Establishing secure connection…Loading editor…Preparing document…

General Tenancy Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

General tenancy agreement (Form 18a)

Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008

Part 1 Tenancy details

Item 1.1 Lessor

Name/trading name

Address

Phone

Mobile

Email

Item 2.1 Tenant/s

1. Full name/s

Phone

Email

Emergency contact full name/s

Emergency contact phone

Emergency contact email

2. Full name/s

Phone

Email

Emergency contact full name/s

Emergency contact phone

Emergency contact email

3. Full name/s

Phone

Email

Emergency contact full name/s

Emergency contact phone

Emergency contact email

2.2 Address for service (if different from address of the premises in item 5.1)

Item 3.1 Agent If applicable. See clause 43

Full name/trading name

Address

Phone

Mobile

Email

Item 4 Notices may be given to

4.1 Lessor

Email Yes No Facsimile Yes No

4.2 Tenant/s

Email Yes No Facsimile Yes No

4.3 Agent

Email Yes No Facsimile Yes No

Item 5

5.1 Address of the rental premises

5.2 Inclusions provided

5.3 Details of current repair orders for the rental premises or inclusions

Item 6

6.1 The term of the agreement is

fixed term agreement periodic agreement

6.2 Starting on

6.3 Ending on

Item 7 Rent

per week fortnight month

Item 8 Rent must be paid on the day of each

Item 9 Methods of rent payment

Details for direct credit

BSB no.

Bank/building society/credit union

Account no.

Account name

Payment reference

Item 10 Place of rent payment

Item 10a Day of last rent increase

Item 11 Rental bond amount

Item 12 Services supplied to the premises for which the tenant must pay

Electricity Yes No

Gas Yes No

Phone Yes No

Any other service that a tenant must pay Yes No

Type

12.2 Is the tenant to pay for water supplied to the premises

Yes No

Item 13 Apportionment of service cost if not individually metered

Item 14 How services must be paid for

Item 15 Number of persons allowed to reside at the premises

Item 16 Body corporate by-laws

16.1 Are there any body corporate by-laws applicable?

Yes No

16.2 Has the tenant been given a copy of the relevant by-laws

Yes No

Item 17 Pets approved by the lessor

Item 18.1 Nominated repairers

18.2 Are the nominated repairers the tenant’s first point of contact for notifying the need for emergency repairs?

Yes No – please provide lessor contact details below

Name

Phone

Part 2 Standard Terms

This section contains the standard terms from the agreement. No additional form fields are required on the pages containing clauses 1 to 44, except the special terms and signatures on page 11.

Part 3 Special terms

Insert any special terms here and/or attach a separate list if required. See clause 2(3) to 2(5)

The tenant/s must receive a copy of the information statement (Form 17a) and a copy of any applicable by-laws if copies have not previously been given to the tenant/s. Do not send to the RTA—give this form to the tenant/s, keep a copy for your records.

Other languages: You can access a free interpreter service by calling the RTA on 1300 366 311 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm).

Signature of lessor/agent

Name/trading name

Signature

Date

Signature of tenant 1

Print name

Signature

Date

Signature of tenant 2

Print name

Signature

Date

Signature of tenant 3

Print name

Signature

Date

Enter text✕
Prepare your document for signing right on this page
  • 01 Edit the text and complete the fields
  • 02 Click Sign Now and on the next screen add recipients and signature fields in SignNow
  • 03 Start your free trial to sign and send your doc
Sign Now

What a General Tenancy Agreement Is and when it applies

A General Tenancy Agreement is a written contract that sets the terms under which a landlord grants a tenant the right to occupy residential or commercial premises. It records parties, premises, term, rent, security deposit, permitted uses, maintenance responsibilities, utilities allocation, and default remedies. Properly executed, a tenancy agreement clarifies expectations, reduces disputes, and forms the baseline for lawful eviction or collection actions. Electronic versions executed under ESIGN or state UETA-equivalent rules are generally enforceable in interstate and intrastate transactions when intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

Why a clear General Tenancy Agreement matters

A clearly drafted tenancy agreement reduces ambiguity about rent, term, and maintenance, limits landlord and tenant disputes, and provides documentary evidence needed for legal remedies. It also supports compliance with state security-deposit, habitability, and notice rules.

Why a clear General Tenancy Agreement matters

Who typically completes and signs a General Tenancy Agreement

The agreement is completed by landlords, property managers, and tenants, often with assistance from brokers or attorneys when state rules are complex.

Third parties such as guarantors, co-signers, or insurance providers may also sign or receive copies when their obligations are referenced in the agreement.

Step-by-step: filling out a General Tenancy Agreement

Follow these core steps to complete a straightforward, enforceable tenancy agreement.

  • 01
    1. Identify parties: Enter full legal names exactly as on ID.
  • 02
    2. Describe premises: Include full street address, unit number, and parking/storage details.
  • 03
    3. Set term: Specify start and end dates or periodic tenancy details.
  • 04
    4. State rent terms: List rent amount, due date, late fees, and payment method.

