A rental agreement or lease is the foundation of the tenant-landlord relationship and some terms should be in each agreement before you sign. Keep in mind that the agreement stipulates the rules tenants and landlords agree to follow in the rental relationship.
This legal document comprises crucial details, for instance, the duration in which you can occupy the rental and the amount due every month. Whether the rental agreement or lease is as brief as a page or longer; whether it’s handwritten or typed, it should cover these basic terms of tenancy.
Basic Clauses
Each rental agreement should list the parties to the rental agreement, which would be you and the landlord. The landlord should also state the lease’s term, which could be on a monthly basis beginning on the first with a specific end date or an automatically continuing agreement that remains in full effect and force.
Occupancy Limits
The agreement must clearly specify that the rental is the residence of only the renters who’ve signed the agreement and their minor children. This guarantees the landlord the right to establish who resides in his or her property.
The value of the clause is that it gives the landlord grounds to evict you if you move in with a relative, friend, or sublet the rental without the landlord’s permission. This clause will ensure you reside in the rental within the stipulated rules to avoid eviction.
Security Deposit and Other Charges
This issue is frequently very contentious between a renter and tenant. Therefore, it’s important your agreement specifies matters associated with the security deposit. This shouldn’t just include the amount.
Rather, it should also state how and when the landlord should use it as well as how the renter should obtain it.
The agreement should also include the types of fees that the landlord can deduct from the security deposit (for instance repair or cleaning fees). It’s also important you examine your state’s laws concerning security deposit because they might set out some requirements with which you’ll have to comply.
The Due Rent
The agreement must include the entire rent due over the period of the lease and break it by the amount due monthly. The agreement should comprise the dollar amount you should pay every month and the date on which the rent is due. It should also specify the results of non-payment or late payments, for instance, evictions and fines.
Property Damages and Repairs
During the course of the tenancy, the damage might occur on some items on the rental. Therefore, the agreement should comprise an inclusive description of the condition in which you received the rental. Moreover, it must clarify the party that’s responsible for maintaining the rental or repairing any damages.
Right of Entry
It’s the landlord’s mandate to ensure his or her property remains safe and that the renter uses it in line with the agreement. Nevertheless, the landlord should specify the conditions under which he or she can enter the unit.
It’s important you verify whether the landlord’s terms comply with state law. The landlord should also include the duration of notice that he or she will provide before entering your unit.
Final Thoughts
A rental agreement is a very important document that every renter needs because it spells out the conditions, terms, and rules by which you must abide provided you’re a renter. Furthermore, it delineates the repercussions in case of violation.
For this reason, you must be very keen before appending your signature. In case you don’t know what to look for in your application, this guide is a great starting point.
For more information on a rental application, contact us at Apartment Agents or leave a comment.