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Rental Agreement

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Sample Rental Agreement

1. Parties The parties to this agreement are the Landlord:

Name: Address:

City/State/Zip: phone#

The tenant:

Name: Address:

City/State/Zip: phone#

2. Property Landlord rents to Tenant a dwelling located at:

Address: City/State/Zip:

3. Term The term of this lease shall be commencing on: until

This lease shall automatically self-extend under the same terms and conditions as the initial lease and shall continue in full force and effect from month-to-month unless and until otherwise terminated.

4. Rent The rent shall be $ / month payable on the day of every month, in advance, so long as this lease is in force.

5. Appliances and Furniture

Stove, refrigerator, are included in the rental of these premises.

6. Security Deposit Upon the execution of this Agreement, Tenant shall deposit with Landlord the sum of

Dollars ($ )

Receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by the Landlord, as security for any damage caused to the Premises during the term of the lease. In accordance with ALM GL ch. 186, § 15B, such deposit received by the Landlord shall be held in a separate, interest-bearing account in a bank, located within the Commonwealth under such terms as will place such deposit beyond the claim of creditors of the Landlord. Such deposit shall be returned to the Tenant, with interest at the rate of five per cent per year or other such lesser amount of interest as has been received from the bank where the deposit has been held, and less any set off for damages to the Premises upon the termination of this Agreement.

7. Occupants The Tenant shall not permit the dwelling to be occupied for longer than a temporary visit by anyone except the individuals listed below and except any children born to or adopted by such individuals during the term of this lease; however the landlord reserves the right to terminate this lease if the additional occupants would render the dwelling overcrowded under the State Sanitary Code.

8. Notices All notices shall be in writing and shall be given to the Tenant at the dwelling; all rents and all notices, which shall be in writing, shall be given to the Landlord at:

In case of emergency, Tenant shall contact the following person:

9. Utilities Utilities shall be paid by the party indicated on the following chart: (Please place checkmark under the person who will pay for the utility.)

Utility Landlord Tenant Municipality
Electricity
Gas
Heat*
Garbage Collection
Trash Removal
Hot Water*
Other

• The Landlord must provide the facilities for the provision of heat and hot water.

TENANT AGREES

10. Use of Property Tenant shall use the property for residential purposes only. Tenant agrees not to engage in or permit any household members, relatives, guests, invitees or agents to engage in any unlawful use of the dwelling unit, common areas or grounds.

11. Notice of Absence from Unit Tenant shall notify the landlord in writing if the dwelling unit will be left unoccupied by at least one adult household member for a period of longer than 30 days, and shall advise Landlord how to contact Tenant during such period.

12. Tenant's Duty to Maintain Premises The Tenant shall maintain the premises in a clean and neat condition and at all times comply with an occupant's obligations under Article II of the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code.

13. Waste of Utilities Tenant shall make every reasonable effort to conserve the use of utilities supplied and paid for by the Landlord and shall not waste the same.

14. Damage Tenant shall use all appliances, fixtures and equipment in a safe manner and only for the purposes for which they are intended and shall not litter, destroy, deface, damage or remove any part of the dwelling unit, common areas or grounds. Tenant shall pay amounts due for repairs for property damage, reasonable wear and tear excepted, caused by the intentional or negligent conduct of Tenant, a member of the Tenant's household, relatives, invitees, guests or agents upon receipt of a bill from Landlord. The written bill shall include items of damage, the corrective action taken and the cost thereof.

15. Alterations No substantial alterations, addition or improvement shall be made by Tenant in or to the dwelling unit without the permission of Landlord in writing. Such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but may include the Tenant's agreeing to restore the dwelling unit to its prior condition before moving out.

16. Locks Tenant shall not change, alter, replace or add new locks without written consent of Landlord. Any locks so permitted to be installed shall become property of the Landlord and shall not be removed by Tenant. The Tenant shall promptly give a duplicate key to any such changed, altered, replaced or new lock to Landlord.

17. Noise Tenant agrees not to allow on his/her premises any excessive noise or other activity which disturbs the peace and quiet of other tenants in the building. Landlord agrees to prevent other tenants and other persons in the building or common areas from similarly disturbing Tenant's peace and quiet.

18. Subleasing Tenant shall not assign this agreement or sublet the dwelling unit without the written consent of Landlord. Such consent shall not be withheld without good reason. This paragraph shall not prevent Tenant from having guests for reasonably short periods of time.

