Blog
Guides, tips, and state-specific information about lease agreements and rental transactions.
How to Replace or Remove a Roommate Mid-Lease
One roommate leaving before the lease ends does not end their liability. Here are the three documents that move a name off a joint lease, and who stays on the hook.
Paul Oak · August 13, 2026 at 1:06 PM ET 
Vermont Lease Agreement Requirements: What Landlords Must Include
Vermont implies a set of landlord and tenant duties into every rental agreement, written or not. Here is what state law already requires and what your written lease still needs to spell out.
Paul Oak · August 12, 2026 at 11:57 AM ET 
Can a Landlord Charge Last Month's Rent Plus a Security Deposit?
Last month's rent and a security deposit are not the same thing, and some states count them together toward a legal cap. Here is how to charge both correctly and write it into the lease.
Paul Oak · August 11, 2026 at 12:02 PM ET 
What to Include in a Lease Agreement: A Complete Checklist
A clause-by-clause checklist of what every solid residential lease needs, from parties and rent to disclosures and signatures, explained in plain language.
Jill Stradley · August 10, 2026 at 12:54 PM ET 
Rent Control and Rent Stabilization: Where It Actually Exists
Rent control exists in far fewer places than most people assume, and most states forbid it outright. Here is where local rent regulation is allowed, where it is preempted, and how stabilization differs from control.
Paul Oak · August 7, 2026 at 11:51 AM ET 
Can a Landlord Show Your Rental While You Still Live There?
A for sale sign in the yard does not suspend your tenancy. Here is how notice rules, allowed hours, and permitted purposes limit showings while you are still living in the unit.
Jill Stradley · August 6, 2026 at 12:33 PM ET 
What Is the Maximum Late Fee in California?
California never prints a maximum late fee. It applies a reasonableness standard instead, and a fee that fails it is not collectible at all. Here is how the test works and how to write a clause that survives it.
Jill Stradley · August 5, 2026 at 11:54 AM ET 
When a Tenant Abandons the Unit: What a Landlord Can and Cannot Do
A quiet unit is not proof of abandonment, and acting too soon can turn a landlord into the wrongdoer. Here is how to tell real abandonment from a tenant who is simply away, and the safe way to reclaim the unit.
Paul Oak · August 4, 2026 at 12:16 PM ET 
Georgia Sublease Agreement: Rules and What to Put in Writing
Georgia tenants hold a usufruct they cannot hand off without the landlord's consent. Here is how consent works, why you stay liable for the rent, and what your sublease has to say.
Jill Stradley · August 3, 2026 at 12:32 PM ET 
Tenant Rights When the Rental Goes Into Foreclosure
When a landlord loses the property to foreclosure, the tenant does not automatically lose the home. A federal law lets most leases survive and guarantees at least 90 days of notice. Here is how it works.
Paul Oak · July 31, 2026 at 1:09 PM ET 
How Much Notice Does a Tenant Have to Give Before Moving Out?
How much notice you owe before moving out depends on your lease type. Here is the difference between month-to-month and fixed-term leases, why written notice matters, and what happens if you leave early.
Jill Stradley · July 29, 2026 at 2:25 PM ET 
24 States Let Your Landlord Charge Any Security Deposit They Want
Half the country sets no legal ceiling on security deposits. We reviewed all 50 states and DC to find where the limit exists, where it does not, and what actually protects you when the law will not.
Paul Oak · July 28, 2026 at 12:32 PM ET 
What Quiet Enjoyment Means and Why It Is in Every Lease
The covenant of quiet enjoyment gives every tenant the right to use their home without unreasonable interference. Here is what it covers and how it is enforced.
Jill Stradley · July 27, 2026 at 11:59 AM ET 
Squatters vs Tenants vs Guests: Who Has Rights and How to Remove Each
A guest, a tenant, and a squatter each carry different legal rights, and the wrong removal method can expose a landlord to real liability. Here is how to tell them apart and the correct path for each.
Jill Stradley · July 24, 2026 at 1:12 PM ET 
How to Evict a Tenant: The Legal Eviction Process, Step by Step
A plain-English walkthrough of the lawful eviction process for landlords: valid grounds, written notice, filing the lawsuit, the hearing, the writ, and the hard rule against self-help.
