Looking for a Lease or Rental Agreement?

Residential Rental Agreement: Perfect for Renting Houses and Apartments

The Residential Lease Agreement creates a binding agreement between the landlord and tenant for a single-family home or apartment. Use this form to document the length of the lease, the rent amount, and the exact location of the leased premises. Our lease also imposes fees and interest on late rent payments, requires the tenant to keep the premises in good repair, makes clear there are no verbal side deals and a host of other provisions that take the uncertainty out of leasing a house or apartment. Plus, we also give you the option to include in your lease agreement, provisions allowing the tenant an option to automatically renew the lease, requiring the tenant to prepay the last month's rent and/or a cleaning deposit, and even an option for you to type in your own custom lease terms if you have something unusual in your agreement!

Depending on which provisions you choose to include, the Residential Lease Agreement is packed full of 6-7 pages worth of vital legal provisions to ensure that all potential pitfalls are dealt with in advance, in writing.

Rental terms

People buy and rent their leased premises for profit. In most cases, such a process requires the conclusion of a residential rental agreement to specify the terms, amount or number, and location of the rented premises. Depending on your wishes, you may choose the type of rental agreement. Below are three conditions for careful review.

• Fixed end date

This type of agreement determines the exact end date of the lease. After the end of the lease term, the parties must not notify each other of the contract's termination.

• Fixed-term

You may rent the premises for several weeks, months, or even years. In this case, the long-term rental is specified in the contract. The lessor and the lessee independently determine the start and end date of the lease.

• Periodic rent

Some landlords enter into this agreement with the tenant for a certain period with a subsequent extension. The lessor may not change the lease terms before the expiration of the term. Therefore, if you are not satisfied with the following conditions, you file for termination of the contract.

Commercial Rental Agreement: Works for All Types of Business Real Property

The Commercial Lease captures all the necessary terms when the tenant is leasing anything from raw land to a warehouse to an office suite for operating a business of any kind. Our commercial lease agreement lets you choose the length of the lease, the amount of rent, and a specific description of the location of the premises. Our lease also imposes fees and interest on late rent payments, restricts the tenants' use of the property to what you type in (no illegal activity!), and prohibits subleasing without the landlord's consent. Plus, we also give you the option to include provisions in your lease allowing the tenant an option to automatically renew the lease, requiring the tenant to prepay the last month's rent and/or a cleaning deposit, and even an option for you to type in your own custom lease terms if you have something unusual in your agreement!

Depending on which provisions you choose to include, the Commercial Lease Agreement delivers 9-10 pages worth of essential legal provisions to maximize your protection in case of a dispute.

Commercial Lease Terms

Commercial rental of premises is the most common case in legal practice. This type of lease agreement regulates many important conditions, including the term, amount, and location of the leased space. In case of non-payment or delay of the rental amount, the lessee is obliged to pay a fine.

Any commercial lease agreement requires a precise delineation of rights and obligations, as well as the type of conditions imposed. Depending on the preferences, the contract can be extended after the expiration of the lease term. Otherwise, the parties terminate the document by themselves. Have a look at the types of commercial rental terms listed below.

• Fixed date

The lessee and the lessor may enter into a contract that specifies the end date of the lease. In this scenario, the landlord can not increase the rent and change the conditions.

• Fixed lease term

Another option of the contract is a fixed lease term (months and years). In this case, the document defines the relationship between the two parties.

• Fixed rental period

A periodic lease involves a specific period of validity with subsequent renewal (or termination). After the end of the term, the landlord has the right to make changes and increase the rental fee.

Agricultural Property Lease: Perfect for Agricultural Land Owners to Lease Their Land for Ranching or Farming

Our Agricultural Property Lease covers all of the important terms when a landowner is leasing land to a tenant to use either for farming or ranching. Our agricultural property lease contains everything that you want to have in a binding lease agreement and lets you choose all of the particulars. The Agricultural Property Lease that you will receive from our website lets you choose how long the lease will last, how much the rent will be, the day of each month on which the rent will be due, as well as a specific description of the property that will be covered in your lease. Our lease agreement will also require, among other things, that the tenant does not use the property for illegal purposes, that the tenant maintains liability insurance, and that late fees will be imposed upon the tenant if he or she is late with the rent. We also allow you to choose whether the tenant will have the option to automatically renew the lease and whether the landlord or the tenant will bear the expense of maintenance on the property. Of course, as with all our leases, you have the option of typing in your own custom lease terms if you have something unusual in your agreement!

