Residential lease agreement template

A fixed-term residential lease for a house, apartment or condo in the United States. It covers the parties and property, the term and what happens after it, rent and late fees, the security deposit, utilities, occupants, pets, maintenance, alterations, landlord entry, subletting, renters insurance, move-out and the federal lead-based paint disclosure. Every limit that varies by state is left as a bracket for you to set.

Templates

How to use these templates

  1. Look up your state's landlord-tenant rules first, especially the security deposit cap, the deposit return deadline, late fee limits, required notice before entry and any required disclosures.
  2. Open the template and give the AI the property, the parties, the term, the rent and the deposit, for example "2-bed apartment in Austin, $1,850 a month, 12 months from June 1, one small dog allowed".
  3. Decide the house rules that matter to you, such as pets, smoking, guests and parking, and make sure each is written into the lease rather than agreed by text message.
  4. Do a walk-through with the tenant at move-in, record the condition with dated photos, attach any addenda, then both sides sign and keep a copy.

Getting a residential lease right

Frequently asked questions

Does a lease agreement need to be notarized?

Usually not. A residential lease is binding when signed by the landlord and tenant. A few situations, such as recording a very long lease, may need a notary; check your state's rules.

What is the difference between a lease and a rental agreement?

In US usage, a lease runs for a fixed term, often 12 months, and its terms cannot change until it ends. A rental agreement usually runs month to month and can be changed or ended with proper notice.

Can a landlord raise the rent during a lease?

Not during a fixed-term lease unless the lease itself allows it. Increases normally take effect at renewal, with the notice your state requires and within any rent control limit.

Can I use this lease in the UK or Canada?

No. Tenancies in the UK and Canadian provinces follow their own laws and required forms, and England's private renting rules were overhauled recently. Use an up-to-date agreement for that country or province.

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