Leases & Rental Agreements

Required Landlord Disclosures

Find out what disclosures you can expect to see in your lease or rental agreement or in another written communication from your landlord.

Lead Disclosures for Rental Property FAQ

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

Mold in Rentals: Landlord Liability, Responsibility, and Prevention

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.

Do California Landlords Have to Notify Prospective Tenants of Foreclosure?

California law used to require landlords to warn prospective tenants when the property they were looking to rent was facing a foreclosure.

Coronavirus-Related Amendments to Your Commercial Lease

Landlords and tenants can always amend a commercial lease if they agree to the new terms. As the novel coronavirus sweeps the country, forcing small businesses to slow operations or close, landlords and tenants are making smart changes that aim to keep both parties in the best financial shape possible.

Leases and Rental Agreements FAQ

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

Ten Terms to Include in Your Lease or Rental Agreement

What landlords should include in every lease and rental agreement.

Should Landlords Use a Lease or a 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.

Coronavirus-Related Amendments to Your Residential Lease

Residential landlords might need to vary the terms of their leases in light of legal and practical realities of the coronavirus epidemic. Here are some suggestions on how to vary particular clauses.

Are Tenants Entitled to a Rent Receipt?

Many states require landlords to give tenants a receipt for the rent.

Can My Tenant Break The Lease Just Because of Noise From Upstairs?

Here's what you can do if your tenant takes this matter to court.

How Much Information About Utilities Should Be in a Lease?

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

What Does "Last Month's Rent" Really Mean?

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

Can I Limit the Number of Occupants in a Rental Property?

You 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.

What's a Recommended Lease Clause on Occupancy Limits?

Learn how to write a legal and effective lease clause limiting the number of people living in your rental unit.