Who is the lessor and who is the lessee?

These terms identify the primary contract parties, signed as the owner and resident in our form. The lessor is the property owner or landlord, who provides access to housing in exchange for rent. The lessee is the tenant or resident, who pays the rent and lives in the property.

What happens when a lease expires?

Your original fixed contract expires at the end of the lease agreement. Under clause 17, the lease automatically turns month-to-month if no one gives notice. You can enter into a new lease, stay month-to-month, or give 30 days' notice to vacate.

Does a lease agreement need to be notarized to be legal?

No. In most states, residential leases don't need to be notarized to be legal. The document is binding from the moment both sides sign it. It requires mutual consent and consideration — the landlord provides housing in exchange for rent. Local rules usually require a notary only for long-term commercial leases or contracts filed with county records.

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A residential lease agreement form is a rental contract between a landlord and a tenant. Our PDF editor lets you fill out, edit, and sign the printable template in your browser. When finished, you can download or email your document.

What is a lease agreement?

A residential lease agreement is a legal contract that clarifies the rules of a property rental. It sets the terms between an owner (Lessor) and a resident (Lessee). This contract is usually used for renting a flat, a single-family house, or an individual room. Choose a fixed-term lease or a flexible month-to-month contract.

What is a month-to-month lease agreement?

A month-to-month lease agreement is a rental contract with no end date. It will automatically renew at the end of every month. The contract remains in force until either party provides written notice of termination to the other. Usually, it’s a 30-day notice. Select this option directly under the clause 1B TERMS section to establish an ongoing arrangement.

This option includes short-term rentals, temporary moves, or transitional housing. A fixed term locks in the rent for 6-24 months, and a month-to-month tenancy means either side can change the terms or terminate the deal on short notice.

What is a room rental agreement?

A room rental agreement is a separate contract you use to lease a single room within a larger property. This setup is common for co-living arrangements or for renting a bedroom inside an owner's house. It grants the resident exclusive use of a private room.

Since multiple people share the house, this contract adds specific house rules. It describes cleaning chores, guest policies, and noise limits, as well as shared utilities, as a typical room-rental condition.

What does a lease agreement include? Key sections and clauses

When you create a lease agreement, include specific mandatory details to set up a legal rental arrangement. Every standard contract requires the legal names of the owner and resident, property address, and the exact lease start date.

Write a lease agreement that contains these sections:

Terms: the exact monthly rent amount and the calendar due date.
Payments: the first month's payment, payment methods, and initial costs.
Security deposits: the conditions for holding and returning deposits.
Utilities: who pays for specific household services.
Occupants & parking: who can live in the property and vehicle rules.
Noise & condition of premises: behavior rules, and cleanliness expectations.
Termination and attorney fees: explains what it takes to end the contract early, and the cost of a legal battle.
Lead notification: disclosure for Properties Built Before 1978 with Lead-Based Paint.
Signatures: dated signing lines for both parties.

State laws dictate mandatory clauses. Always check your local regulations to ensure full legal compliance for these critical contracts.

Lease agreement template open in the PDFAid editor

Pet policy and pet clause

A pet lease agreement defines whether animals can live on the rental property. Clause 7 PETS of our form states that the resident can keep animals only with the owner's explicit written consent. By giving 30 days' written notice, the property owner can cancel this approval at any time.

Specific restrictions help prevent property damage and limit noise disruptions. Typical pet regulations include:

Additional pet deposit: A separate upfront payment to cover animal-related wear and tear.
Monthly pet fees: Regular charges added to the rent.
Pet Agreement addendum: A document with animal breed, size, and weight limits.
Liability insurance: A requirement for the resident to maintain coverage for potential animal incidents.

Late fees, security deposit, and rent payment terms

Financial terms regulate how and when the tenant pays the landlord. Clear rules protect the owner from missed payments and set strict deadlines.

Our form structures these rules clearly:

Clause 1 terms: the monthly rent amount and the exact due date.
Clause 2 payments: the initial first-month payment and acceptable payment methods (bank transfers or online systems).
Clause 3 security deposits: the schedule for returns, including deductions for cleaning expenses, unpaid rent, or damage.
Clause 4 late charge: according to a late fee rental agreement, if the rent remains unpaid after the grace period expires. This clause also limits the penalty percentage and sets a fixed fee for returned checks.

Late fee restrictions and deposit return schedules are tightly controlled by state laws. These laws vary by state, so check yours to enforce your contract.

How to fill out a lease agreement

Step 1. Write the date when both parties are signing the lease agreement.

Step 2. Enter the personal information of the tenant and the landlord.

Step 3. Describe the property. Give the residence's address, type, and bedroom and bathroom count.

Step 4. Choose the lease type. Enter the required dates, monthly rent amount, and specify the notice period for a monthly setup.

Step 5. Complete the security deposit requirements and initial payment fields in Clauses 2 and 3.

Step 6. Specify utility responsibilities and add additional terms. List the utilities or services the landlord covers. Add any extra rules, restrictions, or agreed terms that apply to the rental.

Step 7. Verify all data fields before you sign.

How to create a lease agreement online

You can upload a lease file or use a template in our online editor. You can modify text, add extra clauses, and save your progress before you enter the tenant's details.

Creating an agreement lets you build a custom document from scratch. Filling out a form simply means entering data into the existing fields. Using our editor, both methods allow you to instantly save and download a lease.

What a completed lease agreement looks like (sample)

Lease agreement example filled out and signed by both parties

How to sign a lease agreement

When a tenant and landlord sign the lease, it is finalized. Both parties execute the document in their designated signature blocks and complete clause 33 receipt of agreement to confirm they received the exact same contract version. Once signed, the landlord can access a copy of the finalized document in their account.

Signing a lease electronically (e-sign)

Open the finalized form: Access your completed document in our online editor.
Apply your signature: Click the signature field to draw your signature or upload a saved digital image.
Send to the other party: Forward the document link directly to the remaining signer to complete the electronic lease agreement.
Download the executed file: Secure your fully signed PDF once both sides complete the online process.

Electronic lease agreements are generally enforceable across the US under the federal ESIGN Act and state-adopted UETA. These laws give the same legal status to digital signatures as to traditional handwritten signatures.

Co-signer and guarantor on a lease

Tenants with bad credit or low income usually need a co-signer. This third party takes on full financial responsibility. They must pay the rent if the primary tenant fails to pay or causes property damage.

To co-sign rental agreement forms, you must add the guarantor directly to the contract. They sign the main lease with the landlord and tenant. Also, they can sign a separate document.

Got questions?

We have answers to the most popular questions from our customers.

These terms are legal synonyms in many US states. However, their precise legal interpretation varies heavily depending on your state laws. Traditionally, a lease applies to a fixed term of six to twelve months, while a rental agreement usually covers a recurring month-to-month setup. They differ in three ways. A lease runs for a fixed term, whereas a rental agreement follows a short-term, recurring monthly cycle. Under a lease, rent and terms are locked for the duration of the contract; under a rental agreement, terms can change at the end of any cycle. A lease is built for long-term stability, a rental agreement for maximum flexibility.

To cancel a lease early, you must have a good reason. Laws in each state are different, so check the ones that apply to you. Common reasons include the landlord breaking the agreement by failing to keep the property safe; military orders, since federal law lets you break the lease without penalties when you receive relocation or deployment orders; property destruction that makes the home unlivable under clause 11; and early written notice, though you may still be required to pay the rent until someone else moves in, under clause 1A.

Oklahoma Basic Rental Agreement Overview - Protecting Landlords and Tenants form preview

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