Lease agreement template

What a lease agreement covers

A lease is the written agreement between a landlord and a tenant. It sets the rent, the length of the tenancy, and the rules both sides agree to follow. A clear lease prevents most rental disputes before they start, because the answer to "who pays for that" or "how much notice do I give" is already written down and signed. A complete residential lease covers a predictable set of points.

• The parties and the property, naming the landlord, the tenant, and the exact address.
• The term, whether it is a fixed term with an end date or month-to-month.
• The rent, the amount, the day it is due, and how it is paid.
• The security deposit, the amount and the terms for returning it.
• Utilities, spelling out who pays for what.
• Rules, such as occupants, pets, maintenance, and landlord entry.
• Termination, the notice each side must give to end the tenancy.
• Signatures, dated by both the landlord and the tenant.

This is a general template, not legal advice. Landlord and tenant law varies a lot by region, and some places require specific clauses or set limits on deposits and notice periods. Check the rules where the property is, and for an unusual situation, have a local expert review the lease.

Free residential lease agreement template

Copy the template below, or open it in the fill tool and type your details onto the page. Each blank line or checkbox is a field you complete.

RESIDENTIAL LEASE AGREEMENT

This Lease is made on ____________________ [date]

LANDLORD: [name] ____________________
  Address: ___________________________
  Phone / email: _____________________

TENANT: [name] ______________________
  Phone / email: _____________________

1. PROPERTY
   The Landlord rents to the Tenant the property at:
   ___________________________________________________ (the "Premises")

2. TERM
   [ ] Fixed term from ____________ to ____________
   [ ] Month-to-month starting ____________

3. RENT
   Monthly rent: $ ______________
   Due on the ______ day of each month.
   Payable by: [ ] transfer  [ ] cheque  [ ] other ______________

4. SECURITY DEPOSIT
   Amount: $ ______________
   Held for damage beyond normal wear, returned within ______ days of
   move-out, less any lawful deductions.

5. UTILITIES
   Paid by Landlord: ____________________________________
   Paid by Tenant:   ____________________________________

6. OCCUPANTS
   Only the following people may live in the Premises:
   ____________________________________________________

7. PETS
   [ ] No pets   [ ] Pets allowed: ____________________

8. MAINTENANCE
   The Tenant keeps the Premises clean and reports damage promptly.
   The Landlord keeps the Premises in a safe, livable condition.

9. ENTRY
   The Landlord may enter with ______ hours notice, except in an emergency.

10. LATE FEES
    Rent more than ______ days late may be charged a fee of $ ________.

11. TERMINATION
    Either party may end a month-to-month lease with ______ days written
    notice. A fixed term ends on its end date unless renewed.

12. GOVERNING LAW
    This Lease follows the laws of ____________________.

SIGNATURES
  Landlord: __________________  Date: ____________
  Tenant:   __________________  Date: ____________

How to fill out the lease agreement

1. Open the template in the fill tool. Copy the text above, or start from the ready-made lease agreement template and load it into the fill a PDF tool.
2. Name the parties and property. Enter the landlord's and tenant's names and contact details, then the full address of the rental.
3. Set the term. Choose a fixed term with start and end dates, or month-to-month, and fill in the dates.
4. Enter the rent and deposit. Add the monthly rent, the day it is due, the payment method, and the security deposit amount and return terms.
5. Divide the utilities. List which utilities the landlord pays and which the tenant pays, so there is no confusion later.
6. Set the rules. Fill in occupants, the pet policy, the notice for landlord entry, late fees, and the termination notice period.
7. Sign, date, and download. Both parties sign with the sign a PDF tool, then download a clean PDF and give a copy to each side.

Key clauses to get right

A few clauses cause most of the trouble when they are vague, so give them extra care. The rent clause should state the amount, the exact day it is due, and the accepted payment methods, so "the first of the month" is never in question. The security deposit clause should say how much is held, what it covers, and how many days after move-out it is returned, because deposit disputes are among the most common in renting. The termination clause should set a clear notice period for ending the tenancy, and it should match your local minimum. Getting these three right prevents most arguments a tenancy can produce.

Fixed term versus month-to-month

The term you choose shapes how the tenancy works, so pick it on purpose. A fixed term runs between set dates, often a year, and gives both sides stability: the tenant knows the rent is locked for the term, and the landlord knows the unit is spoken for. A month-to-month lease continues each month until either side gives notice, which offers flexibility but less certainty. Many landlords start with a fixed term and then let it roll into month-to-month once it ends. Whichever you choose, write it clearly in the term section, and make sure the notice period for ending the tenancy matches what your local law allows, since some regions set a minimum you cannot go below.

Handling the security deposit

The deposit is where many tenancies go wrong, so treat it carefully from the start. State the exact amount, what it can be used for, such as damage beyond normal wear, and how many days after move-out it will be returned. Some regions cap how much deposit a landlord can ask for and require that it be held or even earn interest in a specific way, so check the rule where the property is before you write a number. A short move-in checklist that both sides sign, noting the condition of the unit, makes the deposit far easier to settle fairly when the tenant leaves, because there is a shared record of how the place looked at the start.

Keeping records during the tenancy

A lease is the start of the paper trail, not the end of it. Throughout the tenancy, keep rent receipts, any written notices, and any addendums with the signed lease, so the full history of the arrangement stays together. If you agree to a change partway through, such as adding a pet or adjusting who lives there, put it in a short written addendum that both sides sign rather than relying on a spoken understanding. Landlords who rent several units benefit most from a saved base lease, since the terms stay identical and only the tenant, address, and rent change from one agreement to the next.

Tips for a lease that works

• Write dates in full. Use complete dates for the term so the start and end are never misread.
• Match local law. Deposit limits and notice periods are set by region. Do not write a number your area does not allow.
• List every occupant. Naming who may live there keeps the tenancy clear and enforceable.
• Give both sides a signed copy. The landlord and tenant each keep the same signed PDF.
• Keep receipts with the lease. Store rent receipts and any addendums with the signed lease so the full record is together.

Before the tenant moves in

The days around move-in set the tone for the whole tenancy, so use them well. Walk through the unit together and note its condition on a short checklist that both sides sign, ideally with a few dated photos, because that shared record is what settles a deposit fairly at the end. Collect the first month's rent and the deposit before handing over the keys, and give the tenant a copy of the signed lease along with any building rules they need to follow. Make sure the tenant knows how to reach you for repairs and how to pay rent each month. Starting with clear expectations prevents most of the small frictions that otherwise build up over a tenancy.

When your lease is ready, open the lease template, complete it in the fill tool, and download a clean PDF for both the landlord and the tenant. Everything runs in your browser, so the lease and its details stay private on your own device.