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Residential Lease Agreement

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Getting started

The date the lease obligations begin.
Example: first of next month
Start date anchors term and rent commencement.
End date for a fixed-term lease.
Example: first of next month
End date must be after the start date.

Landlord / property owner

Full legal name of the landlord or property owner.
Example: Jordan Lee or Lee Property Holdings LLC
Appears as the landlord party on the lease.

Manual entry always works. Use the address where rent payments and legal notices should be sent.

Use the address where rent payments and legal notices should be sent.
Example: 123 Main St, Suite 200
Used for notices and often for where rent is sent.
Optional contact number for day-to-day communication.
Example: (555) 010-1234
May appear in the landlord contact section.
Optional email for notices if the parties agree to electronic delivery.
Example: name@example.com
May appear in the landlord contact section.

Tenant(s)

Full legal name of the primary adult tenant who will sign.
Example: Alex Rivera
Appears as the primary tenant party on the lease.

Manual entry always works. Can be the rental address if they already live there.

Can be the rental address if they already live there.
Example: same as rental, or a forwarding address
Used for pre-move-in notices and party identification.
Optional contact number for the primary tenant.
Example: (555) 010-1234
May appear in the tenant contact section.
Optional email for notices if the parties agree to electronic delivery.
Example: name@example.com
May appear in the tenant contact section.

Rental property

Manual entry always works. Street address of the rental unit (not a P.O. box).

Street address of the rental unit (not a P.O. box).
Example: 123 Main St, Apt 4B
Identifies the leased premises in the lease.
City name as it should appear on the document.
Example: Austin
Part of the premises address on the lease.
Primary state for the rental property. Governing law usually matches this.
Property location state — often matches governing law.
5-digit ZIP (or ZIP+4) for the address above.
Example: 78701
Part of the premises address on the lease.
Choose the dwelling type that best matches the unit.
Identifies the premises type in the lease.
Most leases use the property state. Uncheck “Same as property state” only if governing law differs.
Sets the governing-law jurisdiction on the lease.
Not sure?

Usually this is the state where the rental property is located.

Rent & deposit

Enter rent and deposit amounts in dollars — no cents required.

Enter the full monthly rent in dollars.
Example: 1500
This amount appears in the rent clause and payment schedule.
State law may cap deposit amounts — verify for your state.
Example: 1500 (often equal to one month’s rent)
Deposit amount held for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear.
Not sure?

Many landlords use about one month's rent, but some states cap how much you can collect.

Common default — change if needed
Most residential leases use the 1st.
Sets the monthly rent due date in the payment clause.
Leave as Per state law unless you want a specific deadline that meets state minimums.
Return timing for the deposit after move-out.
Not sure?

Return deadlines vary by state. Choose the closest match or pick "Per state law" if unsure.

Choose when the first full month’s rent must be paid.
Controls first-month rent timing in the lease.

Late & returned-payment fees

Late fees must be reasonable; some states limit the amount or require a grace period.
Choosing Yes adds late-fee terms; No keeps them out of the lease.
Optional fee when a rent payment is returned unpaid.
Choosing Yes adds an NSF / returned-payment fee clause.

Lease term & renewal

Choose how the tenancy continues or ends after the fixed term.
Controls post-term status (end, MTM, or renewal).
Auto-renewal can extend the term unless proper notice is given.
If Yes, the lease renews automatically without a new signing.
Optional — use if the lease renews automatically unless someone gives notice.
Not sure?

Use this only if the lease should continue automatically unless someone gives notice to end it.

Optional early-exit right.
If Yes, early termination terms are added to the lease.
Optional — use if either side may end the lease early.
Not sure?

Use this if either side may end the lease early with notice or a fee.

Pets

Service and assistance animals are usually handled separately from pet policy.
Saying Yes adds pet rules and optional pet fees to the lease.
Not sure?

Use this section if pets are allowed, restricted, or you want pet rent or a pet deposit.

Rules & protections

State whether smoking is banned, outdoor-only, or allowed inside.
Smoking restriction appears in the house rules.
Overnight guests are common; long-term guests can create unauthorized-occupancy risk.
Limits long-term guest stays in the house rules.
Day-to-day minor upkeep vs. landlord repairs.
Allocates minor-repair responsibility between the parties.

Utilities

If some utilities are included, list which ones next.
Controls whether rent includes utilities or tenants pay separately.
Not sure?

Choose Yes if any utility costs are bundled into the monthly rent.

Parking & appliances

Whether a parking space is part of the lease or billed separately.
Parking rights and fees appear in the lease or an addendum.
Optional list of appliances provided with the unit.
Lists appliances included with the premises.
Optional — leave blank if not applicable.

Lead paint & disclosures

Federal law requires lead-paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing.
Triggers federal lead-paint disclosure questions when Yes.
Not sure?

If the home was built before 1978, federal rules usually require a lead-paint disclosure.

Condition & lead details

Optional notes about condition at move-in.
May appear as move-in condition notes attached to the lease.
Optional — note move-in condition if you want it documented.

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What your Residential Lease Agreement includes

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Why not just use a free template?

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Frequently Asked Questions about Residential Lease Agreement

Yes — you receive an editable DOCX and can make limited revisions within 24 hours or up to 3 edits after purchase.

Yes — your lease includes security deposit amount and return conditions based on your answers.

Yes — use optional protections on the preview page or edit the DOCX after download.

Every purchase includes both PDF and editable Word (DOCX) files.

No — LeaseCraft provides professional DIY documents. Consult an attorney for complex situations.

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LeaseCraft provides document templates, not legal advice. Consult an attorney for complex situations.