Rental Lease Agreement Template

Washington D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming


By Type (15 )


Standard Lease


1-Page


Commercial


Condominium


Equipment


Member of the family


Hunting (Land)


Month-to-Month


Parking Space


Rent-to-Own


Roommate


Storage Space


Sublease


Vacation (short-term)


Weekly


The Leasing Process (8 actions)


Housing Statistics


- 33.6% of U.S. homes are tenants (44 million). [1] [2]- 68.2% of leases are fixed-term. [3]- 31.8% of leases are month-to-month.
- 30% of a renter's earnings (typically) is invested on rent. [4]

1. Tenant Views the Space


The renter's primary step in the leasing process is seeing the space. This is frequently after seeing images of the residential or commercial property on a site where it was noted.


Renting Trends (2023 )


91% of tenants use a site or mobile app when searching, and 19% request housing without needing an in-person tour. [5]

2. Obtain a Rental Application


Before a deal is accepted, the property owner generally requests a renter to finish a rental application and pay a little cost (view optimum charges by state). The most typical cost was $50 in 2023. [6]

Applicant Details


- Applicant's name & address
- Employment details
- Income confirmation
- Previous property owners
- Consent (to run a credit check)


3. Screen the Applicant


Use the rental application to run a customer report. This includes running a credit report and browsing public records (eviction search, background check, etc).


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- Limited ($ 21) - RentPrep.com
- Detailed ($ 40) - MySmartMove.com


4. Verify References


The applicant's company and previous property managers must be contacted. This offers insight into the candidate's character and if they pay their lease on time.


Questions to Ask a Previous Landlord


- Was lease paid on time throughout the occupancy?
- Did the occupant breach the lease?
- What was the factor for leaving the residential or commercial property?
- Was there damage made on the residential or commercial property?
- Would you re-rent to the renter once again?


5. Negotiate the Lease


Once a renter is approved, the celebrations will start negotiating the rental terms. If the renter is a creditworthy individual, they might have the ability to get a better deal due to their financial status.


Negotiation Items


- Monthly rent ($).
- Down payment.
- Utilities.
- Fees (e.g., parking, family pets, trash, etc)


6. Lease Signing


When both celebrations sign the lease it ends up being legally binding until completion of its term. The most typical ways to sign are in-person or digitally.


Required at Lease Signing


- First month's lease.
- Down payment.
- Identification


7. Taking Occupancy


After signing the lease and making initial payments, the occupant must be admitted to the residential or commercial property at the start of the lease term. Generally, a renter can stagnate into the residential or commercial property unless they have made an extra payment.


Inspecting the Residential or commercial property


To safeguard the security deposit, it is suggested that the renter finish a move-in inspection type and keep in mind any existing residential or commercial property damage. In 2023, only 42% of renters said they got fully refunded on their security deposit. [7]

8. End of Tenancy


The proprietor will notify the renter of their intention to restore or end the lease in between 30 and 90 days before completion of the tenancy. If the proprietor terminates the lease, the occupant's down payment will be returned after move-out.


Landlord's Options


Renew the Lease - By sending a Lease Extension.
Terminate the Lease - By sending a Non-Renewal Lease Letter.
Landlord-Tenant Laws


Down Payment Laws.
Expand Collapse.
State Maximum ($).
Returning.
Statute.
Alabama 1 month's rent 60 days after the termination date and shipment of belongings § 35-9A-201( a), 35-9A-201( b).
Alaska 2 months' rent, except for systems renting for more than $2,000 14 days if the tenant leaves on-time, one month if not § 34.03.070( a), § 34.03.070( g).
Arizona 1.5 months' lease 14 days from move-out inspection (excl. weekends and vacations) § 33-1321.
Arkansas 2 months' lease 60 days from termination of occupancy § 18-16-304, § 18-16-305.
California 1 month's rent 21 days from the move-out date 1950.5.
Colorado 2 months' lease (omitting family pet deposits) 1 month if discussed in the lease, 2 months if not C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5


§ 38-12-103.
Connecticut 1 month's rent is 62 years or older, 2 months' lease if more youthful 21 days from the move-out date or 15 days from getting the renter's new address § 47a-21.
Delaware 1 month's rent for leases of one year or more. No limit on all others types 20 days from the termination date Title 25 § 5514.
Florida No limitation 30 days if deductions, 15 days if no reductions § 83.49( 3 )( a).
Georgia 2 months' lease 1 month from the termination date § 44-7-30.1


