How to Write a Lease Application Agreement

When you put a property up for lease, you need a contract.

A lease application agreement is also known as a rental contract or a rental agreement. This type of document is a legal binding agreement between the person owning the property and the person leasing it for a specific period of time. A lease agreement needs to be written to suit the specific property in question, but there are some sections that must be included in a basic legal agreement for it to be legally binding. If you have an existing lease you want to use for upcoming lease agreements, read it over to ensure you have included everything important.

Instructions

1. Write the title of the lease agreement and include the name of the governing jurisdiction of the lease. You must include the name of the jurisdiction where the leasing property is located, as each state has its own rental laws and regulations.

2. Write your contact information under the title, so the person leasing the property can contact you. Similarly, include a section where the tenant can add his contact information. Ensure that the tenant can specify whether the rental is for personal residence or a business, such as storage or office.

3. Specify what type of property the lease covers. For example, write whether it is an apartment, room, house or storage room. In this regard, include the address of the rental space.

4. Specify whether the space is furnished or unfurnished and make a list of the appliances included in the rental agreement. Mention whether or not a parking space is included with the property.

5. Outline the rules regarding extra tenants living on the property without signing the lease. Some renters allow subletting. Specify whether or not pets are allowed on the property. If some pets are, such as cats and birds, but others are not, ensure to specify this on the lease.

6. State whether or not smoking is allowed on the property.

7. Include the period of the lease agreement. It should be very specific, down to the day. For example, do not simply state November 2010, but write November 22, 2010. Next to the date, state whether or not the lease can be renewed by the tenant. Mention that an inspection will be conducted before the move-in date.

8. Specify the monthly rent amount and security deposits the tenant must pay. Include building maintenance fees, a payment schedule and potential rental increases. In the payment section, include home insurance and mention if the tenant is responsible for it.

9. Compose a section regarding building improvements or remodelling. Ensure you specify who is responsible for remodelling or broken items on the property. If the landlord is, ensure that you include a time notice of 24 hours, so the tenant knows the landlord will be coming to the property.

10. Outline the options for contract termination. Include any financial penalties that may follow a contract termination.

11. Finish the contract by providing spaces for landlord and tenant signatures and signing dates. Include two spaces for each, so a signature and a printed version of the name can be provided.

References

• Documatica Forms: Lease Agreements
• Government Lease Template: Lease Template