Typical Rental Agreements for Homes
- Leases and rental agreements are contracts between a tenant and his landlord. They usually address issues such as rent amounts and payment due dates, the length of a tenancy, restrictions on the number of people who can occupy a rental unit and whether pets are permitted on the property. Rental agreements should also clarify issues of property maintenance and utility payments.
- Many boilerplate rental agreements and leases are geared towards landlords of apartment buildings and their tenants. As a result, both landlords and tenants may need to add clauses to a lease or rental agreement. This is generally allowed under a state's landlord-tenant act, but both landlord and tenant need to ensure that additional clauses do not abridge rights guaranteed by the landlord-tenant act. Also be aware that many states grant judges the right to nullify any clause that she finds "unconscionable."
- While an apartment tenant's rent often includes some or even all utilities, this is not always true for those who rent a house. If you rent a house, you may be expected to pay all utility costs and may even be responsible for paying for services such as trash collection and recycling. Prior to signing a lease or rental agreement, ask a landlord about the average monthly utility costs for the home. You should also ask if there are any other bills that you will be expected to pay. It is a good idea to list the bills for which you will be responsible in the rental agreement.
- Ask your landlord about lawn and yard maintenance. In some cases your landlord will expect you to care for the grounds; in other cases, he will either take care of the yard himself or will hire a landscaping company. If your landlord hires a landscaping company, ask if its services are included in your rent. If your landlord plans on caring for the yard himself, work out a schedule so that your privacy is not disrupted, and include a clause in your rental agreement that clarifies these responsibilities.
- If you are expected to maintain the grounds yourself, find out whether the landlord is willing to provide you with the equipment to do so. If your landlord is not willing to provide you with a lawnmower, rake or snow shovel, you will have to either buy these items yourself or hire someone else to do the work for you. If your landlord does provide you with these items, ensure your rental agreement includes a clause that requires the landlord to pay for their repair, upkeep and, if necessary, replacement.