Housing Rental Lease Agreement
A housing rental lease agreement is a legal contract between the landlord and resident (tenant) of a house or apartment managed by the landlord. It explains the terms under which the resident can occupy the property, as well as the rights and responsibilities of the landlord and the resident. Local and state landlord-tenant laws differ as to what terms residential lease agreements contain.
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Identification
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The complete legal address of the residence should be stated on the lease, which should also include the names of all adults who will live in the residence and identify them as parties to the agreement. Names of children under 18 who will live on the premises should be listed separately. The name and address of the landlord should also be given, even if the landlord is an agent acting on behalf of a third-party owner.
Terms
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All pertinent financial arrangements between the parties should be clearly described, including the amount of rent, security deposit and any penalties for a late payment or returned check. The term of lease, rent due date and any grace period should be listed, along with which party is responsible for utilities, including water, sewer, garbage collection, electricity, phone, and even cable TV and Internet. The party responsible for yard and grounds maintenance should be identified as well.
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Rights and Responsibilities
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A lease or rental agreement gives the resident sole legal possession of the residence. The landlord will have limited access rights--in an emergency or with proper notice. The responsibility of the landlord to keep the property maintained and of the resident to not damage the property should both be clearly stated.
Considerations
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The agreement may include additional terms, such as what appliances and other amenities are provided by the landlord. Also important are the length of notice required for the resident to terminate the agreement and for the landlord to increase rent, terminate the agreement with or without cause. Lease agreements may also contain a hold-harmless clause, protecting the landlord from acts involving negligence of the resident, as well as a dispute-resolution clause.
Optional Rules
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A separate section often added to rental and lease agreements covers rules the resident must follow. Violation of these rules will be considered a violation of the rental contract. Rules often include such items as whether, and under what restrictions, pets are allowed; requirement of the resident not to disturb the neighbors; keeping the exterior of the property clean and uncluttered; illegal activities being a violation of the contract; and the resident being responsible for guests' actions.
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References
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