Residential Lease Agreement Checklist for Landlords
A weak lease creates disputes over rent due dates, deposits, pets, and who fixes what. This checklist covers clauses small landlords need before signing — then you can generate the PDF instead of starting from a blank Word file.
Parties and property
Full legal names, rental address, and contact info for landlord and tenant(s). For LLC-owned rentals, list the entity as landlord. Include unit number for multi-family buildings.
Rent and fees
Monthly rent, due date, grace period, late fee formula, acceptable payment methods, and where to pay. Spell out who pays utilities, HOA, lawn, and snow removal.
Term and renewal
Lease start and end dates, month-to-month conversion rules, and notice required to terminate. Fixed-term leases should state what happens at expiration.
Deposits and move-in
Security deposit amount, where held, allowable deductions, return timeline per state law, and move-in condition checklist signed by both parties.
Generate the lease PDF
RentLedger's lease editor walks through these fields with state-aware defaults — preview free, one-time download from $7.99. Pair with rent tracking on the same site after signing.
Replace your spreadsheet tab
Create your lease agreement PDF — preview free.