RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Parties and Property
2. Term of Lease
3. Rent
4. Security Deposit
5. Utilities and Services
6. Maintenance and Repairs
7. Use and Occupancy
8. Landlord Access
9. Alterations and Improvements
10. Pets
11. Insurance
12. Default and Remedies
13. Termination and Renewal
14. Required Disclosures
15. General Provisions
16. Signatures

1. PARTIES AND PROPERTY

This Residential Lease Agreement ("Lease") is entered into as of [__/__/____] between:

LANDLORD:
Name: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Phone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
(Hereinafter "Landlord")

TENANT(S):
Name(s): [________________________________]
Current Address: [________________________________]
Phone: [________________________________]
Email: [________________________________]
(Hereinafter "Tenant")

PREMISES:
Address: [________________________________]
Unit No.: [________________]
City: [________________] State: [____] ZIP: [________]
Type: ☐ Single-family home ☐ Apartment ☐ Condominium ☐ Townhouse ☐ Duplex ☐ Other: [____]
Bedrooms: [____] Bathrooms: [____] Square Footage: [________________]
Parking: ☐ Included (Space #[____]) ☐ Additional fee: $[________]/month ☐ Not included
Storage: ☐ Included (Unit #[____]) ☐ Additional fee: $[________]/month ☐ Not included

2. TERM OF LEASE

Lease Type: ☐ Fixed-term ☐ Month-to-month

Commencement Date: [__/__/____]
Expiration Date: [__/__/____] (for fixed-term)

Renewal: Upon expiration, this Lease shall:
☐ Automatically convert to month-to-month tenancy under the same terms
☐ Terminate — Tenant must vacate unless a new lease is executed
☐ Automatically renew for an additional [____]-month term unless either party gives [____] days' written notice

3. RENT

3.1 Monthly Rent: $[________________], due on the [____] day of each month.

3.2 Payment Method: ☐ Check ☐ Electronic transfer ☐ Money order ☐ Online portal ☐ Other: [____]

3.3 Payable To: [________________________________]
3.4 Payment Address / Portal: [________________________________]

3.5 Late Fee: If rent is not received by the [____] day of the month, a late fee of $[________] (or [____]% of monthly rent) shall be assessed.

3.6 Returned Check Fee: $[________] for each returned check.

3.7 Proration: If the tenancy begins on a date other than the first of the month, rent for the first partial month shall be $[________________], covering [__/__/____] through [__/__/____].

3.8 Rent Increases: ☐ Subject to state/local rent control limitations ☐ Landlord may increase rent upon [____] days' written notice as permitted by law.

4. SECURITY DEPOSIT

4.1 Amount: $[________________]

4.2 State Deposit Limits:

4.3 Deposit Held At: [________________________________] (financial institution, if required by state law).

4.4 Interest: ☐ Required by state/local law — interest rate: [____]% ☐ Not required

4.5 Permitted Deductions: Security deposit may be applied to: ☐ Unpaid rent ☐ Damage beyond normal wear and tear ☐ Cleaning costs to restore to move-in condition ☐ Other charges permitted by lease and law.

4.6 Move-In/Move-Out Inspection: ☐ Landlord and Tenant shall conduct a joint inspection at move-in and move-out. Condition report attached as Exhibit [____].

5. UTILITIES AND SERVICES

6. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS

6.1 Landlord Obligations. Landlord shall maintain the premises in a habitable condition, including compliance with all building, housing, and health codes. Landlord shall maintain in good working order: plumbing, heating, electrical, sanitary facilities, and appliances furnished by Landlord.

6.2 Tenant Obligations. Tenant shall maintain the premises in clean and sanitary condition, dispose of waste properly, use fixtures and appliances reasonably, and promptly report maintenance issues in writing.

6.3 Repair Requests. Tenant shall submit repair requests to Landlord at [________________________________] (method and address). Landlord shall respond within a reasonable time, not to exceed [____] days for non-emergency repairs.

6.4 Emergency Repairs. For emergencies (fire, flood, gas leak, no heat in winter, sewage backup), Tenant may contact: [________________________________] (emergency phone).

7. USE AND OCCUPANCY

7.1 Permitted Use. The premises shall be used exclusively as a private residential dwelling.

7.2 Authorized Occupants: [________________________________] (list all persons authorized to reside).

7.3 Maximum Occupancy: [____] persons, consistent with applicable housing codes.

7.4 Guests. Guests may not stay more than [____] consecutive days or [____] total days in any 12-month period without Landlord's written consent.

