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Rental / Lease Agreement Template

A lease agreement is a legal document between a landlord who rents property to a tenant in exchange for payment. Both parties must fulfill their responsibilities until the end of the rental period. The first month's rent and security deposit must be paid before the tenant can take occupancy.
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Updated April 03, 2025

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By State

By Type (15)

Standard Lease

1-Page

Commercial

Condominium

Equipment

Family Member

Hunting (Land)

Month-to-Month

Parking Space

Rent-to-Own

Roommate

Storage Space

Sublease

Vacation (short-term)

Weekly

The Leasing Process (8 steps)

1. Tenant Views the Space

landlord giving tour of property to potential tenants

The tenant’s first step in the leasing process is viewing the space. This is commonly after viewing pictures of the property on a website where it was listed.

2. Obtain a Rental Application

tenants signing rental application with landlord present

Before an offer is accepted, the landlord usually requests a tenant to complete a rental application and pay a small fee (view maximum fees by state). The most common fee was $50 in 2023.[6]

3. Screen the Applicant

landlord running credit check on tenants

Use the rental application to run a consumer report. This includes running a credit report and searching public records (eviction search, background check, etc.).

4. Verify References

landlord calling potential tenant's references

The applicant’s employer and previous landlords should be contacted. This offers insight into the applicant’s character and if they pay their rent on time.

Questions to Ask a Previous Landlord

  • Was rent paid on time during the tenancy?
  • Did the tenant violate the lease?
  • What was the reason for leaving the property?
  • Was there damage made on the property?
  • Would you re-rent to the tenant again?

5. Negotiate the Lease

landlord reviewing rental agreement with new tenants

Once a tenant is approved, the parties will begin negotiating the rental terms. If the tenant is a creditworthy individual, they may be able to get a better deal due to their financial status.

6. Lease Signing

landlord handing keys over to new tenants

When both parties sign the lease it becomes legally binding until the end of its term. The most common ways to sign are in-person or electronically.

Required at Lease Signing

  • First month’s rent
  • Security deposit
  • Identification

7. Taking Occupancy

new tenants exploring new rental space

After signing the lease and making initial payments, the tenant should be given access to the property at the start of the lease term. Generally, a tenant cannot move into the property unless they have made an additional payment.

Inspecting the Property

To protect the security deposit, it is recommended that the tenant complete a move-in inspection form and note any existing property damage. In 2023, only 42% of tenants said they got fully refunded on their security deposit.[7]

8. End of Tenancy

landlord contemplating whether to renew lease

The landlord will inform the tenant of their intention to renew or terminate the lease between 30 and 90 days before the end of the tenancy. If the landlord terminates the lease, the tenant’s security deposit will be returned after move-out.

Landlord-Tenant Laws

Security Deposit Laws
State Maximum ($)
 Returning
 Statute
 Alabama 1 month’s rent 60 days after the termination date and delivery of possession § 35-9A-201(a), 35-9A-201(b)
 Alaska 2 months’ rent, except for units renting for more than $2,000 14 days if the tenant leaves on-time, 30 days if not § 34.03.070(a), § 34.03.070(g)
 Arizona 1.5 months’ rent 14 days from move-out inspection (excl. weekends and holidays) § 33-1321
 Arkansas 2 months’ rent 60 days from termination of tenancy § 18-16-304, § 18-16-305
 California 1 month’s rent 21 days from the move-out date 1950.5
 Colorado 2 months’ rent (excluding pet deposits) 1 month if mentioned in the lease, 2 months if not C.R.S. § 38-12-102.5

§ 38-12-103
 Connecticut 1 month’s rent is 62 years or older, 2 months’ rent if younger 21 days from the move-out date or 15 days from receiving the tenant’s new address § 47a-21
 Delaware 1 month’s rent for leases of one year or more. No limit on all others types 20 days from the termination date Title 25 § 5514
 Florida No limit 30 days if deductions, 15 days if no deductions § 83.49(3)(a)
 Georgia 2 months’ rent 30 days from the termination date § 44-7-30.1