Common questions and answers about General Tenancy Agreements

Answers address frequent execution, delivery, and enforceability questions that arise when landlords and tenants sign tenancy agreements.


Need help? Contact support

Key fields every General Tenancy Agreement must include

Parties: Landlord and tenant names
Premises: Full street address
Term: Start and end dates
Rent: Amount and due date
Deposit: Amount and return terms
Signatures: All parties and dates

Potential risks and legal consequences of errors

Unenforceable clause: State-law invalidation
Late notice issues: Eviction delays
Deposit mishandling: Statutory damages
Name mismatches: Service problems
Improper disclosures: Penalties or fines
Wrong venue: Jurisdictional challenges

Frequent preparation mistakes to avoid

  • Leaving payment methods vague — list acceptable methods and remittance instructions to prevent disputes over payment timing.
  • Failing to state utility responsibilities — specify which utilities tenant pays and how billing or meter splits are handled.
  • Using generic late-fee language that violates state caps — confirm late fee amounts comply with local consumer or rent-control laws.
  • Omitting move-in condition documentation — attach a signed move-in checklist or photos to reduce deposit disputes.

Essential components of a professional General Tenancy Agreement

A professional tenancy agreement combines clear legal terms with practical details that landlords and tenants need to manage occupancy and end-of-term processes.

Parties & Contact

Full legal names, mailing addresses, emergency contact and agent for service, plus landlord or property manager contact details.

Premises Description

Exact street address, unit number, included parking or storage spaces, and any restricted areas or common-space rules.

Term and Renewal

Fixed-term or periodic tenancy specification, renewal options, automatic renewal checkbox, and early-termination penalties if applicable.

Rent & Charges

Monthly rent, security deposit, permitted late fees, returned-check fee, payment methods, and utility allocation.

Maintenance & Repairs

Tenant and landlord responsibilities, notice procedures for repairs, and procedures for emergency maintenance and habitability claims.

Default Remedies

Cure periods, eviction notice process, attorney fees allocation, and any agreed dispute resolution mechanism such as arbitration.

Typical execution and delivery flow for a tenancy agreement

The agreement lifecycle follows a clear sequence from creation to signed retention; digital workflows often mirror the paper process with improved tracking.

  • Drafting: Prepare template with core fields and state-specific disclosures.
  • Review: Parties review terms; clarify ambiguous clauses.
  • Signing: Execute via wet signature or compliant e-signature.
  • Distribution: Provide executed copies to all signers and preserve audit trail.

Configuring an online completion workflow

When setting up an online template, configure authentication, conditional fields, reminders, and retention to match the agreement's risk profile.

Field Configuration
Signer Authentication Email plus optional SMS code for higher assurance
Conditional Fields Show rent-proration only for mid-month move-ins
Reminders Auto-reminders 5 days before rent due
Retention Export Export signed PDF/A and save audit trail

Technical considerations for digital signing and e-submission

Choose a platform that supports secure PDFs, audit trails, and the authentication level your jurisdiction or business requires.

  • File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
  • Integrations: Works with Google Workspace, NetSuite
  • Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Confirm the provider supports ESIGN/UETA compliance, optional advanced signer authentication (SMS, KBA), audit-trail export, and long-term storage formats such as PDF/A before relying on electronic execution.

Key timing items and notice periods to track

Time-sensitive items in tenancy management drive compliance and dispute timelines; document and calendar each deadline.

Rent Due Date:

Specify monthly due date and grace period in the agreement.

Termination Notice:

Notice periods vary by state and tenancy type; typical ranges are 30–60 days.

Security Deposit Return:

State deadlines commonly 14–60 days after lease end; follow local statute.

Repair Response Times:

Define landlord response expectations for emergencies versus routine requests.

Renewal Notification:

Specify how far in advance a renewal or nonrenewal notice must be given.

Comparing a fixed-term lease to a periodic tenancy

Use this quick comparison to choose the appropriate tenancy form for your situation.

Criteria Fixed-Term Lease Periodic Tenancy
Written Required recommended optional
Notarization not required not required
Termination Notice ends on date typically 30 days
Typical Duration 6–12+ months month-to-month

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot relevant to tenancy agreements

Comparison shows typical starting prices and common features; pick a provider whose authentication and retention meet your legal and operational needs.

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 Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No envelope cap 100 envelopes/user/year No cap No cap No cap

Key milestones from listing to move-out

Track these numbered milestones to ensure obligations, move-in documentation, and notice windows are handled on time.

01

Listing and Application

Tenant submits application and supporting documents for screening.

02

Lease Execution

Parties sign the tenancy agreement and exchange deposits and keys.

03

Occupancy Start

Tenant takes possession; record move-in condition and meter readings.

04

End-of-Term Move-Out

Conduct inspection, document charges, and return security deposit per state law.

Explore Templates

Lead Based Paint Disclosure Form Satisfaction Release Form 30-Day Notice Agreement to Terminate Lease Residential Lease Application
be ready to get more
Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users
Sign Now
Company
Forms
Pricing
Resources
Knowledge base
Other Products
© 2026 airSlate Inc. All rights reserved.