Guide

How to create a rental lease that actually holds up

A lease is a contract. It needs the parties, the premises, the term, the rent, the deposit, and the required state disclosures. Missing any of those creates problems the day the tenancy ends.

Overview

A lease is a contract. It needs the parties, the premises, the term, the rent, the deposit, and the required state disclosures. Missing any of those creates problems the day the tenancy ends.

Checklist

  • Name the parties correctly — full legal names of every adult resident and the landlord entity.
  • Describe the premises with the specific unit number, not just the building address.
  • State the term with clear start and end dates.
  • Rent amount, due date, grace period, and late fees.
  • Deposit amount, where it's held, and return timeline per state.
  • Attach state-required disclosures — lead paint (pre-1978), mold, bedbug, or state-specific.
  • E-signature by every adult resident.
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