§ 44-7-34.
Hawaii 1 month's lease (omitting animal charge) 14 days from the termination date § 521-44.
Idaho No limitation one month if stated in the lease, 21 days if not § 6-321.
Illinois No limitation 1 month if deductions, 45 days if no deductions 765 ILCS 710.
Indiana No limit 45 days from the termination date § 32-31-3-12.
Iowa 2 months' rent one month after the occupant has abandoned § 562A.12.
Kansas 1 month's rent (unfurnished), 1.5 months' lease (supplied) 2 week after making deductions or 30 days from the termination date § 58-2550.
Kentucky No limit 60 days from the lease termination date § 383.580( 6 ).
Louisiana No limit 1 month from the termination date Revised Statute 9:3251.
Maine 2 months' lease 30 days if the lease is fixed-period, 21 days if 6032, § 6033.
Maryland 1 month's lease 45 days from the termination date § 8-203.
Massachusetts 1 month's lease one month after the tenant has abandoned Chapter 186, Section 15B.
Michigan 1.5 months' rent 1 month from the end of tenancy § 554.602, § 554.609.
Minnesota No limit 3 weeks from the termination date § 504B.178.
Mississippi No limit 45 days from completion of tenancy § 89-8-21.
Missouri 2 months' rent 1 month from the termination of occupancy § 535.300.
Montana No limit 30 days if reductions, 10 days if no deductions § 70-25-202.
Nebraska 1 month's rent (leaving out family pet charge) 14 days of move-out § 76-1416.
Nevada 3 months' lease one month from completion of occupancy NRS 118A.242.
New Hampshire 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is higher 30 days, 20 days if the residential or commercial property is shown the property owner RSA 540-A:6, RSA 540-A:7.
New Jersey 1.5 months' lease 1 month from the termination date § 46:8 -21.2, § 46:8 -21.1.
New Mexico 1 month's lease for leases under one year. No limitation for residential leases of one year or more thirty days from the termination date § 47-8-18.
New York 1 month's lease unless the deposit or advance is for a seasonal use residence system 2 week after the tenant has actually abandoned Emergency Tenant Protection Act 576/74( f), § 7-108 (e).
North Carolina 2 months' rent for tenancies of more than 2 months; 1.5 months' rent for month-to-month occupancies 1 month if no deductions, if deductions then an extra thirty days § 42-51, § 42-52.
North Dakota 1 month's lease (omitting animal deposits) thirty days from the termination date § 47-16-07.1.
Ohio No limit thirty days from the termination date § 5321.16.
Oklahoma No limitation 45 days from the termination date § 41-115( B).
Oregon No limit 31 days from the termination date § 90.300.
Pennsylvania 2 months' lease 30 days from the termination date § 250.511 a, § 250.512.
Rhode Island 1 month's lease 20 days from the termination date § 34-18-19.
South Carolina No limitation 1 month from the termination date § 27-40-410.
South Dakota 1 month's rent 2 week if no deductions, 45 days if reductions § 43-32-6.1, § 43-32-24.
Tennessee No limitation one month from the termination date § 66-28-301.
Texas No limitation 30 days after the occupant has actually abandoned § 92.103.
Utah No limit 1 month from the termination date § 57-17-3.
Vermont No limitation 14 days, 60 days if a seasonal residential or commercial property § 4461.
Virginia 2 months' lease 45 days from the termination date or the date the occupant vacates the residence unit, whichever occurs last § 55.1-1226( A).
Washington No limit 1 month from renter's move-out date § 59.18.280.
West Virginia No limitation 60 days after occupancy ends or 45 days after another tenant relocates, whichever shorter § 37-6A-2.
Wisconsin No limit 21 days from renter's vacancy date § 134.06.
Wyoming No limit thirty days from lease termination or 15 days from receiving the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is lesser § 1-21-1208( A)


