Goal: make the lease easy to follow and hard to misunderstand
A lease should do two things well: set expectations and reduce ambiguity. When tenants know what's expected and you can point to clear clauses, problems are easier to resolve.
Lease agreement checklist (what to include)
1) Parties and property details
- Landlord/legal entity name and contact information
- Tenant names (all adult occupants who sign)
- Property address and unit number
- Included areas (parking, storage, yard, etc.)
2) Term and renewal
- Start date and end date (or month-to-month terms)
- Renewal options and how notice is handled
- Move-in and move-out procedures
3) Rent and payments
- Rent amount and due date
- Accepted payment methods
- Where/when rent is considered “paid”
- Late fees (only if allowed; define amount and timing)
If you want reliable rent collection, consider online payments and autopay. RentMouse supports collecting rent online.
4) Deposits and fees
- Deposit amount and what it covers
- Where the deposit is held (if required)
- Conditions for deductions and timelines
5) Utilities and services
- Who pays for electricity, gas, water, internet, trash, etc.
- How shared meters are handled (if applicable)
- What happens if a utility is interrupted
6) Maintenance responsibilities
- How tenants submit maintenance requests
- What is considered an emergency
- Tenant responsibilities (filters, smoke alarms, basic upkeep)
- Landlord responsibilities (repairs, habitability, inspections)
A clear workflow avoids confusion. See maintenance tracking.
7) Rules and policies
- Occupancy limits
- Pets (allowed types, deposits/fees if applicable)
- Smoking and cannabis policy
- Noise and nuisance rules
- Subletting/roommates
8) Entry and notices
- When the landlord can enter and required notice period
- How notices are delivered (email, mail, portal)
- What addresses/emails are used for notice
9) Signatures and storage
- Signature lines for all parties
- Date signed
- Where the signed lease is stored and how tenants access it
Practical tips to avoid lease disputes
- Keep language simple: avoid legalese whenever possible.
- Make responsibilities explicit: “who does what” for utilities, lawn/snow, filters, and minor fixes.
- Use addendums: pets, parking, storage, and building rules are easier to manage as add-ons.
- Store everything together: signed lease + addendums + move-in checklist + receipts.