How to fill out a residential lease agreement
The clauses every lease needs, the fields that get left blank, and what changes state to state.
A residential lease is the contract between a landlord and a tenant for a home. It fixes the rent, the term, the deposit and who is responsible for what. Most states have a landlord-tenant act that overrides anything in the lease that contradicts it, so a lease is partly a form and partly a reminder of the law.
Fields, in order.
- 01Parties
Full legal names of the landlord or management company and every adult tenant. Every adult who lives there should sign.
- 02Premises
Full address including unit number, plus parking spaces, storage and any shared areas.
- 03Term
Start date and end date, or start date and notice period for a month-to-month tenancy.
- 04Rent
Amount, due date, where and how it is paid, and the grace period if any.
- 05Late fee
Amount or percentage and when it applies. Many states cap it.
- 06Security deposit
Amount, where it is held, and the conditions and deadline for its return. Several states require a separate account and interest.
- 07Utilities
Which are included in rent and which the tenant pays directly.
- 08Maintenance and repairs
What the tenant must do, what the landlord must do, and how to report problems.
- 09Pets, smoking, occupancy
Allowed or not, with any deposit or fee.
- 10Entry
How much notice the landlord gives before entering. State law usually sets a minimum.
- 11Signatures and date
Landlord and every tenant. Initials on each page are common but not required.
Common mistakes.
Deposit caps and holding rules vary. A clause that breaks them is void and can cost the landlord a penalty.
An unfilled late fee or notice period is argued about later. Fill every field or strike it through.
An adult who lives there but did not sign is hard to hold to the lease and hard to remove.
Renewals copied from last year keep last year's dates. Check the term before signing.
Terms you will see.
Ask the document what any of them means. The answer cites the page.
Fill it, check it, sign it.
Fill it by asking
Drop the PDF, paste the facts, and the agent fills every matching field. Unmatched fields are listed so nothing is skipped.
Check it before you send
Empty required fields, a missing signature, a date that disagrees with another page. The document check lists them with page numbers.
Sign it and send it
Draw your signature and place it, free. Or send it to someone else to sign on their phone, with an audit certificate. Free, 25 a month.
Residential lease,
answered.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Can a lease be signed electronically?+
Yes, in every US state under ESIGN and UETA. Sign your own copy with the free Sign PDF tool today. Or send it to the other party to sign on their phone, with an audit certificate, free (25 requests a month).
Can I edit a lease someone sent me?+
Yes. Open it in the AI editor and ask for the change. Every edit is shown as a diff before it is applied, and the other party can see exactly what moved.
What is required by law in my state?+
Lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing is federal. Beyond that, deposit limits, notice periods and required disclosures are set by each state. Check your state's landlord-tenant act.
Does the template work for a room rental?+
Mostly. Add a clause describing the shared areas and who may use them.
Fill your Residential lease in about ninety seconds.
Type into it, sign with your finger and send it back. No card needed.