Rental Lease Agreement Template

Washington D.C.
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming


By Type (15 )


Standard Lease


1-Page


Commercial


Condominium


Equipment


Relative


Hunting (Land)


Month-to-Month


Parking Space


Rent-to-Own


Roommate


Storage Space


Sublease


Vacation (short-term)


Weekly


The Leasing Process (8 steps)


Housing Statistics


- 33.6% of U.S. households are renters (44 million). [1] [2]- 68.2% of leases are fixed-term. [3]- 31.8% of leases are month-to-month.
- 30% of an occupant's income (usually) is spent on rent. [4]

1. Tenant Views the Space


The tenant's primary step in the leasing process is seeing the space. This is frequently after seeing photos of the residential or commercial property on a website where it was listed.


Renting Trends (2023 )


91% of renters use a site or mobile app when browsing, and 19% apply for housing without requiring an in-person tour. [5]

2. Obtain a Rental Application


Before a deal is accepted, the property owner normally demands an occupant to finish a rental application and pay a small fee (view maximum charges by state). The most typical cost was $50 in 2023. [6]

Applicant Details


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


3. Screen the Applicant


Use the rental application to run a customer report. This consists of a credit report and searching public records (expulsion search, background check, etc).


Recommended Services


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


4. Verify References


The candidate's employer and previous property owners must be called. This uses insight into the applicant'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 tenant violate the lease?
- What was the factor for leaving the residential or commercial property?
- Existed damage made on the residential or commercial property?
- Would you re-rent to the occupant again?


5. Negotiate the Lease


Once an occupant is authorized, the celebrations will begin negotiating the rental terms. If the occupant is a creditworthy person, they might be able to get a better offer due to their financial status.


Negotiation Items


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


6. Lease Signing


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


Required at Lease Signing


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


7. Taking Occupancy


After signing the lease and making preliminary payments, the renter must be provided access to the residential or commercial property at the start of the lease term. Generally, a tenant can not move into the residential or commercial property unless they have made an additional payment.


Inspecting the Residential or commercial property


To protect the security deposit, it is suggested that the occupant finish a move-in evaluation form and keep in mind any existing residential or commercial property damage. In 2023, only 42% of tenants said they got fully reimbursed on their security deposit. [7]

8. End of Tenancy


The property owner will notify the occupant of their intention to renew or terminate the lease between 30 and 90 days before completion of the occupancy. If the proprietor terminates the lease, the renter'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 out a Non-Renewal Lease Letter.
Landlord-Tenant Laws


