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A written rental agreement is the foundation of a professional landlord-tenant relationship. Verbal agreements are difficult to enforce and easy to misremember. A clear lease defines rent amount, lease term, deposit handling, maintenance responsibilities, and how either party can end the tenancy.

Core terms every lease should cover

At minimum, specify the names of all parties, the property address, the lease start and end dates, monthly rent, due date, and acceptable payment methods. Include late fee rules only if they comply with local law — many cities cap fees or require grace periods. Security deposit amount and conditions for return should match statutory requirements in your area.

• Lease term and renewal process
• Rent amount, due date, and late fees
• Security deposit amount and return timeline
• Utilities: who pays electric, gas, water, internet
• Pet policy and smoking rules
• Maintenance and repair responsibilities
• Entry notice requirements for the landlord
• Termination and notice periods

Companion documents at move-in

Do not rely on the lease alone. Issue a security deposit receipt when you collect the deposit, complete a move-in checklist with the tenant, and provide a rent receipt for the first month if paid at signing. These documents create a complete move-in file that protects you during move-out and deposit disputes.

When a lease nears expiration, send a lease renewal letter early so tenants have time to decide. If you plan to increase rent, use a separate rent increase notice with the legally required advance notice in your jurisdiction.

Using templates responsibly

MyLeaseKit provides a free rental agreement template you can customize and download as PDF. Templates save time but may not reflect rent control, just-cause eviction, or local disclosure requirements. Review every clause with a qualified attorney before use. The agreement generator captures landlord and tenant details, rent, deposit, utilities, and pet policy in a clean format ready for signatures.

Roommates, subletting, and addenda

If multiple tenants share a unit, list all adult occupants on the lease and clarify whether they hold joint and several liability for rent. Address subletting and short-term rentals explicitly — many standard leases prohibit subletting without written consent. Additional rules about parking, storage, and common areas can go in the notes section or a separate addendum attached to the PDF you store in your document dashboard.

Digital records and Pro features

Store signed leases alongside receipts and notices in your MyLeaseKit dashboard. Pro subscribers get unlimited cloud storage and e-signatures on rent receipts. Learn more on our pricing page or explore the full library of 13 document types. For payment documentation after move-in, see our guide on creating rent receipts.

Renewals and rent increases

When a lease term ends, decide whether to renew, convert to month-to-month, or issue a new fixed-term agreement. Document any rent increase in writing with the notice period your jurisdiction requires. Generate a fresh PDF rather than handwriting changes on an old scan — courts may not accept informal amendments. Use the lease renewal letter or rent increase notice when terms change at renewal.

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