Depending on which provisions you choose to include, your customized Agricultural Property Lease covers 9-10 pages worth of essential terms and provisions to make sure that you are adequately protected under the law.

Vehicle Lease Agreement for Automobile Renting

The Vehicle Lease covers every kind of vehicle lease imaginable. Simply type in the parties' names, the length of the lease, the lease payment amount, and a complete description of the year, make, and model of the vehicle. Our lease handles all the other critical elements of the agreement such as requirements to keep the vehicle in good repair, operate it safely, and maintain insurance on it. Perhaps most importantly, our Vehicle Lease includes an indemnity clause that protects the owner of the vehicle from any liability resulting from the lessee's use of it. Plus, we also give you the option to include in your lease a provision allowing the lessee the option to purchase the vehicle upon terms that you select. As with all our leases, you also have the option of typing in your own custom lease terms if you have something unusual in your agreement!

Your Vehicle Lease Agreement contains 5 pages worth of critical legal protection to preserve your rights in the vehicle.

Personal Property Lease Covers Everything Else

Our Personal Property Lease is a handy way to document lease and rental agreements for just about every other kind of property not covered by the three leases described above. This lease covers everything from audio-visual equipment to furniture to computers and just about everything in between. You tell us who the parties are, the length of the lease, the rental payment amount, and a detailed description of the property being leased. We integrate your information into a lease agreement with provisions requiring the lessee to keep the property in good condition, pay the rent on time or face late fees and interest, and allowing the owner to repossess the property if the lessee defaults. Plus, we also give you the option to include in your lease a provision allowing the lessee an option to purchase the property on terms you select. And, as with all of our leases, you have the option of typing in your own custom lease terms if you have something unusual in your agreement.

Depending on which provisions you choose to include, your Personal Property Lease Agreement maximizes your legal position with 7-8 pages worth of solid legal protection.

Simple (One-Page) Agreement

In the United States, there are different types of lease agreements that define the relationship between the landlord and the tenant regarding the leased property. So, a simple one-page lease agreement is a legal form regulating the lease of some property. The peculiarity of this document is a minimum of information, as, for instance, in the standard type.

Key Provisions

A one-page lease agreement must contain the following information:

 

• The names of the parties to the transaction (the tenant and the landlord)

• Signatures

• Start and end date of the lease

• Rights and obligations

• The established payment term

• Address of the premises

• Any other issues, including disputes and property damage

 

As a rule, you do not need to describe all information in this document. It is enough to draw up a structure briefly. If the landlord does not trust the tenant, it is better to check the integrity of the property.

Significance of This Agreement

A one-page lease agreement performs a significant function. In case of disputes, it is aimed at resolving them. The second point is communication between the parties to the transaction, manifested in mutual understanding, trust and respect.

 

A standard lease agreement is more diverse than a one-page one, but this does not, in any way, reduce the importance of a simple contract. Undoubtedly, it does not include information about animals, possible force majeure situations. Nevertheless, this is the foundation for building a relationship between a tenant and a landlord. The lessor must necessarily inform the tenants about the defects and existing damage to the property to avoid a conflict in the future. Besides, the disclosure of defects allows you to avoid legal red tape and litigation.

Termination of This Contract

Both the tenant and the landlord may terminate a simple lease agreement at their discretion, depending on the reasons. Undoubtedly, they warn about it in advance. Firstly, the contract's expiration is an excuse to terminate it if you no longer want to rent (or lease) the property. Secondly, read the procedure for the termination of such documents. If you solve everything peacefully, there will be no discrepancies and problems. If possible, keep all copies of documents, payment receipts under protection. Indeed, if the landlord accuses you of late payment of rent, you will be able to argue your point of view using papers.

Room Rental Agreement

There are many lease agreements between the landlord and the tenant. As a rule, such documents have both a short-term lease option and a long-term one. All terms depend on the preferences of the two parties. A room rental agreement is not an exception to the rules: the transaction's requirements determine its validity. Here you will find the key provisions of this type of document.

