Leases & Rental Agreements

Having a written lease or month-to-month rental agreement that addresses the key terms of the tenancy is essential.

Landlords who don't make the disclosures required by federal, state, and local laws might be subject to fines, lawsuits, and other penalties.

Landlords must disclose the presence of lead-based paint before renting or renovating property, and may be held liable for tenant health problems resulting from lead.

Learn about mold in rental units: Your landlord's liability for mold problems, how to get rid of mold, and how to prevent mold in the first place.

What you need to know to create a legally valid lease or rental agreement.

What landlords should include in every lease and rental agreement.

A handshake is not enough to seal the deal between landlords and tenants—landlords need to put the terms of a rental into a writing.

The basics on who pays for what and how to record utility payment arrangements in your lease or rental agreement.

Why landlords shouldn't collect a deposit for the last month's rent.

Landlords can set a limit to the number of people who can live in your rental—as long as you comply with all relevant housing laws.

Empower Yourself: DIY Products by Nolo

Sidestep the lawyers with do-it-yourself books, documents, and software.

The legal forms and state rules every landlord and property manager needs
Effectively manage your rental property in California using this pair of books.
Easily create a fixed-term lease or a month-to-month rental agreement for residential tenants.
Easily create a residential lease or month-to-month rental agreement for single or multiple tenants in California with this ready-to-use legal form.

Nolo offers hundreds of consumer-friendly, do-it-yourself legal products for all types of legal situations. Browse our full product list.

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