Having a written agreement for a landlord and a tenant is usually a must to show what they have decided upon. This agreement will outline what the responsibilities and rights of the tenant and the landlord are and provides a starting point for any disagreements.
However, it is drawn up with the idea of preventing disputes from happening in the first place considering that the parties involved have signed it and should have read it thoroughly before doing so. Having this protection is ideal to ensuring a positive landlord and tenant relationship.
Usually, one will find certain financial information on the written agreement. For example rental fee, due date, late charges, and payment methods are all commonly found on the written agreement. It will also contain information about rent increases and termination policies.
Some written agreements have other inclusions such as rules on parking, pets, smoking, fixtures and appliances, responsibility of repairs, rules on subletting and boarders. Other stipulations include snow clearing or grass cutting and other agreements specific to the property.
Do not forget to include multiple contact methods for both parties. Constant communication is key for a good tenant-landlord relationship to exist.
The best agreements will have a section that deals with how disagreements can be mediated. Things such as late rent and potential eviction will be outlined and methods of resolution covered in this section.
There are actually many sites that have these forms available for free download. When using a ready-made form downloaded online, make sure to modify it according to your location and specific needs.
The rules on landlord and tenant rights will vary from state to state. If there are still doubts upon reading the downloaded form, consult a lawyer.
This writer has been contributing articles on real estate law for the past seven years. Furthermore, the writer is fond of publishing articles on New York real estate, like Tribeca apartments for sale and West Village real estate.
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