Main Information

A room rental agreement (sometimes called a roommate agreement) is an official legal document used by two or more tenants to sub-lease the leased property (premises). The parties to the agreement are responsible for timely rent, utilities and jointly resolve all issues. Usually, the parties prescribe the requirements and provisions in the agreement to distinguish both obligations and rights. As a rule, the common areas are the kitchen, living room, bathroom.

Who Can Use It?

Keep in mind that the roommate agreement is not an analog of rental agreements. In the second case, the parties are the lessee and the lessor. The first option involves roommates who are going to live in the same rented room. This agreement defines the responsibilities of each tenant and how they plan to control the property.

When To Use A Roommate Agreement?

There are several reasons why you need to use this agreement:

• Differentiation of duties and rights

• Responsibility for the leased property

• Property security

• Monitoring and joint problem solving

• Joint payment of rent and other payments

If a person wants to share a rented room (apartment or house) with a neighbor, the joint lease is perfect for this case. Living together and using an apartment saves both your money for rent and communal services. Moreover, you regulate the rules of living with any neighbor, which simplifies any problems. Documentation allows you to protect your position and money in case of a misunderstanding or conflict because you may go to court.

Do not forget about the following: any agreement must contain relevant information about you, your neighbor, and the rent:

• The names of all tenants, including basic data

• Rental period (start and end date)

• Rules and requirements

• Financial part

• Questions about animals

• Differentiation of the use of rooms

In any case, it is better to prescribe everything in advance than to agree to the contract rashly.

Rental Agreement Between Family Members

As practice shows, people conclude lease agreements, even being relatives and members of the same family. The law does not prohibit the preparation of such documents between parents and children, sisters and brothers. As a rule, a family member rental agreement helps to maintain relationships, facilitate or resolve any conflict. Below are several pros and cons of concluding such a document.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Regardless of the contract's terms and requirements, there are pros and cons of the lease agreement for family members. You need to consider several important points before you want to sign this document.

Pros:

• Legal basis

• Real estate regulation

• Monitoring and implementation of the rules

• Differentiation of rights and obligations

• Setting the lease term (start and end date)

Cons:

• Family members may ambiguously understand the agreement

• It is difficult to enforce the rules

• The emergence of family disputes

Consider all factors that may negatively affect the situation in the family regarding this agreement. If your family has not yet encountered such an agreement, clearly explain its advantages.

Key Data

You may include any necessary information in the agreement. The main thing is that this data allows you to solve any situation in case of problems (through the court or independently). Usually, people enter the time of signing the contract and the rental period. Secondly, specify information about relatives, including the last name, first name, and age. Thirdly, write down the amount of rent, housing and utilities, and Internet payments, and be sure to specify all rules. It will not be superfluous to solve questions about the regulation of guests in the house.

Termination Rules

If you are dissatisfied with something or do not want to be a party to the agreement, you may terminate it. Any family member should not be a party to the contract against their wills: it is worth contacting the appropriate authorities (court) or settling this issue with the family. A serious difficulty is that sometimes relatives refuse to resolve it peacefully. In such situations, people often go to court and resort to eviction.

Undoubtedly, the eviction of a family from an apartment is a very long process that requires patience, time, and effort. Therefore, it is better not to resort to such disputes and generally resolve all conflicts through negotiations.

Condominium (Condo) Lease Agreement

Main Data

A condominium lease agreement is an official, legal document that defines the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. However, this is not a simple contract: the landlord is necessarily a member of the condominium association. In this case, the tenants must comply with the rules and requirements of the association. Besides, they must have the rights:

• Use of any premises

• Use of public areas

• Extended privileges of this community as full members

The term "condominium" is a unit of ownership among other similar ones that share the rights to common property. It is worth noting that most skyscrapers and high-rises are condominiums. The owners of such property pay the association's fees and fulfill their conditions. All money collected is directed to the improvement of the association, the property's maintenance, or the salary of employees.

Membership Fees

This agreement formally contains information about membership fees. However, if this data does not appear in the document, the lessee does not bear any responsibility for charges. In any case, all financial issues should be regulated by the agreement.

The same applies to utilities. If the tenant is obliged under the contract to pay for housing and communal services, it is necessary to follow this requirement.

Types of Condominiums

There are different types of condominiums that you need to know. Depending on your preferences and needs, you may choose any type.

