An apartment lease should include some basic terms and conditions the landlord and tenant can agree on before the tenant moves into the apartment. Many of these are obvious: for example, the term of the lease, the amount of rent, when rent is due and the like. However, neither party should feel limited to these basic issues. If unusual issues are apparent from the beginning, the lease can be a useful tool for memorializing the agreement reached between the landlord and tenant.
Instructions
1. Agree on terms and conditions. A tenant who is happy with the lease from the outset is much more likely to stay in an apartment than a tenant who is not. Losing tenants costs landlords money. So, where possible, work through the items that are important to you as a landlord and to your potential tenant as early as possible.
2. Review model residential leases. Many apartment leases are available online, and sometimes apartment complexes will give you a copy of the model lease that they use. Often, these sample leases will have useful language and may address issues that you have not considered. Apartments have been leased to tenants for many years, so there is plenty of insight to be gained from others' experiences.
3. Draft the lease. Using the terms and conditions reached with the tenant, the lease should be drafted as simply and clearly as possible. Where applicable, include language and provisions from other leases that you have reviewed.
4. Communicate with the potential tenant. Provide the tenant with a draft, preferably via email, with the opportunity to comment and to ask questions. By communicating via email, a written document trail regarding the lease exists should a disagreement arise later.
