How to Write a Lease for Renting a House
- 1). Review your state's landlord tenant laws. Pay close attention to matters regarding security deposits, inventory checklists, property inspection and mandatory clauses. For example, California law requires every lease to contain the exact language found in California Civil Code Section 2079.10a regarding notice of the public database for registered sex offenders.
- 2). Title the document "Residential Lease Agreement." Include language beneath the title such as "In consideration of the agreements herein, this lease agreement is entered into on [date] between [name of the landlord], [landlord's address] and [names of the tenants] regarding [address of the property]. The parties agree as follows:"
- 3). Divide the contract into sections. Main sections include a description of the leased premises, the process for paying rent, security deposits, eviction process and default, repairs and obligations and clauses regarding pets, utilities and housekeeping provisions; these are clauses found in practically every lease relating to administrative matters.
- 4). Subdivide each section into relevant subsections. For example, under the section relating to rent, you can include separate subsections regarding the exact amount due, the date due, the form of payment and late payments.
- 5). Fill out each subsection to describe the exact nature of that point of agreement. Some sections may be brief -- the subsection relating to the term of the lease may be a short sentences indicating the lease begins on a specific date and ends on a specific date. Other sections, such as those relating to security deposits, eviction and maintenance, may require several paragraphs.
- 6). Print enough copies of the lease to provide original copies to the landlord and each tenant. For example, if there are three tenants leasing the home, you need four copies of the agreement that every party must sign.
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