• Land lease condo

As a rule, associations own buildings (condominiums), but the land may be the property of a third party. In such circumstances, there may be difficulties, which usually end with the dissolution of the condo association.

On the other hand, if the condo owners have a proper document with specific provisions, they do not have to worry. The main thing is to check the rental period, the fee and all the requirements.

• Leasehold condo

This agreement assumes the following: the owner becomes a tenant, paying all fees. As soon as there is no payment for the premises or the owner makes it untimely, the association can expel the person.

• Freehold condo

A condominium with the right of ownership is the other pole of renting and is similar to buying a house where you own both land and real estate. The disadvantage of such a contract is the high cost of renting.

• Life lease condo

Many people consider this type of marketing ploy. In this situation, buildings are great for some population groups (the elderly, families, and others). It is a lifetime lease of the premises, so carefully read all the conditions.

Weekly Rental Agreement

A significant rental document is a weekly lease agreement that defines the rules for a rental space for seven days. The main feature of this document is the following provision: the parties do not prescribe a specific end date of the contract. Only if one of the parties wants to terminate the contract, its validity period ends. In general, each state has its legal nuances and subtleties of termination and the conclusion of a weekly lease agreement. Therefore, carefully read all the rules and requirements.

Key Information

As a rule, the weekly lease agreement has significant differences in comparison with the long-term option.

It is necessary to familiarize yourself with these points in advance to avoid conflicts:

• The high cost (almost twice)

• Maximum flexibility (quick termination and conclusion of the document)

• Simple marketing and advertising distribution

• Strict laws from state to state

• A huge turnover of tenants is needed

In general, if you know all the subtleties, there will be no problems with concluding the weekly lease agreement.

What Are The Main Points?

Like other variants of lease contracts, this type of document should include the following:

• Transaction start date

• Signatures of the parties

• Information about the participant (first name, last name, and other)

• Address of the rented premises

• Weekly payment amount

• The amount of housing and communal services

• Deposit

• Any issues governing the rights and obligations of the parties

In general, it will not be difficult for anyone to conclude this document. The most important thing is to discuss everything in advance, to view the rented premises for defects. If there is damage, immediately discuss the details.

When to Use It?

As a rule, such lease agreements have a wide range of uses. It all depends on the wishes of the tenant and the landlord. If you agree on everything without problems, the transaction will be successful.

Usually, if you want to live somewhere temporarily, it is better to conclude a weekly rental agreement. The second option is a temporary vacation (a trip to the country or the forest with friends). In this case, this document is also perfect for the transaction.

There is no time limit when it is possible to conclude this contract. You, together with the landlord, choose the time of the transaction yourself. Thus, a weekly rental paper is an excellent foundation and the key to a successful rental transaction.

Rent Increase Notice

It is no secret that any lease agreement requires careful preparation and specific rules governing the rights and obligations of the parties. If the landlord wants to increase the rental fee for the rented premises, it is necessary to follow legal procedures.

Rent increase notice is a legal document that defines the procedure for increasing the rental fee. In this case, the landlord must notify the tenant about it to avoid conflicts. A timely warning about a rent increase allows the tenant to consider extending or canceling the lease agreement.

How To Use the Document?

There are several essential rules for using such a notification:

• Firstly, each state has its laws regarding rent. If you are a landlord, convince immediately about the legality of the rent increase. If this procedure is allowed in your state, you have the right to change the conditions.

• Secondly, notify the tenant about this in advance. As a rule, timely negotiation of details reduces the duration of the process and minimizes risks.

• Thirdly, the rent increase should not be sky-high. Undoubtedly, there are no strict restrictions, but it is better to follow the logic and common sense.

If there are any questions, the tenant has the right to contact the landlord. Moreover, upon completion of the fee increase, the lessor must notify the party about the transaction and send a copy of all documents. Please note that all financial and legal papers should be kept protected in case of misunderstandings and court proceedings. Do not throw away documents and receipts.

Requirements for the Document

The first important point is the provision that you may not increase the rent under fixed-term lease agreements. This procedure is possible after the expiration of the lease term, but not earlier. Meanwhile, there is an exception. If you initially added this condition to the agreement, you have the right to increase the rent.

