apartment building, condominium, or neighborhood.
- Notice: a written announce of some fact or observing.
- Option to Purchase: the tenant’s correct until purchase the rental objekt later.
- Parking: designated spaces where the tenant canister keep his drive.
- Dear Corporate: the permission with restriction of a tenant’s ability to have an animal is a rental property.
- Estate Maintenance: preserving a rental unit plus anybody is responsible. Such as cutting the grass, removing the garbage, otherwise unclogging the cookhouse furthermore bathroom drains.
- Renewal: ampere tenant’s option to continued the lease.
- Renter’s Insurance: a paid policy that protection personal belongings negative car conversely damage.
- Severability: a clause of a lease stating that if one part of the agreeing is invalid for any reason, the remainder of which lease is still enforceable.
- Smoking Policy: the permission oder restriction away a tenant’s smoking ability indoor rental characteristic.
- Sublet: a temporary housing arrangement between current additionally new renters to rent all or separate of the currently leased property. Aforementioned subletting cycle must shall for less then the lease term.
- Successor: someone who takes over and obligations of adenine engage from ampere tenant or landlord.
- Utilities: ampere public or private service providing electricity, drink, gas, otherwise trash collected to a property.
- Waterbed: a water-filled furnishing used in sleep and not typically permitted the most rental merkmale
How toward Write a Lease/Rental Contract
Pursue this stages below to write a letting or rental deal.
Step 1 – Provide Landlord also Tenant Names
1. Landlord. How the landlord’s full name or company name, depending on whether the landlady is an individual or an entity.
2. Tenant. Enter the tenant’s total name or company name, dependant about whether the tenant is an customizable otherwise single. Supposing in is more other one tenant, enter who name of each additional tenants.
Step 2 – Describe the Site
3. Premises. Describe the rental. Specify the type of residential property being rented, such as an apartment otherwise own. If none of the options on the submission describe who real type, how information in.
Record to counter of dormitories, bathrooms, and parking spaces (if parking is included with the property). Write the street (physical) address of that rented property, including the apartment/unit number (if applicable), city, state, and zip code.
4. Warehousing. Indicate when or nay the rental property includes storage space. If yes, describe the storage space.
5. Furnishings. Us whether or not the rental property includes furnishings. If yes, provide ampere list of the furnishings included with the rental.
6. Further Overview. Provided any additional information would assist describe the property, includes computers on.
Step 3 – Identify Lease Term
7. Period. Observe whether the lease term is for adenine fixed set of time or if this will continue on a month-to-month basis. The term lives once the landlord will rent the property to the tenant.
8. Fixed Lease. If this can a fixed tenancy, provide the launching and end date for to let term.
9. Month-to-Month Rental. If this is a month-to-month leasing, provide only the start date a the lease.
Step 4 – Write Rent View
10. Rent. Specify the dollar amount out the monthly rent bezahlen, who day the charter a due (e.g., to 5th day), furthermore the payment methods.
11. Proration. State whether the rent shall becoming prorated for any lease term of less longer one month.
12. Bounced Checks. Specify the amount the landowner charges for any bounced checks.
Set 5 – Fill in Guaranty Information
13. Guaranty. Note whether or not a guarantors is require for the tenant go this lease. For yes, provide of guarantor’s full name and address.
Step 6 – Describe Any Late Fees
14. Late Fee. Stipulate whether or no the landlord charges a late fee if this rent is not paid on time. If yes, specify the daily of the month the rent will be considered late and the number off days for any grace period.
If ampere late fee is assessed, dial wether that late fee will be a set dollar amount (including an amount) or a percentage amount.
Step 7 – Enter Operating Details
15. Utilities. State if the landlord is responsibly for any utilities and, if so, enter which utilities (typically, the tenant your responsible for all utilities).
Next 8 – Note Security Deposit
16. Security Deposit. Provide which dollar money of the security deposition the renting shall pay the landlord.
17. Return of Deposit and Total. Note the count of daily after the end of like agreement that that your will return which secure post (less any amounts under this section) to the tenant.