Security Deposit Laws.
Expand Collapse.
State Maximum ($).
Returning.
Statute.
Alabama 1 month's lease 60 days after the termination date and shipment of belongings § 35-9A-201( a), 35-9A-201( b).
Alaska 2 months' rent, other than 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 examination (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' rent (excluding animal deposits) 1 month if mentioned 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 younger 21 days from the move-out date or 15 days from getting the tenant's brand-new address § 47a-21.
Delaware 1 month's lease for leases of one year or more. No limitation on all others types 20 days from the termination date Title 25 § 5514.
Florida No limitation thirty days if reductions, 15 days if no deductions § 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 (excluding pet charge) 2 week from the termination date § 521-44.
Idaho No limit thirty days if mentioned in the lease, 21 days if not § 6-321.
Illinois No limitation thirty days 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' lease 30 days after the renter has actually vacated § 562A.12.
Kansas 1 month's lease (unfurnished), 1.5 months' lease (furnished) 2 week after making deductions or thirty days from the termination date § 58-2550.
Kentucky No limit 60 days from the lease termination date § 383.580( 6 ).
Louisiana No limitation 1 month from the termination date Revised Statute 9:3251.
Maine 2 months' rent thirty days if the lease is fixed-period, 21 days if tenancy-at-will § 6032, § 6033.
Maryland 1 month's lease 45 days from the termination date § 8-203.
Massachusetts 1 month's rent one month after the renter has actually left Chapter 186, Section 15B.
Michigan 1.5 months' rent one month from completion of tenancy § 554.602, § 554.609.
Minnesota No limitation 3 weeks from the termination date § 504B.178.
Mississippi No limit 45 days from completion of occupancy § 89-8-21.
Missouri 2 months' rent 1 month from the termination of tenancy § 535.300.
Montana No limit 1 month if deductions, 10 days if no deductions § 70-25-202.
Nebraska 1 month's lease (omitting animal charge) 14 days of move-out § 76-1416.
Nevada 3 months' lease 30 days from the end of tenancy NRS 118A.242.
New Hampshire 1 month's rent or $100, whichever is greater 1 month, 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' rent 30 days from the termination date § 46:8 -21.2, § 46:8 -21.1.
New Mexico 1 month's lease for leases under one year. No limit for domestic leases of one year or more 1 month from the termination date § 47-8-18.
New york city 1 month's lease unless the deposit or advance is for a seasonal use home system 2 week after the renter has actually abandoned Emergency Tenant Protection Act 576/74( f), § 7-108 (e).
North Carolina 2 months' lease for occupancies of more than 2 months; 1.5 months' lease for month-to-month occupancies 1 month if no reductions, if reductions then an additional thirty days § 42-51, § 42-52.
North Dakota 1 month's lease (omitting animal deposits) 1 month from the termination date § 47-16-07.1.
Ohio No limitation 30 days from the termination date § 5321.16.
Oklahoma No limit 45 days from the termination date § 41-115( B).
Oregon No limitation 31 days from the termination date § 90.300.
Pennsylvania 2 months' rent 30 days from the termination date § 250.511 a, § 250.512.
Rhode Island 1 month's rent 20 days from the termination date § 34-18-19.
South Carolina No limitation thirty days from the termination date § 27-40-410.
South Dakota 1 month's lease 2 week if no deductions, 45 days if deductions § 43-32-6.1, § 43-32-24.
Tennessee No limit thirty days from the termination date § 66-28-301.
Texas No limitation one month after the occupant has left § 92.103.
Utah No limitation one month from the termination date § 57-17-3.
Vermont No limitation 2 week, 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 leaves the dwelling unit, whichever takes place last § 55.1-1226( A).
Washington No limitation thirty days from occupant's move-out date § 59.18.280.
West Virginia No limit 60 days after occupancy ends or 45 days after another tenant moves in, whichever shorter § 37-6A-2.
Wisconsin No limitation 21 days from renter's job date § 134.06.
Wyoming No limitation 1 month from lease termination or 15 days from receiving the tenant's forwarding address, whichever is lower § 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 notification § 47a-16.
Delaware 2 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 hours § 562A.19.
Kansas Reasonable notice § 58-2557.
Kentucky 2 days § 383.615.
Louisiana * N/A * N/A.
Maine 24 hours § 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 hours § 70-24-312.
Nebraska 24 hours § 76-1423.
Nevada 24 hr NRS 118A.330.
New Hampshire Reasonable notification 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 notice § 47-16-07.3.
Ohio 24 hours § 5321.04.
Oklahoma 1 day § 41-128.
Oregon 24 hours § 90.322.
Pennsylvania * N/A * N/A.
Rhode Island 2 days § 34-18-26.
South Carolina 24 hr § 27-40-530.
South Dakota 24 hours § 43-32-32.
Tennessee 24 hr § 66-28-403.
Texas * N/A * N/A.
Utah 24 hours § 57-22-4.
Vermont two days § 4460.
Virginia 24 hours § 55.1-1229( A).
Washington 2 days for repairs, 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 period) § 35-9A-161( c).
Alaska On the due date (no grace duration) AS 34.03.020( c).
Arizona On the due date (no grace period) ARS 33-1314( c).
Arkansas On the due date in the lease, but there is a 5-day grace period before a late charge may be imposed § 18-17-401( b)( 1 ), § 18-17-701( b).
California On the due date (no grace period) CIV Code 1947.
Colorado Not specified, but there is a 7-day grace duration before a late fee 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, but there is a 5-day grace duration before a late charge may be enforced Title 25, § 5501( b), Title 25, § 5501( d).
Florida On the due date (no grace period) § 83.46( 1 ).
Georgia Not specified No statute.
Hawaii On the due date (no grace period) § 521-21( b).
Idaho Not defined 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 duration) 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 period. Chapter 186, Section 15B( 1 )( c).
Michigan On the due date (no grace duration) § 554.131.
Minnesota Not defined No statute.
Mississippi Not defined 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 duration) NRS 118A.210( 1 ).
New Hampshire Not specified No statute.
New Jersey 5 business day grace duration § 2A:42 -6.1( 1 ).
New Mexico On the due date (no grace duration) § 47-8-15( B).
New York 5-day grace duration Housing Stability and Tenant Protection act of 2019.
North Carolina 4-day grace duration § 42-46( a).
North Dakota Not specified No statute.
Ohio Not specified No statute.
Oklahoma On the due date (no grace period) § 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 each month for the first $500.00 in month-to-month rent plus 5 percent monthly for any quantity in excess of $500.00 in regular monthly lease for the late payment of rent. No statute


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


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

Code, Real.