In any state, the landlord must provide a notice 30 to 60 days before the cost increase. As already noted, the increase in the rental price should be reasonable. Moreover, if the tenant considers the price increase as an act of retaliation of the landlord, they may apply to the court. However, it is a troublesome process, which is very rarely resorted to by anyone.

Unlawful Actions

Unfortunately, cases of illegal actions of landlords are not uncommon. It should be borne in mind that these persons are responsible for their actions and must fulfill their duties. If the landlord illegally increases the rent, you should go to court for legal proceedings.

Below are the options when the rental price cannot be increased:

• Request for remodeling or reconstruction of the premises

• The fixed-term lease has not expired yet

• The violation of the local laws on rent control

There are many controversial cases that you should know to avoid problems.

Lease Termination Letter

Any lease agreement has an expiration date. If the tenant and the landlord have prescribed this clause in the contract, everything will go smoothly and without problems. After the end of the lease term, the lessor sends the lessee a letter of termination of the lease agreement, which plays a significant role in regulating the relationship between the two parties.

A letter of termination of the lease agreement is a legal document notifying the tenant that the lease has ended after the expiration of the established period. In this case, you may either permanently refuse to renew the lease or extend it for a certain period.

When Is This Letter Needed?

There are several reasons why you need this letter. Some of them are listed below:

• Expiration of the lease term

• Early termination of the lease agreement

• Reconstruction of the premises

• Sale of a house or apartment

• Initiating the eviction process

• Disaster and natural disaster

In any case, timely notification of the contract's termination gives both the landlord and the tenant time to find a new party to the transaction. In some states, there are requirements according to which the landlord must notify a person about the termination before the lease expiration. There is nothing special and complicated in this practice: everything is vital to do on time.

Moreover, there are the most undesirable situations: eviction through court proceedings. Unfortunately, not everyone may agree peacefully, as a result of which the landlords go to court. In such circumstances, it is necessary to submit this letter to the court. In the states, the court makes a fair and binding decision.

What Does The Document Include?

The letter of termination of the lease agreement usually includes the following points:

• Start and end date of the lease

• Reasons for termination of the document

• A copy of the lease agreement

• Instructions on the termination of the lease

• Information about the participants of the transaction

• Refund of the deposit

In general, you independently determine the range of necessary information for the peaceful termination of the contract.

As for the requirements, undoubtedly, the most significant thing is termination by law and timely warning. Otherwise, you risk entering into a conflict and a long process of solving the problem.

Eviction Notice to Vacate

An eviction notice is a letter about the problem solution or the release of the premises within a period from landlords. As a rule, the landlord sends such a letter to the tenant if the latter has not paid the rent or violated the contract's terms.

If you may not solve a problem, the landlord has the right to demand that the premises be vacated. It is worth noting that each state has its laws and requirements regarding this notification. Usually, the landlord sends such a notification a few days in advance. So, the tenant has the opportunity to resolve the situation or move out.

Reasons for Eviction

In general, eviction is partly a process of forced expulsion from the rented premises based on some reasons. As practice shows, the most common causes for eviction are the following:

• Late payment of payments

• No rent payment

• Violation of the terms of the contract

• Purposeful damage to the leased property

• Illegal, criminal activity

However, if the landlord does not have a valid reason for evicting the tenant, this notice is not for such cases. Thus, the eviction must be legal and based on the above reasons.

Notification Requirements

Despite the troublesome process of evicting the tenant, only the court can resolve this conflict. Indeed, the court fully controls the process from the moment of applying for the issuance of a ruling. The court decision is binding on both parties.

The two parties should adhere to the rules and follow all requirements so that the whole procedure goes smoothly and, if possible, without conflict. Firstly, the landlord is obliged to notify the tenant about the eviction in advance. The tenant, in turn, either solves the problem or finds a new rental location.

Secondly, the eviction must be legal. Review all state laws in advance to avoid the risks of the court not accepting the application. If you are a landlord, talk to the tenant. The tenant must understand the consequences in the event of a lawsuit. Undoubtedly, such moments are the most unpleasant, and you risk getting a huge fine.

Finally, the landlord must make sure before the trial that he has collected all the necessary documents and evidence:

• Any payment invoices and records

• A copy of the written notice for the tenant

• Lease agreement

• Any refusal to comply with the terms and payment of the lease

Remember that a trial is not always the best solution. It is much easier to discuss the problem through negotiations.