Never sign a lease without double-checking it first — you never know what minor errors, or even deliberately unscrupulous clauses, could pose a problem. In this post, we’ll show you what you’ll need to check and how a residential lease contract template from RentAgreementForm can help.
Your Basic Information
This is an obvious one, but you must make sure the names and addresses are all accurate. You won’t have to worry about losing the home if your name’s misspelled, but it could make claiming renters’ insurance needlessly difficult.
Similarly, the lease having the wrong unit number could open questions about whether you’re legally in the right place. You must also look for an auto-renewal clause in the start and end dates, as this could “trap” you for another year.
Finally, check for information on occupancy limits and guests. You may find yourself agreeing to never have friends visit or stay overnight. Even the most basic details of a lease can have some problematic surprises if you’re not careful.
The Home’s Payment Terms
Rent and utilities should be straightforward, but the wrong lease can make both of these issues needlessly complicated. The top ten red flags to watch out for here include:
- Higher rent than you initially discussed
- Discounted rent that rises after a few months
- Unclear distinction between market rent and your obligations
- Late rent surcharges could kick in after just a day
- Similarly, you might even face compound late fees
- No promise of an itemized deposit deduction list
- Not storing the security deposit in the correct account
- Uncertainty about who’s paying the home’s utilities
- The landlord prefers (or only accepts) rent in cash
- Being charged a full month’s rent if you move mid-month
The wrong wording here may leave you losing a lot of money, but an effective contract template already phrases everything in a fair, legally binding way.
Moving in and Moving Out
Does your lease recommend a move-in inspection? It might even leave the landlord responsible for providing a checklist that confirms everything works. Ask for this if it isn’t already in the form, or they could blame you for existing damages.
Similarly, you might not be thinking about moving out anytime soon, but your contract should still account for this. Any lease should specify the home’s ideal condition upon moving out, though it should go beyond simply asking the home to be clean.
The document must be specific. This means it might want you to leave it in “move-in condition,” perfect enough for the next tenant. Alternatively, “broom clean” might be enough. Clarifying this can save you a lot of time later on.
Finally, the lease must include how much notice to give before moving out and any penalties for not giving notice. Don’t accept a lease if you’d forfeit your deposit by leaving in an emergency.
Making Alterations
Check if the lease lets you make changes to the property, and to what extent. Can you add new furniture or repaint the walls, for example? A small clause in your favor can help your new place feel like home.
Watch out for strict rules on this front, as some landlords may not even let you put up posters. In these situations, only sign the lease if you’d be comfortable living in the property as it is for your whole tenancy.
Dispute Resolution
Even a perfect-seeming lease can run into problems one day. If everything’s in order but there’s no dispute resolution section, address this. Signing a lease without these clauses might let your landlord take you to court for a relatively minor dispute.
Make sure your contract advocates for mediation or even arbitration before the court stage. You can then discuss any problems in a more comfortable setting. Otherwise, you may seriously risk permanently damaging the tenant/landlord relationship.
Why You Need a Contract Template
Try to convince the landlord to use a lease from a reputable template site. Even if they just won’t budge, you can still compare the contract they provide with a template. This lets you easily spot any significant omissions or problematic wording.
There are plenty of reasons to involve a template in this process in some way, including:
- You can get them for free (or at a low cost) from the right site
- You/your future landlord won’t spend days drafting a contract
- These leases are legally binding and already have every section
- You can easily edit the contract to match your unique situation
- E-signatures are valid and let you keep the lease entirely digital
Ultimately, templates simplify a rental agreement massively and help you avoid red flags.
Final Thoughts
It’s not enough to quickly scan your lease before signing — you must read it cover-to-cover, and compare it to pre-existing templates. This is the only way to ensure your future landlord hasn’t made an error and isn’t trying to scam you.