7.5 Prohibited Activities. Tenant shall not engage in any illegal activity, create a nuisance, or violate HOA rules.

8. LANDLORD ACCESS

Landlord may enter the premises upon [____] hours' advance written notice for:
☐ Repairs and maintenance
☐ Inspections
☐ Showing to prospective tenants or buyers
☐ Emergency (no notice required)

9. ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS

Tenant shall not make any alterations, additions, or improvements without Landlord's prior written consent. Approved alterations become the property of the Landlord upon termination unless otherwise agreed in writing.

10. PETS

☐ No pets allowed.
☐ Pets allowed with the following restrictions:
- Type: [________________________________]
- Maximum number: [____]
- Maximum weight: [____] lbs
- Pet deposit: $[________] (☐ refundable ☐ non-refundable)
- Monthly pet rent: $[________]

11. INSURANCE

11.1 Renter's Insurance. Tenant ☐ is required / ☐ is encouraged to maintain renter's insurance with minimum coverage of $[________________] for personal property and $[________________] for liability.

11.2 Landlord's Insurance. Landlord maintains property insurance covering the structure. This insurance does NOT cover Tenant's personal property.

12. DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

12.1 Tenant Default. The following constitute events of default:
☐ Failure to pay rent within [____] days of due date
☐ Violation of any material lease term
☐ Abandonment of premises
☐ Illegal activity on premises

12.2 Landlord Remedies. Upon default, Landlord may:
☐ Serve notice to pay or quit (per state law timelines)
☐ Commence eviction proceedings (unlawful detainer)
☐ Pursue damages for breach of lease

12.3 Tenant Remedies. If Landlord fails to maintain habitable conditions, Tenant may:
☐ Provide written notice and reasonable time to repair
☐ Exercise repair-and-deduct rights (where permitted by state law)
☐ Withhold rent (where permitted by state law with proper procedures)
☐ Terminate the lease (for material breach after proper notice)

13. TERMINATION AND RENEWAL

13.1 Notice to Terminate. Either party must provide [____] days' written notice before the end of the lease term or any month-to-month period.

13.2 Early Termination. Early termination is permitted under the following circumstances:
☐ Military deployment or PCS orders (SCRA, 50 U.S.C. § 3955) — 30 days' notice
☐ Domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking (per applicable state law)
☐ Mutual written agreement
☐ Early termination fee: $[________________]

13.3 Move-Out Procedures. Tenant shall:
☐ Return all keys and access devices
☐ Remove all personal property
☐ Leave premises in broom-clean condition
☐ Provide forwarding address in writing
☐ Participate in move-out inspection if offered

14. REQUIRED DISCLOSURES

The following disclosures are attached and incorporated by reference:

☐ Lead-Based Paint Disclosure (required for all housing built before 1978 per 42 U.S.C. § 4852d)
☐ Mold disclosure (where required by state law)
☐ Bed bug disclosure (where required)
☐ Flood zone disclosure
☐ Sex offender registry notice
☐ Asbestos disclosure
☐ Smoke/carbon monoxide detector disclosure
☐ Move-in condition checklist
☐ State-specific tenant rights pamphlet: [________________________________]
☐ Rent control/stabilization notice (if applicable)
☐ Other: [________________________________]

15. GENERAL PROVISIONS

15.1 Governing Law. This Lease shall be governed by the laws of the State of [________________].

15.2 Severability. If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions remain in full force.

15.3 Entire Agreement. This Lease, together with all attached addenda and disclosures, constitutes the entire agreement.

15.4 Amendments. This Lease may be amended only by written agreement signed by both parties.

15.5 Notices. All notices shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth above by ☐ personal delivery ☐ certified mail ☐ email (if agreed to in writing).

15.6 Attorney's Fees. In any action to enforce this Lease, the prevailing party shall be entitled to reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

15.7 Joint and Several Liability. If there are multiple Tenants, each is jointly and severally liable for all obligations under this Lease.

16. SIGNATURES

LANDLORD:

_______________________________
[LANDLORD NAME]
Date: [__/__/____]

TENANT(S):

_______________________________
[TENANT NAME]
Date: [__/__/____]

_______________________________
[TENANT NAME]
Date: [__/__/____]

This template is for informational purposes only. Residential lease requirements vary significantly by state and locality. Consult a qualified attorney before use.