Free Rental Agreement Template for Landlords
If you’re a current or aspiring landlord, you’ll need access to free rental agreement templates so you can sign legally binding contracts with your prospective or current tenants. Rental agreement templates are everywhere, but we recommend using a simple template you can adjust specifically to your needs below. We’ll also break down why rental agreements are important and why you need them in detail.
What is a Rental Agreement?
Rental agreements (also called lease agreements) are legally binding contracts that are specific to residential real estate properties. They outline all the important terms and conditions for a tendency, including but not limited to the landlord’s rights, the tenant’s rights, and obligations of both parties.
Furthermore, a standard lease agreement includes key details like the:
Monthly rent amount and due date. The amount of rent is often dictated by market forces but is somewhat subject to landlord discretion
The rental period of time (tenancy)
Which rental unit the renter may live in
Property damage and apartment condition policies
Rules for personal property
Move-out dates
How many days' notice or advance notice is needed for eviction proceedings
What type of rental contract the lease applies to - fixed or short-term month-to-month
A rental agreement is important so you can legally rent your residential property out to tenants and bring in income. They’re also crucial in case there’s ever a legal dispute between you and one or more tenants, such as if they refuse to pay rent and must be evicted.
Lease Agreement vs. Rental Agreement
In the U.S., there’s no legally binding difference between rental agreements and lease agreements. They are simply different terms for the same document. You can use either or when drafting your own lease agreement or when referring to your rental agreement.
When Do You Need a Rental Agreement?
You need a rental lease agreement whatever you plan to rent residential property to at least one other person. If you don’t have a rental agreement, they are not legally renting the property and are subject to eviction at any time. Furthermore, you can’t legally collect rent from the tenant (aside from under the table, which is risky).
Why is a Rental Agreement Necessary?
Simply put, rental agreements are necessary to protect you and the tenant from any legal mishaps. Rental agreements protect landlords by:
Proving that tenants signed rental contracts under full awareness of their responsibilities and costs
Setting the time frame of the rental agreement in stone (so renters can’t stay in a rental property beyond their lease’s term)
Meanwhile, rental agreements protect tenants by:
Outlining the necessary responsibilities and duties of landlords (such as fixing maintenance issues)
Preventing landlords from raising their rental prices suddenly
Preventing landlords from evicting them without going through a lengthy legal process
If your landlord in Cambridge or the surrounding area, you need to protect yourself by having a rental agreement ready to go for each new tenant you bring to your residential properties.
Can You Write Your Own Rental Agreement?
Yes. You don’t have to use a rental agreement or lease agreement template from any specific organization. Instead, you can write your own and make sure that it includes all the appropriate terms and conditions or details that pertain to your property.
However, it can take some time to write a perfect rental agreement, especially when you consider all the things you need to include in the contract. Therefore, you may wish to use a lease agreement template instead.
Are Lease Agreement Templates Worthwhile?
They can be. Lease agreement templates are oftentimes used by landlords just like you. You can download templates and then fill in the blanks. All a lease agreement have a really needs to have is the:
Identifying information for both parties, like the names of both and the address of the rental property
The agreed-upon rental payments from the tenant to the landlord
The rental lease timeframe (i.e. how long the rental is meant to last)
Any important terms and conditions, such as who is responsible for the heating bill
However, navigating through the thousands of different lease agreement templates online can be time-consuming and draining. Instead, you can check out the sample rental agreement template we’ve compiled below.
This basic lease agreement template includes everything you need to form a legally binding rental contract with at least one tenant. However, there’s also a lot of space in the template to let you fill in the blanks or add more information where it’s necessary. You can also adjust the template depending on state laws.
Note that the below template is appropriate only for residential renters. It does not serve as a commercial lease agreement. It is also not meant to be used for subletting.
Sample Lease Agreement Template to Copy and Paste
Parties of Residential Lease Agreement
This Lease Agreement, made (Date of Agreement), is legally binding and between:
Landlord/Lessor – (Name) (Mailing Address)
Tenant/Lessee – (Name) (Mailing Address)
This Lease Agreement applies to (Address of Property) and its occupants.
The Tenant agrees to lease (Address of Property) from the Landlord with the following terms and conditions.
Lease Type
This is a (fixed term lease/month-to-month lease).
Fixed Lease. The Tenant is legally allowed to occupy the discussed Premises beginning on (Start Date) until (End Date). This is the Lease Term. If, at the end of the Lease Term, no renewal has been made, the Tenant must:
Vacate the Premises (X)
Continue to lease the Premises under the same terms of the Lease Agreement with a monthly rental agreement(X)
Month-to-Month Lease. The Tenant is legally allowed to occupy the discussed Premises beginning on (Start Date) until (End Date). Payment for the following month must be provided by (Date) each month.
Terms for Payment
For the duration of the Lease Term, the Tenant is responsible for the following payments:
Monthly Rent: $$$ due on the 1st of each month
Last Month’s Rent: $$$ due at the signing of this Lease Agreement
Security Deposit: $$$ due at the signing of this Lease Agreement
Pet Deposit: $$$ due at the signing of this Lease Agreement
Late fees (if applicable)
Utilities Terms and Responsibilities
The Landlord shall provide reasonably hot and cold water to the Tenant. The Tenant shall be responsible for all other utilities and services, including gas, electric, etc.
Insert other relevant landlord-tenant laws per your state's rules
Other Terms and Agreements
Insert all other terms of the agreement or arrangements as necessary between the property owner and prospective tenants (i.e. garbage collection, where rent checks are sent, repair for wear and tear, pet policy, written notice/written consent rules, background check disclaimer, illegal activity warnings, etc.).
Signatures
Landlord’s Signature:
Print Name:
Tenant’s Signature:
Print Name: