Duplex Rental Agreement
This Agreement is made this ________________ (date) by and between
________________________ (Name of Lessor) of __________________________________
____________________________ (address) , hereinafter called Lessor , and
_________________________ (Name of Lessee) , of _________________________________
________________________________________ (address) , hereinafter called Lessee .
For and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged,
the parties agree as follows:
1. The Lessor does hereby Lease to Lessee and Lessee does hereby Lease from Lessor,
the following residential Premises , hereinafter called Premises: _________________ (the
north, south, east, or west) of that certain building located at __________________________
____________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code) ,
and numbered (e.g., Apartment No.) _________________________ .
2. Term and Rental
The term of this Lease shall be _________ ( number ) years, to commence on
__________________ (date of commencement of Lease) , and to end on ________________
(date of end of Lease) , at ___________ (time) . Lessee agrees to pay, without demand, to
Lessor as rent for the Premises $_________________ (dollar amount of monthly rent) per
month in advance on the _______________ (ordinal number) day of each calendar month
beginning on _________________ (date of first payment) , at _______________________
_____________________________________ (address of Lessor) , or at such other place as
Lessor may designate.
3. Security Deposit
On execution of this Lease, Lessee shall deposit with Lessor $_____________ (dollar
amount of deposit) , receipt of which is acknowledged by Lessor , as security for the faithful
performance by Lessee of the terms of this Agreement, to be returned to Lessee , without
interest , on the full and faithful performance by Lessee of the provisions of this Agreement.
4. Quiet Enjoyment
Lessor covenants that on paying the rent and performing the covenants contained in this
Agreement, Lessee shall peacefully and quietly have, hold, and enjoy the Premises for the
agreed term.
5. Use of Premises
The Premises shall be used and occupied by Lessee exclusively as a private single-
family residence. Neither the Premises nor any part of the Premises shall be used at any time
during the term of this Lease by Lessee for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession,
or trade of any kind, or for any purpose other than as a private single-family residence. Lessee
shall comply with all the sanitary laws, ordinances, rules, and orders of appropriate
governmental authorities affecting the cleanliness, occupancy, and preservation of the demised
Premises , and the sidewalks connected to the demised Premises , during the term of this Lease.
6. Number of Occupants
Lessee agrees that the Premises shall be occupied by no more than ______ (number)
persons, consisting of ________ (number) adults and ______ (number) children under the age
of ______ (number) years, without the prior, express, and written consent of Lessor .
7. Condition of Premises
Lessee stipulates that he has examined the Premises , including the grounds and all
buildings and improvements, and that they are, at the time of this Lease, in good order, good
repair, safe, clean, and tenantable condition.
8. Assignment and Subletting
Without the prior, express, and written consent of Lessor , Lessee shall not assign this
Lease, or sublet or grant any concession or license to use the Premises or any part of the
Premises . A consent by Lessor to one assignment, subletting, concession, or license shall not
be deemed to be a consent to any subsequent assignment, subletting, concession, or license.
An assignment, subletting, concession, or license without the prior written consent of Lessor , or
an assignment or subletting by operation of law, shall be void and shall, at Lessor 's option,
terminate this Lease.
9. Alterations and Improvements
Lessee shall make no alterations to the buildings on the Premises or construct any
building or make other improvements on the Premises without the prior, express, and written
consent of Lessor . All alterations, changes, and improvements built, constructed, or placed on
the Premises by Lessee , with the exception of fixtures removable without damage to the
Premises and movable personal property, shall, unless otherwise provided by written
Agreement between Lessor and Lessee , be the property of Lessor and remain on the Premises
at the expiration or earlier termination of this Lease.
10. Damage to Premises
If the Premises , or any part of the Premises , shall be partially damaged by fire or other
casualty not due to Lessee 's negligence or willful act or that of Lessee 's employee, family,
agent, or visitor, the Premises shall be promptly repaired by Lessor and there shall be an
abatement of rent corresponding with the time during which, and the extent to which, the
Premises may have been untenantable. However, if the Premises should be damaged other
than by Lessee 's negligence or willful act or that of Lessee 's employee, family, agent, or visitor
to the extent that Lessor shall decide not to rebuild or repair, the term of this Lease shall end
and the rent shall be prorated up to the time of the damage.
11. Dangerous Materials
Lessee shall not keep or have on the Premises any article or thing of a dangerous,
inflammable, or explosive character that might unreasonably increase the danger of fire on the
Premises or that might be considered hazardous by any responsible insurance company.
12. Utilities
Lessee shall be responsible for arranging and paying for all utility services required on
the Premises , except that water and garbage service shall be provided by Lessor .
13. Maintenance and Repair
Lessee will, at his sole expense, keep and maintain the Premises and appurtenances in
good and sanitary condition and repair during the term of this Lease and any renewal of this
Lease. In particular, Lessee shall keep the fixtures in the house or on or about the Premises in
good order and repair; keep the furnace clean; and keep the walks free from dirt and debris.
Lessee shall, at Lessee 's sole expense, make all required repairs to the plumbing, range,
heating apparatus, and electric and gas fixtures whenever damage to such items shall have
resulted from Lessee 's misuse, waste, or neglect or that of Lessee 's employee, family, agent, or
visitor. Major maintenance and repair of the Premises (the cost of which exceed $_________)
not due to Lessee 's misuse, waste, or neglect or that of Lessee 's employee, family, agent, or
visitor, shall be the responsibility of Lessor. Lessee agrees that no signs shall be placed or
painting done on or about the Premises by Lessee or at Lessee 's direction without the prior,
express and written consent of Lessor .
14. Animals
Lessee shall keep no domestic or other animals on or about the Premises without the
prior, express, and written consent of Lessor .
15. Right of Inspection
Lessor shall have the right at all reasonable times during the term of this Lease and any
renewal of this Lease to enter the Premises for the purpose of inspecting the Premises and all
building and improvements on the Premises .
16. Display of Signs
During the last _______ (number) days of this Lease, Lessor shall have the privilege of
displaying the usual For Sale or For Rent or Vacancy signs on the Premises and of showing the
property to prospective purchasers or tenants.
17. Subordination of Lease
This Lease and Lessee 's Leasehold interest under this Lease are and shall be subject,
subordinate, and inferior to any liens or encumbrances now or later placed on the Premises by
Lessor , all advances made under any such liens or encumbrances, the interest payable on any
such liens or encumbrances, and any and all renewals or extensions of such liens or
encumbrances.
18. Holdover by Lessee
Should Lessee remain in possession of the Premises with the consent of Lessor after
the natural expiration of this Lease, a new tenancy from month-to-month shall be created
between Lessor and Lessee which shall be subject to all the terms and conditions of this Lease
Agreement but shall be terminable on ______ (number) days' written notice served by either
Lessor or Lessee on the other party.
19. Surrender of Premises
At the expiration of the Lease term, Lessee shall quit and surrender the Premises in as
good a state and condition as they were at the commencement of this Lease, reasonable use,
and wear and damages by the elements excepted.
20. Default
If any default is made in the payment of rent, or any part of the rent, at the times
specified in this Lease, or if any default is made in the performance of or compliance with any
other term or condition of this Lease, the Lease, at the option of Lessor , shall terminate and be
forfeited, and Lessor may reenter the Premises and remove all persons from the Premises .
Lessee shall be given written notice of any default or breach. Termination and forfeiture of the
Lease shall not result if, within _______ (number) days of receipt of the notice, Lessee has
corrected the default or breach or has taken action reasonably likely to affect such correction
within a reasonable time.
21. Abandonment
If at any time during the term of this Lease Lessee abandons the Premises or any part of
the Premises , Lessor may, at his option, enter the Premises by any means without being liable
for any prosecution for such entering, and without becoming liable to Lessee for damages or for
any payment of any kind whatever, and may, at Lessor 's discretion, as agent for Lessee , relet
the Premises , or any part of the Premises , for the whole or any part of the then unexpired term,
and may receive and collect all rent payable by virtue of such reletting, and, at Lessor 's option,
hold Lessee liable for any difference between the rent that would have been payable under this
Lease during the balance of the unexpired term, if this Lease had continued in force, and the net
rent for such period realized by Lessor by means of the reletting. If Lessor 's right of reentry is
exercised following abandonment of the Premises by Lessee , then Lessor may consider any
personal property belonging to Lessee and left on the Premises to also have been abandoned,
in which case Lessor may dispose of all such personal property in any manner Lessor shall
deem proper and is relieved of all liability for doing so.
22. Attorneys’ Fees
If any action is filed in relation to this Lease Agreement, the unsuccessful party in the
action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the sums that either party may be
called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the attorney's fees of the successful party.
23. The invalidity of any portion of this Agreement will not and shall not be deemed to affect
the validity of any other provision. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, the
parties agree that the remaining provisions shall be deemed to be in full force and effect as if
they had been executed by both parties subsequent to the expungement of the invalid provision.
24. The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist upon the performance of any of the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, or the waiver of any breach of any of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as subsequently waiving any such terms
and conditions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect as if no such
forbearance or waiver had occurred.
25. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the
laws of the State of _____________.
26. Any notice provided for or concerning this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed sufficiently given when sent by certified or registered mail if sent to the respective
address of each party as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement.
27. Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding arbitration
of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each party shall select one
arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third arbitrator so selected shall
arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by the rules of the American Arbitration
Association then in force and effect.
28. This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and any prior
understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this Agreement shall not be
binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in this Agreement.
29. Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in
connection with this Agreement shall be binding only if placed in writing and signed by each
party or an authorized representative of each party.
30. The rights of each party under this Agreement are personal to that party and may not be
assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity without the prior,
express, and written consent of the other party.
31. In this Agreement, any reference to a party includes that party's heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, singular includes plural and masculine includes
feminine.
WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.
________________________ _________________________
(P rinted name) (P rinted name)
________________________ _________________________
(Signature of Lessor) (Signature of Lessee)