Landlord's Access.
Expand Collapse.
State Required Notice Statute.
Alabama 2 days § 35-9A-303.
Alaska 24 hr § 34.03.140.
Arizona two days § 33-1343.
Arkansas N/A N/A.
California 24 for non-emergency, 2 days for the move-out inspection § 1954.
Colorado * N/A * N/A.
Connecticut Reasonable notice § 47a-16.
Delaware two days Title 25 § 5509.
Florida 24 hours § 83.53.
Georgia * N/A * N/A.
Hawaii 2 days § 521-53.
Idaho * N/A * N/A.
Illinois * N/A * N/A.
Indiana Reasonable notice § 32-31-5-6.
Iowa 24 hr § 562A.19.
Kansas Reasonable notification § 58-2557.
Kentucky 2 days § 383.615.
Louisiana * N/A * N/A.
Maine 24 hr § 6025.
Maryland * N/A * N/A.
Massachusetts Reasonable notice Sanitary Code (410.810 ).
Michigan * N/A * N/A.
Minnesota "Reasonable notice" of no less than 24 hr § 504B.211.
Mississippi * N/A * N/A.
Missouri * N/A * N/A.
Montana 24 hr § 70-24-312.
Nebraska 24 hours § 76-1423.
Nevada 24 hours NRS 118A.330.
New Hampshire Reasonable notice RSA 540-A:3.
New Jersey 1 day § 5:10 -5. 1
New Mexico 24 hours § 47-8-24
New York City * N/A * N/A.
North Carolina * N/A * N/A.
North Dakota Reasonable notification § 47-16-07.3.
Ohio 24 hr § 5321.04.
Oklahoma 1 day § 41-128.
Oregon 24 hr § 90.322.
Pennsylvania * N/A * N/A.
Rhode Island 2 days § 34-18-26.
South Carolina 24 hours § 27-40-530.
South Dakota 24 hours § 43-32-32.
Tennessee 24 hours § 66-28-403.
Texas * N/A * N/A.
Utah 24 hours § 57-22-4.
Vermont 48 hours § 4460.
Virginia 24 hr § 55.1-1229( A).
Washington 2 days for repair work, 1 day for showings § 59.18.150.
West Virginia * N/A * N/A.
Wisconsin Advance Notice § 704.05( 2 ).
Wyoming * N/A * N/A


Collapse


When is Rent Due? (grace durations).
Expand Collapse.
State When is Rent Due? Laws.
Alabama On the due date (no grace duration) § 35-9A-161( c).
Alaska On the due date (no grace duration) AS 34.03.020( c).
Arizona On the due date (no grace duration) ARS 33-1314( c).
Arkansas On the due date in the lease, but there is a 5-day grace period before a late fee may be enforced § 18-17-401( b)( 1 ), § 18-17-701( b).
California On the due date (no grace duration) CIV Code 1947.
Colorado Not specified, however there is a 7-day grace period before a late cost may be enforced C.R.S. § 38-12-105.
Connecticut 9-day grace duration. § 47a-3a( a), § 47a-15a.
Delaware On the due date in the lease, however there is a 5-day grace period before a late cost might be imposed Title 25, § 5501( b), Title 25, § 5501( d).
Florida On the due date (no grace duration) § 83.46( 1 ).
Georgia Not specified No statute.
Hawaii On the due date (no grace period) § 521-21( b).
Idaho Not specified No statute.
Illinois Not specified No statute.
Indiana Not specified No statute.
Iowa On the due date (no grace period) 562A.9( 3 ).
Kansas On the due date (no grace period) § 58-2545( c).
Kentucky On the due date (no grace period) § 383.565( 2 ).
Louisiana On the due date (no grace period) La. Civ. Code art. 2703( 1 ).
Maine 15-day grace period Chapter 710, § 6028( 1 ).
Maryland On the due date (no grace period) § 8-401( a).
Massachusetts 30-day grace duration. Chapter 186, Section 15B( 1 )( c).
Michigan On the due date (no grace period) § 554.131.
Minnesota Not defined No statute.
Mississippi Not specified No statute.
Missouri On the due date (no grace duration) Rev. § 535.060.
Montana On the due date (no grace duration) § 70-24-201( 2 )( c).
Nebraska On the due date (no grace duration) § 76-1414( 3 ).
Nevada On the due date (no grace period) NRS 118A.210( 1 ).
New Hampshire Not specified No statute.
New Jersey 5 service day grace period § 2A:42 -6.1( 1 ).
New Mexico On the due date (no grace period) § 47-8-15( B).
New york city 5-day grace duration Housing Stability and Tenant Protection act of 2019.
North Carolina 4-day grace period § 42-46( a).
North Dakota Not defined No statute.
Ohio Not specified No statute.
Oklahoma On the due date (no grace duration) § 41-109( B).
Oregon On the due date in the lease, however there is a 4-day grace period before a late cost might be enforced § ORS 90.220( 7 )( a), ORS 90.260( 1 )( a)


Ga. Code § 44-7-16


Chicago just - $10.00 monthly for the first $500.00 in regular monthly rent plus five percent monthly for any quantity in excess of $500.00 in monthly lease for the late payment of rent. No statute


5-12-140( h).
Indiana Not defined No statute.
Iowa If the lease does not exceed $700/month, the late fee can not go beyond more than $12/day per day or $60/month.


If the lease is higher than $700/month, the late can not surpass more than $20/day or $100/month. 562A.9( 4 ).
Kansas Not specified No statute.
Kentucky Not defined No statute.
Louisiana Not defined No statute.
Maine 4% of the monthly lease amount Chapter 710, § 6028( 2 ).
Maryland 5% of the regular monthly rent amount Md.

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