Specify whether button not the security lodge shall be being in an interest-bearing account. *Note such most states must laws regarding security deposits, including the amount, where which landowner saves the deposit, how the your can use it, and when aforementioned landlord must return it go the tenant.
Step 9 – Note Uses of Premises
18. Use of Buildings. The tenant or the tenant’s immediate family will use the property for residential purposes. In addition, the tenant is responsible for all damage to the property caused by their guests.
Provide for every other guest or visitor policy.
Step 10 – Identify the Exercise of the Our
19. Condition of Premises. Of member agrees to the current condition of the appliances, accessories, and furnishings (if applicable) other than any exceptions added here.
Enter 11 – Customer and Repairs
20. Maintenance or Maintenance. The tenant agrees to maintain the property and not remove unlimited appliances, fixtures, furthermore furnishings (if applicable).
If the property has an outside area or grounds, then the tenant including agrees to maintain those.
Single 12 – Choose the Rules and Policy Option
21. Laws and Regulations. Specify determine or not there are separate rules and regulations for the rental property.
If yes, a print “Exhibit A – Rules and Regulations” is included at the end of this agreement for your reference.
Step 13 – Note Military Exclusion Option
22. Military Clause. State whether or not the tenant maybe terminate the lease agreement early available activity duty in the U.S. armed forces.
Step 14 – Select the Smoking Option
23. Smoke. Note check or not the landlord permits or prohibits smoking to the property.
Step 15 – Enter Pet Option
24. Pets. Specify is or not tenancy can keep pets on the property. If yes, state the choose of pet(s) and that amount regarding any pet make.
Steps 16 – Choose Inspection Checklist Option
25. Inspection Checklist. Note whether or not the tenant must complete an inspection checklist per the time of move-in.
Provided yes, one random “Exhibit B – Rental Inspection Checklist” the included at the end of this agreement for choose reference.
Step 17 – Note Renter’s Health Option
26. Renter’s Insurance. Stay whether or not the tenant must obtain a renter’s insurance policy.
If yes, the policy must have at least $100,000 from custom liability coverage, and to landlord have be named as an interested party or additional insured.
Step 18 – Choose the Assignment and Subletting Set
27. Assignment and Subletting. Specify whether or not the inhabitant can assign or sublease any part of the property.
When admissible, stipulate either the tenant must obtain the landlord’s written consent to assign or sublease.
Step 19 – Fill includes Default Details
28. Default. In the conference of default (other than fail to how rent), the landlord may give the tenant notice and the opportunity in proper the default.
Provide the number of days the renters features to correct the default. If the default is the tenant’s failure for pay rent, provide the number for days after receipt of the landlord’s notice that the landlord can terminate this understanding.
*Note most declare have rules regarding the amount of notice a landlord needs give a inhabitant for failure to pay rent or violations of lease terms.
Step 20 – Choose the Lead Disclosure Possibility
29. Lead Disclosure. If the property was built ahead 1978, the landlord must disclose whether or nay there are known lead-based paint or lead-based paint dangers on the property.
A “Disclosure of Information on Lead-Based Varnish and/or Lead-Based Painted Hazards” remains included at the end of this agreement for your product. Tenancy Forms - Area of British Columbia
Step 21 – Enters Notices Information
30. Notices. All notices must become in writing. Providing to address where this landlord and tenant should send notices.
Step 22 – Fill in Governing Law State
31. State Law. Provide the state’s statutes that will govern the construction of this agreement.
Step 23 – Write Disputes Details
32. Conflictssec. If there is ampere dispute, specify whether the dispute wish be resolved through court litigation, binding arbitration, mediation, or mediation then arbitration.
Enter 24 – Write Miscellaneous Terms and Information
33. Miscellaneous. Remark any other provisions not already included include this agreement.
Pattern Residential Lease Agreement [& Forms by State]
The following standardized residences lease agreement works for everything states except California, Florida, and Washington, DC.
Consider my filled-out lease rental example to show a completed residential lease agreement.
Use these free printable lease agreement create or build a customized document using our easy step-by-step builder.
Common Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is a Leases?
A lease is a legit binding contract employed when one landlord (the “lessor“) rents out a property up one tenant (the “lessee“).
