Signing the lease

A lease should always outline the:

• terms
• conditions, and
• duration

of the rental agreement.

It is important to review all 3 before signing.

Some leases may contain unexpected requirements.

It is important to consult a lawyer before signing if you do not understand everything in the lease, or if you are creating a lease that you want customized to your terms.

The lease should stipulate the following:

• The names of the landlord and tenant(s)
• The address of the rental property
• The agreed-upon monthly rent, with or without utilities, parking, cable, etc.
• When rent is due each month
• The amount and terms of the deposit (if applicable)
• Which repairs are your responsibility if requested by the landlord
• The term of the rental period, typically one year (but may be month-to-month or week-to-week)
• The notice period required to terminate the lease (usually this is 60 days)
• Subletting rules
• Allowable rent increases
• Restrictions such as no boarders, pets, smoking, waterbeds, etc.
• When and how a landlord can enter the residential premises
• Conditions for termination of a lease
• Terms for dispute resolution: late payment, damage and repairs, eviction, etc.
• Emergency contact information for both the tenant and landlord (including phone, fax and email)

If you are sharing accommodations, consider the following:

• The person or persons who sign(s) the lease is/are legally responsible for any other roommates.
• If 2 or more tenants sign the lease, they are responsible for paying the whole rent, and the landlord can enforce the terms against either person or both people
• If each person has a separate lease, that individual is only responsible for what is contained in theirs.