§ 44-7-34
 Hawaii 1 month’s rent (excluding pet fee) 14 days from the termination date  § 521-44
 Idaho No limit 30 days if stated in the lease, 21 days if not § 6-321
 Illinois No limit 30 days if deductions, 45 days if no deductions 765 ILCS 710
 Indiana No limit 45 days from the termination date § 32-31-3-12
 Iowa 2 months’ rent 30 days after the tenant has vacated § 562A.12
 Kansas 1 month’s rent (unfurnished), 1.5 months’ rent (furnished) 14 days after making deductions or 30 days from the termination date § 58-2550
 Kentucky No limit 60 days from the lease termination date § 383.580(6)
 Louisiana No limit 1 month from the termination date Revised Statute 9:3251
 Maine 2 months’ rent 30 days if the lease is fixed-period, 21 days if tenancy-at-will § 6032, § 6033
 Maryland 1 month’s rent 45 days from the termination date § 8–203
 Massachusetts 1 month’s rent 30 days after the tenant has vacated Chapter 186, Section 15B
 Michigan 1.5 months’ rent 30 days from the end of occupancy § 554.602, § 554.609
 Minnesota No limit 3 weeks from the termination date § 504B.178
 Mississippi No limit 45 days from the end of tenancy § 89-8-21
 Missouri 2 months’ rent 30 days from the termination of tenancy § 535.300
 Montana No limit 30 days if deductions, 10 days if no deductions § 70-25-202
 Nebraska 1 month’s rent (excluding pet fee) 14 days of move-out § 76-1416
 Nevada 3 months’ rent 30 days from the end of tenancy NRS 118A.242
 New Hampshire 1 month’s rent or $100, whichever is greater 30 days, 20 days if the property is shared with the landlord RSA 540-A:6, RSA 540-A:7
 New Jersey 1.5 months’ rent 30 days from the termination date § 46:8-21.2, § 46:8-21.1
 New Mexico 1 month’s rent for leases under one year. No limit for residential leases of one year or more 30 days from the termination date § 47-8-18
 New York 1 month’s rent unless the deposit or advance is for a seasonal use dwelling unit 14 days after the tenant has vacated Emergency Tenant Protection Act 576/74(f), § 7-108 (e)
 North Carolina 2 months’ rent for tenancies of more than 2 months; 1.5 months’ rent for month-to-month tenancies 30 days if no deductions, if deductions then an additional 30 days § 42-51, § 42-52
 North Dakota 1 month’s rent (excluding pet deposits) 30 days from the termination date § 47-16-07.1
 Ohio No limit 30 days from the termination date § 5321.16
 Oklahoma No limit 45 days from the termination date § 41-115(B)
 Oregon No limit 31 days from the termination date § 90.300
 Pennsylvania 2 months’ rent 30 days from the termination date § 250.511a, § 250.512
 Rhode Island 1 month’s rent 20 days from the termination date § 34-18-19
 South Carolina No limit 30 days from the termination date § 27-40-410
 South Dakota 1 month’s rent 14 days if no deductions, 45 days if deductions § 43-32-6.1, § 43-32-24
 Tennessee No limit 30 days from the termination date § 66-28-301
 Texas No limit 30 days after the tenant has vacated § 92.103
 Utah No limit 30 days from the termination date § 57-17-3
 Vermont No limit 14 days, 60 days if a seasonal property § 4461
 Virginia 2 months’ rent 45 days from the termination date or the date the tenant vacates the dwelling unit, whichever occurs last § 55.1-1226(A)
 Washington No limit 30 days from tenant’s move-out date § 59.18.280
West Virginia No limit 60 days after tenancy ends or 45 days after another tenant moves in, whichever shorter § 37-6A-2
 Wisconsin No limit 21 days from tenant’s vacancy date § 134.06
 Wyoming No limit 30 days from lease termination or 15 days from receiving the tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is lesser § 1-21-1208(A)