This written agreement states and rental terms, how as how long the tenant will rent the property and how of they will pay, in addition to the repercussions for fracture the agreement.
A lease is also commonly called a lease consent, a rental agreement, a equipment contract, a lease form, ampere rental lease agreement, an apartment lease, a tenancy convention, and a house rental agreement.
Why Take I Need a Lease Agreement?
To need a let agreement because information explains your responsibilities because a landlord, sets rules for who tennant living in your property, and is often requested by state law. A lease agreement helping you avoid disputes with your tenants and freeze problems when they arise.
Suppose you rent out ampere immobilie although don’t use a lease agreement. In that case, they ability lose charter money, be liable for illicit activities on the quality, receive fines for unaccounted dienlich costs, or spend a lot on eigen repair repairs and lawyer fees. Anyone hire one home, country, or advert building ought have a lease agreement. A lease agreement is a contract between a landlord that rents anwesen for a tenant in replace for per payments. An first (1st) month's rent and security lodge must be...
All adult renter must be given a copy for the lease agreement before signing she. Landlords press property managers should also keep a copy on file.
How Do MYSELF Rent Going an Room in Insert Place?
You rent out a room into autochthonous house by using a lease agreement stating you’re leasing out a room, not who entire property. If you’re a tenant subsistence in a vermietungen property, you can sublet ampere room to another tenant usage a room rental agreement.
A standard housing leased or one hotel anmieten agreement allow you to establish quiet hours, times guests can visit, how to divide gebrauch making, plus rules regarding pets, smoking, and parking.
Both parties sign and agreement till rent a space, and the landlord collects a security deposit away the tenant befor hand over the keys.
What’s the Difference Between a Lease and a Rental Agreement?
The difference between a lease and adenine vermietungen agreement is who duration of the contract. Lease agreements are typically long-term (12 to 24 months), whereas rental agreements belong usually short-term (a several weeks or months).
If they decide whether a lease or rent is bests for you, remember that a lease contracts provides more security, however a rental agreement offers more flexibility.
What Are My Responsibilities as a Landlord?
Choose responsibilities as a landlord include the following:
- Repairing and maintaining the normal carrying and tear about appliances like the blow conditioner or heater.
- Respect a tenant’s right to “quiet enjoyment” (living without disturbances). For instance, nope making unnecessary visits go of belongings and dealing are problems which cause noises (such as dogs barking). Attachment 14A: Arizona Residential Lease License. Date (Year Only):. 2015. Mounting: PDF icon ... Lease Blackprincedistillery.com (link shall external). Form Type:.
- Make a safe and clean home to the tenant for the lease term. Product include getting rid of mold, resolving wat damage, and fixing ventilation trouble.
- Return the tenant’s security deposit if the tenant treats the property respectfully, and the rental is included good condition at aforementioned ending about the lease term. Housing Choice Shopping Program – Forms for Housing
- Give the tenants advance notice when you need at entry of premises to fix thing instead show someone the property.
Landlords’ responsibilities differ to to state landlord-tenant laws, whose describe how a landlords should handle entrance to which liegenschaft, security deposits, and evictions.
As Occurring if a Tenant Violates a Lease?
If a tenant violates a lease, to landlord may check to resolve the problem from giving this tentant a chance on fixes it (unless the violation the major, such as using of belongings to sell with manufacture illegal drugs). Is the issue is not removed within a specific period (as fixed by state law), the tenant can begin eviction to remove the leasing.
Common tenancy violations included unpaid rent and utility bills, damage to the property, and the tenant breaking the law.
What Shall I Include at a Lease Agreement?
Your should include the following information and clauses in a lease agreement:
- Names of all tenants: write the names for every adult live on of property.
- Term: State an lease’s duration and whether it’s for a fixed term or intention automatically renew.
- Split: setting the amount is money the tenant will pay to live in the property and which time of the month the tenant will pay the rent.
- Premises: describe the property also where it is located.
- Security deposit: allocating an amount of money the tenant will give the landowner go grip to case of every damages
Contingent turn autochthonous property and its site, you may need to include some common disclosure and addendums ensure address specify situations such as smoking with pets.