Leases and Rental Agreements FAQ
What you need to know to create a legally valid lease or rental agreement.
» Do I need a written lease or rental agreement?
What's the difference between a rental agreement and a lease?
How do rent control laws work?
How much security deposit can a landlord charge? What can it be used for?
Where can I find a dependable lease or rental agreement?
Do I need a written lease or rental agreement?
The lease or rental agreement is the key document of the tenancy, setting out important issues such as:
- the length of the tenancy
- the amount of rent and deposits the tenant must pay
- the number of people who can live on the rental property
- who pays for utilities
- whether the tenant may have pets
- whether the tenant may sublet the property
- the landlord's access to the rental property, and
- who pays attorney's fees if there is a lawsuit concerning the meaning or implementation of the lease or rental agreement
Leases and rental agreements should always be in writing, even though most states enforce oral (spoken) agreements for a certain period. While oral agreements may seem easy and informal, they often lead to disputes. If a tenant and landlord later disagree about key agreements, such as whether the tenant can sublet, the end result is all too likely to be a court argument over who said what to whom, when, and in what context. This is particularly a problem with long-term leases, so courts in most states will not enforce oral agreements after the passage of one year.
For information about what to include in a lease or rental agreement, see Ten Terms To Include in Your Lease or Rental Agreement.
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