19. Termination Upon termination of this agreement, Tenant shall vacate the premises, remove all personal property belonging to him/her and leave the premises as clean as she/he found them, normal wear and tear and damage by unavoidable casualty excepted, and return all keys to Landlord immediately upon vacating. The Tenant agrees that any personal property left in or about the premises after the Tenant has vacated shall be considered abandoned property, and the Landlord may sell or otherwise dispose of same without liability to the Tenant.

20. Permission for Landlord to Enter Unit Tenant agrees to allow landlord or its agents to enter the dwelling upon reasonable advance notice in order to inspect the premises, to exterminate for pests, to make repairs or to show the premises to prospective tenants, purchasers, mortgagers or their agents. The Tenant will not be unreasonable in denying entry. Landlord may also enter the premises without prior consent if it appears to have been abandoned by the Tenant or in case of emergency, and as otherwise permitted by law or court order.

LANDLORD AGREES

21. Maintenance of Dwelling The Landlord agrees to maintain the premises in a structurally sound condition and to otherwise comply with an Owner's obligations under Article II of the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code. Substantial violations of the State Sanitary Code shall constitute grounds for abatement of rent.

22. Destruction of Premises If the premises are rendered uninhabitable by fire, flood or other natural disaster during the term of this agreement, this agreement shall be thereupon terminated.

23. Notification of Termination Landlord shall not terminate this lease except for serious or repeated breach of tenant's obligations hereunder. In cases of nonpayment of rent, Landlord may terminate the tenancy by a 14-day written notice to vacate. In all other cases, Landlord may terminate the tenancy by a 30-day written notice to vacate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Landlord may immediately terminate this Lease for any act or conduct of the Tenant, household member or guest which entitles the Landlord to evict or enjoin the Tenant under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 139, Section 19.

ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS

24. If any, they are attached, initialed and dated by both parties, and are a part of this lease.

ATTACHMENTS

25. Tenant agrees to obey the Rules and Regulations which are attached to this lease and made a part thereof, which Landlord reserves the right to amend or supplement at any time.

CHANGES

26. No changes or additions to this lease shall be made except by written agreement between Landlord and Tenant. This lease and any attachments represent the entire agreement between Landlord and Tenant.

27. WHEREFORE, We, the undersigned, agree to this Lease, by signing two copies (one to be kept by Tenant and one by Landlord).

LANDLORDS

TENANTS

• Tenant is encouraged to carry renters insurance on personal belongings

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What a Rental Agreement Is and why it matters

A Rental Agreement (also called a lease) is a written contract between a property owner or manager and a tenant that sets the terms for occupancy of residential or commercial space. It typically specifies the parties, the property description, the lease term, rent amount and due dates, security deposit rules, permitted uses, maintenance responsibilities, utilities, subletting restrictions, default remedies, and termination conditions. Properly executed rental agreements establish enforceable expectations, reduce disputes, and create a documentary record needed for collections, security deposit disputes, and potential court actions.

Why a clear Rental Agreement protects both parties

A professionally drafted rental agreement reduces ambiguity about payment, repairs, and termination, making enforcement and dispute resolution faster and more predictable. It documents rights and obligations, supports security deposit accounting, and preserves evidence for court or administrative proceedings while enabling consistent recordkeeping.

Why a clear Rental Agreement protects both parties

Who commonly prepares and signs Rental Agreements

Rental agreements are used by owners, managers, and tenants across individual and institutional contexts.

  • Independent landlords managing one or a few properties who need clear payment and maintenance terms.
  • Property management firms that standardize lease terms across portfolios for compliance and accounting.
  • Tenants signing initial or renewal leases who need documentation of move-in condition and payment obligations.

Parties should confirm that signatories have authority to bind the organization and that contact information is accurate for service of notices.

Primary signer and stakeholder profiles

Landlord — Owner

Individual or corporate property owner who sets lease terms, collects rent, enforces covenants, and is responsible for major repairs. Owners must ensure the lease complies with state landlord-tenant law and local housing ordinances.

Property Manager — Agent

Authorized manager or management company that signs on behalf of the owner, handles tenant communications, collects payments, and coordinates maintenance. Confirm written authorization or power of attorney when signing for an owner.

Essential sections to include in a professional Rental Agreement

A complete rental agreement organizes rights and duties into clear sections so both parties can easily find obligations, timelines, and remedies. Include precise language and avoid undefined terms.

Parties

Identify the lessor and lessee by full legal name and business entity type, include contact information, and state who is authorized to sign on each side to avoid disputes over authority and service of notices.

Property Description

Describe the premises with street address, unit number, and any included parking or storage; attach a floor plan or property exhibit when boundaries or exclusive use areas affect tenant rights.