Paul Oak · July 23, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET 
In 36 States, Your Rent Is Legally Late the Day It Is Due
Most renters assume a grace period is the law. We reviewed all 50 states and DC: only 15 states guarantee one. In the other 36, rent is late the day after it is due unless your lease says otherwise.
Paul Oak · July 22, 2026 at 12:17 PM ET 
What a Move-Out Inspection Should Cover
A thorough move-out inspection protects the deposit refund for both sides. Here is what to check, how to document it against the move-in record, and how to handle deductions fairly.
Paul Oak · July 21, 2026 at 11:39 AM ET 
How Much Can a Sacramento Landlord Legally Increase Your Rent? The City Just Updated the Limit
Sacramento raised its annual rent increase cap to 8.6 percent for 2026 under the Tenant Protection Program. Here is who is covered, how the limit is set, and what landlords may charge.
Jill Stradley · July 20, 2026 at 12:22 PM ET 
What Happens to Your Security Deposit When the Rental Is Sold
When your rental changes owners mid-lease, your deposit does not disappear. Here is how it transfers, what the new owner owes you, and what you should document to protect it.
Paul Oak · July 19, 2026 at 12:53 PM ET 
14 States Owe You Interest on Your Security Deposit, and Most Renters Never Collect It
In 14 states plus DC the law requires your landlord to pay you interest on the deposit they are holding. It is real money, and most tenants walk away without ever asking for it.
Jill Stradley · July 17, 2026 at 11:45 AM ET 
How Much Can I Charge for Rent? A Landlord's Guide to Pricing a Rental
How to set a rent price that fills the unit and covers your costs: local comps, the 1% guideline, HUD Fair Market Rent as a reference, condition adjustments, and rent-control limits.
Paul Oak · July 16, 2026 at 12:08 PM ET 
Sublease vs Assignment: What Is the Difference?
A sublease and an assignment both bring a new person into a rental, but they split liability in very different ways. This guide explains who stays responsible, when landlord consent is needed, and how to choose the right one.
Paul Oak · July 15, 2026 at 12:50 PM ET 
How to Legally Screen a Tenant: What You Can and Cannot Ask
A practical walkthrough of tenant screening that keeps you inside the Fair Housing Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act, from the application to the adverse action notice.
Paul Oak · July 14, 2026 at 12:15 PM ET 
How to Legally Break a Lease Early: A Tenant's Guide
Breaking a lease early is not always a default. Federal and state law protect certain reasons, and many landlords must try to re-rent. Here is how to leave without owing the rest of your lease.
Jill Stradley · July 13, 2026 at 12:12 PM ET 
Illinois Lease Agreement Requirements: What Landlords Must Include
Illinois leases must respect state security deposit laws and required disclosures, and Chicago adds stricter rules of its own. Here is what landlords need to include so a lease holds up.
Jill Stradley · July 10, 2026 at 11:51 AM ET 
South Carolina Lease Agreement Requirements: What to Include
A South Carolina lease is governed by the state Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which sets specific rules for deposits, disclosures, and notice. This guide explains what to include so your lease matches South Carolina law.
Paul Oak · July 9, 2026 at 11:48 AM ET 
Florida Sublease Agreement: What to Include and the Rules
Florida does not give renters an automatic right to sublet, so your lease controls. If the lease requires landlord consent, you need it. Here is what a Florida sublease should include and why you stay responsible.
Jill Stradley · July 8, 2026 at 11:46 AM ET 
New York Sublease Agreement: The Rules Tenants and Landlords Must Know
New York gives many tenants a statutory right to sublease, but that right comes with a precise procedure. This guide explains Real Property Law 226-b, the consent rules, the written request steps, and why the original tenant stays on the hook.
Paul Oak · July 7, 2026 at 11:06 AM ET 
Texas Sublease Agreement: What to Put in Writing
Texas law does not let a tenant sublet on a whim. You generally need your landlord's written consent first, and you stay on the hook for the original lease. Here is what a Texas sublease should spell out.
Jill Stradley · July 6, 2026 at 12:28 PM ET 
Maximum Late Fee by State: How Much Can a Landlord Legally Charge?
There is no single national cap on rent late fees, so what is legal depends almost entirely on your state and your lease. Some states set a hard percentage or dollar limit, many simply require the fee to be reasonable, and most expect a grace period first. Here is how to tell whether the fee on your lease would actually hold up.
Jill Stradley · July 3, 2026 at 12:17 PM ET