Items to Include in a Rental Lease

Q. What kinds of things need to be in a rental agreement or lease?

A. Most communities have laws about certain things and you need to know what those things are but aside from that, the rest is up to you. Most leases or rental agreements include these basics:

Signature and printed name of landlord and tenant
Date agreement was signed
Address of rental property
Term of rental using specific dates
Amount of rent charged to tenant
Particulars re: rent collection including date due, date considered late, late fines, method of payment, and penalties for bounced checks etc.
Terms and conditions about advance rent and security deposits including when due, when money will be returned, terms of forfeiture, use of security as last month’s rent
Terms of termination of agreement
Inclusion or exclusion of utilities in cost of rent
Rules governing tenant sublet of rental property
Necessary disclosures regarding contaminants etc.
Number of legal occupants for the rental
Rules governing use of rental: residential or business etc.
Rules regarding pets, visitors, parking
Who is responsible for repairs
Restrictions and permissions about tenants making alterations to the rental
Rules about how, when and why landlord may access the rental, or when landlord may grant access to 3rd parties like for repairs, maintenance etc.
Allowed storage space for tenant use
Tenant responsibility for damages to rental