Term and Renewal

State the lease start and end dates, renewal options and notice deadlines, rent escalation mechanics, and automatic renewal conditions to prevent inadvertent tenancy extensions or holdovers.

Rent and Payments

Specify amount, due date, acceptable payment methods, late fees, grace periods, and returned-check handling to document remedies and avoid state usury or fee-limit issues.

Security Deposit

List deposit amount, permitted uses, interest requirements if any, holding account details, and the timeframe and method for return to comply with state-specific security deposit statutes.

Maintenance and Repairs

Allocate responsibility for routine maintenance, emergency repairs, and habitability obligations; include notice and access procedures and consequences for failure to maintain the premises.

Step-by-step: completing a Rental Agreement

Follow a consistent sequence to reduce errors and speed execution when preparing or signing a lease.

  • 01
    Gather IDs: Collect government IDs and business formation documents for all signers.
  • 02
    Confirm Terms: Review rent, term, deposits, and maintenance clauses with all parties.
  • 03
    Insert Dates: Enter effective and move-in dates in MM/DD/YYYY format.
  • 04
    Sign and Distribute: Execute signatures and provide each party with a dated copy and receipt for deposits.

Where to send and store the executed Rental Agreement

Route signed copies to every party and the property record keeper; keep originals accessible for legal or accounting use.

  • Tenant Copy: Provide the tenant a signed copy immediately after execution for their records.
  • Owner/Manager File: Retain the original or master electronic copy in the owner's record system for accounting and disputes.
  • Accounting: Send deposit receipts and rent schedule to the accounting department for ledger posting.
  • Legal Repository: Place the executed agreement in the legal or compliance folder for eviction or litigation needs.

How to set up a repeatable online lease workflow

Design a template-based workflow to standardize leases, collect signatures, and capture an audit trail for each execution.

Field Configuration
Template Create a reusable lease template with locked clauses and fillable tenant fields.
Signing Order Set the signing sequence for owner, manager, and tenant to ensure proper authority.
Authentication Require SMS or email code verification for stronger signer attribution.
Storage Automatically save executed PDFs to the document repository and accounting folder.

Digital signing essentials and document format support

Choose a platform that supports common document formats, robust audit trails, and integrations with your storage or accounting systems.

  • Supported Formats: PDF, Word DOCX, HTML, and Excel templates supported.
  • Integrations: Connectors available for Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace, Box, and Microsoft 365.
  • Audit Trail: Capture timestamps, IP addresses, and signing events for each document.

Ensure the chosen solution offers administrative controls, secure storage, and optional advanced authentication for high-value leases.

Comparing eSignature vendors for signing Rental Agreements

Price and feature needs vary by volume and required compliance. signNow is listed first; compare starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trail, and HIPAA support when evaluating platforms.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial Yes, 7-day trial No No Yes, limited Yes, limited
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Security and compliance considerations for signed Rental Agreements

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit, AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Timestamped events and signer IP
Access Controls: Role-based permissions for documents
Authentication: Email, SMS code, or stronger options
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001 available
HIPAA/BAA: BAA available where health data applies

Common legal risks and penalties to avoid

Security Deposit Violations: May trigger statutory damages
Unenforceable Fees: State law can limit late fees
Improper Notices: Defective notice can delay eviction
Unauthorized Signer: May render agreement voidable
Failure to Disclose: Consumer protection penalties possible
Recordkeeping Lapses: Hampers defense in disputes

Frequent mistakes when preparing a Rental Agreement

  • Using informal or ambiguous language for payment or repair responsibilities that creates disputes over interpretation and enforcement.
  • Failing to verify the signer's authority when a corporate entity signs, which can lead to claims that the contract is not binding.
  • Omitting move-in condition reports or photos, making it difficult to support deductions from the security deposit for damages.
  • Relying on informal email agreements or unsigned documents rather than a fully executed written lease with an audit trail.

Key timelines and processing expectations for leases

Track critical dates in the lease lifecycle to ensure compliance with notice, deposit, and payment obligations.

Move-in / Effective Date:

Lease begins on the effective date entered in MM/DD/YYYY format

Rent Due Date:

Monthly date due as stated in lease; late penalty timing follows state law

Security Deposit Return:

State-dependent; typically ranges from 14–60 days for itemized return

Repair Response:

Reasonable response times expected; emergency repairs prioritized immediately

Notice to Vacate:

Termination notice periods set by lease and state landlord-tenant law

Frequently asked questions about Rental Agreements

Answers to common questions about execution, electronic signatures, notarization, and recordkeeping for leases.


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