Landlord's Access
State Required Notice Statute
 Alabama 2 days § 35-9A-303
 Alaska 24 hours § 34.03.140
 Arizona 48 hours  § 33-1343
 Arkansas N/A N/A
 California 24 for non-emergency, 48 hours for the move-out inspection § 1954
 Colorado *N/A *N/A
 Connecticut Reasonable notice § 47a-16
 Delaware 48 hours Title 25 § 5509
 Florida 24 hours § 83.53
 Georgia *N/A *N/A
 Hawaii 2 days § 521-53
 Idaho *N/A *N/A
 Illinois *N/A *N/A
 Indiana Reasonable notice § 32-31-5-6
 Iowa 24 hours § 562A.19
 Kansas Reasonable notice § 58-2557
 Kentucky 2 days § 383.615
 Louisiana *N/A *N/A
 Maine 24 hours § 6025
 Maryland *N/A *N/A
 Massachusetts Reasonable notice Sanitary Code (410.810)
 Michigan *N/A *N/A
 Minnesota “Reasonable notice” of no less than 24 hours § 504B.211
 Mississippi *N/A *N/A
 Missouri *N/A *N/A
 Montana 24 hours § 70-24-312
 Nebraska 24 hours § 76-1423
 Nevada 24 hours NRS 118A.330
 New Hampshire Reasonable notice RSA 540-A:3
 New Jersey 1 day § 5:10-5.1
 New Mexico 24 hours § 47-8-24
 New York *N/A *N/A
 North Carolina *N/A *N/A
 North Dakota Reasonable notice § 47-16-07.3
 Ohio 24 hours § 5321.04
 Oklahoma 1 day § 41-128
 Oregon 24 hours § 90.322
 Pennsylvania *N/A *N/A
 Rhode Island 2 days § 34-18-26
 South Carolina 24 hours § 27-40-530
 South Dakota 24 hours § 43-32-32
 Tennessee 24 hours § 66-28-403
 Texas *N/A *N/A
 Utah 24 hours § 57-22-4
 Vermont 48 hours § 4460
 Virginia 24 hours § 55.1-1229(A)
 Washington 2 days for repairs, 1 day for showings § 59.18.150
West Virginia *N/A *N/A
 Wisconsin Advance Notice § 704.05(2)
 Wyoming *N/A *N/A

When is Rent Due? (grace periods)
State When is Rent Due? Laws
 Alabama On the due date (no grace period) § 35-9A-161(c)
 Alaska On the due date (no grace period) AS 34.03.020(c)
 Arizona On the due date (no grace period) ARS 33-1314(c)
 Arkansas On the due date in the lease, but there is a 5-day grace period before a late fee may be imposed § 18-17-401(b)(1), § 18-17-701(b)
 California On the due date (no grace period) CIV Code 1947
 Colorado Not defined, but there is a 7-day grace period before a late fee may be imposed C.R.S. § 38-12-105
 Connecticut 9-day grace period. § 47a-3a(a), § 47a-15a
 Delaware On the due date in the lease, but there is a 5-day grace period before a late fee may be imposed Title 25, § 5501(b), Title 25, § 5501(d)
 Florida On the due date (no grace period) § 83.46(1)
 Georgia Not defined No statute
 Hawaii On the due date (no grace period) § 521-21(b)
 Idaho Not defined No statute
 Illinois Not defined No statute
 Indiana Not defined No statute
 Iowa On the due date (no grace period) 562A.9(3)
 Kansas On the due date (no grace period) § 58-2545(c)
 Kentucky On the due date (no grace period) § 383.565(2)
 Louisiana On the due date (no grace period) La. Civ. Code art. 2703(1)
 Maine 15-day grace period Chapter 710, §6028(1)
 Maryland On the due date (no grace period) § 8-401(a)
 Massachusetts 30-day grace period. Chapter 186, Section 15B(1)(c)
 Michigan On the due date (no grace period) § 554.131
 Minnesota Not defined No statute
 Mississippi Not defined No statute
 Missouri On the due date (no grace period) Rev. § 535.060
 Montana On the due date (no grace period) § 70-24-201(2)(c)
 Nebraska On the due date (no grace period) § 76-1414(3)
 Nevada On the due date (no grace period) NRS 118A.210(1)
 New Hampshire Not defined No statute
 New Jersey 5 business day grace period § 2A:42-6.1(1)
 New Mexico On the due date (no grace period) § 47-8-15(B)
 New York 5-day grace period Housing Stability and Tenant Protection act of 2019
 North Carolina 4-day grace period § 42-46(a)
 North Dakota Not defined No statute
 Ohio Not defined No statute
 Oklahoma On the due date (no grace period) § 41-109(B)
 Oregon On the due date in the lease, but there is a 4-day grace period before a late fee may be imposed

