Leases
A lease is a written agreement between you and the landlord stating all of the key items that you and the landlord agree upon about you living in the rental house or apartment. A lease is your legal protection while you are living in that home. It should clearly describe the responsibilities of the tenant and the landlord. The lease usually includes:
- The date you move in;
- The length of time the lease is in force (year or number of months of the lease);
- A description of the property you are renting (address and apartment number);
- Dollar amount of rent to be paid;
- The dates the rent is due (first of month or some other time);
- How the rent will be paid (cash, check, voucher, etc.);
- The dollar amount of deposit which may be required, what it covers, and under what conditions it can be lost (first and last month rent, security deposit, etc.)
- Who pays for what: utility bills, garbage removal, repairs, cleaning, electrical & plumbing, snow removal, etc;
- The conditions under which the rent may be raised;
- A statement prohibiting, or allowing, guests for an extended period of time;
- Right of entry for the landlord into the rental unit (for repair work, emergencies, to show prospective renters);
- How and when your security deposit will be returned when you move out;
- The conditions by which you can (or cannot) sublet to someone else;
- A statement regarding pets;
- The signatures of the landlord and the tenant, and the date signed.
Before you sign, read the lease clause by clause, and be sure you understand all the provisions. You and the landlord should inspect the unit together and note on the last page of the lease anything that is wrong and any repairs which need to be made (see: Security Deposit Inventory).
You and the landlord should both put your initials and the date next to any changes or additions to the lease. You should not sign the lease until it contains all the agreements made between you and the landlord. Finally, you and the landlord should each receive a copy of the lease which you have both signed.
See a Model Residential Lease.
