Leases & Rental Agreements

Book excerpt: Create a solid, binding lease that complies with your state laws If you rent out residential real estate, you need to create documents that are legally valid where your rental property is located. Every state has its own rules when it comes to what landlords must include in their leases, and generic forms don’t tell you what you need to know. Not only does this book contain instructions on how to tailor your rental documents to your state’s laws, it also gives you customizable versions of key rental forms you need, including: • a fixed-term lease • a month-to-month rental agreement • a rental application • tenant reference and credit check forms • move-in and move-out letters, and • a property inspection checklist. The 15th edition is completely updated to reflect the latest landlord-tenant laws—find out what your state requires regarding security deposits, entry to rental property, disclosures, termination notices, and much more. This new edition also covers topics relevant to today’s landlords, such as cautions about asking for applicants’ criminal history, when you can seek attorneys’ fees, and things to consider when using tenant screening reports.