§ ORS 90.220(7)(a), ORS 90.260(1)(a)
 Pennsylvania Not defined No statute
 Rhode Island On the due date (no grace period) § 34-18-15(c)
 South Carolina On the due date (no grace period) § 27-40-310(c)
 South Dakota Not defined No statute
 Tennessee On the due date in the lease, but there is a 5-day grace period before a late fee may be imposed § 66-28-201(c), § 66-28-201(d)
 Texas Not defined No statute
 Utah Not defined No statute
 Vermont On the due date (no grace period) 9 V.S.A. § 4455
 Virginia On the due date in the lease, but there is a 5-day grace period before a late fee may be imposed § 55.1-1204(C)(4), § 55.1-1204(C)(5) 
 Washington 5-day grace period RCW 59.18.170
West Virginia Not defined No statute
 Wisconsin Not defined No statute
 Wyoming Not defined No statute

Maximum Late Fees
State Late Rent Fees (maximum allowed) Laws
 Alabama Not defined No statute
 Alaska Not defined No statute
 Arizona No maximum, although it must be stated in the lease. ARS 33-1368(B)
 Arkansas Not defined No statute
 California Must be a “good faith estimate of the damages likely to be suffered by the landlord in the case of a late payment.” Also, the late fee must be written in the lease. Orozco v. Casimiro, 121 Cal. App.4th Supp. 7 (2004), CIV Code 1962
 Colorado $50.00 or 5% of past due rent C.R.S. § 38-12-105
 Connecticut Not defined No statute
 Delaware 5% of the monthly rent amount Title 25, § 5501(d)
 Florida Not defined No statute
 Georgia “All contracts for rent shall bear interest from the time the rent is due”

Ga. Code § 44-7-16
 Hawaii 8% of the monthly rent amount § 521-21(f)
 Idaho Not defined No statute
 Illinois Outside Chicago – Not defined

Chicago only – $10.00 per month for the first $500.00 in monthly rent plus five percent per month for any amount in excess of $500.00 in monthly rent for the late payment of rent.

 No statute

5-12-140(h)
 Indiana Not defined No statute
 Iowa If the rent does not exceed $700/month, the late fee cannot exceed more than $12/day per day or $60/month.

If the rent is greater than $700/month, the late cannot exceed more than $20/day or $100/month.

 562A.9(4)
 Kansas Not defined No statute
 Kentucky Not defined No statute
 Louisiana Not defined No statute
 Maine 4% of the monthly rent amount Chapter 710, §6028(2)
 Maryland 5% of the monthly rent amount Md. Code, Real. Prop. § 8-208(d)(3)
 Massachusetts Not defined No statute
 Michigan Not defined No statute
 Minnesota 8% of the monthly rent amount

504B.177(a)
 Mississippi Not defined No statute
 Missouri Not defined No statute
 Montana Not defined No statute
 Nebraska Not defined No statute
 Nevada 5% of the monthly rent amount NRS 118A.210(4)(a)
 New Hampshire No defined No statute
 New Jersey Outside Jersey City – Not defined

Jersey City only – $35

 No sstatute

Ord. 20-036
 New Mexico 10% of the monthly rent amount § 47-8-15(B)
 New York $50 or 5% of the monthly rent amount, whichever is less Housing Stability and Tenant Protection act of 2019
 North Carolina $15 or 5% of the monthly rent amount, whichever is greater. § 42-46(a)(1)
 North Dakota Not defined No statute
 Ohio Not defined No statute
 Oklahoma Not defined No statute
 Oregon 5% of the monthly rent amount, charged once for each succeeding 5-day period ORS 90.260(2)(c)
 Pennsylvania Not defined No statute
 Rhode Island Not defined No statute
 South Carolina Not defined No statute
 South Dakota Not defined No statute
 Tennessee 10% of the monthly rent amount § 66-28-201(d)
 Texas
12% of the monthly rent amount if located in a building with 4 units or under or
10% of the monthly rent amount if located in a building with more than 4 units
 Sec. 92.019(1)
 Utah Not defined No statute
 Vermont Not defined No statute
 Virginia 10% of the monthly rent amount § 55.1-1204(E)
 Washington Not defined No statute
West Virginia Not defined No statute
 Wisconsin Not defined No statute
 Wyoming Not defined No statute

Sources

  1. 2022 BLS Housing Study (1st slide)
  2. FRED (Economic Data) – Total Households
  3. 2022 BLS Housing Study (2nd slide)
  4. Moody’s – Key Takeaways from the 4th Quarter Housing Affordability Update
  5. Results from the Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report 2023
  6. Results from the Zillow Consumer Housing Trends Report 2023
  7. Zillow – Consumer Housing Trends Report 2024 (Page 30)