Lease Guides
52 articles in this category
Right of first refusal in a lease: what it means for tenants and landlords
A right of first refusal lets a tenant match an outside offer before the owner sells. Here is how notice and matching work, plus a sample clause and timeline.
Service dog and a no-pet policy: what happens?
A no-pet rule usually has to bend for a tenant's service dog. Here is what federal law requires, what Florida and California add, and what a landlord can still charge or ask.
Short-term rental agreement: what to include for stays under 30 days
In Florida and California, stays under 30 days often fall under lodging rules instead of tenant law. Here is what a short-term rental agreement should cover.
Can a landlord refuse cash or require online rent payments?
Most leases can set how rent is paid, but some states limit it. California bans online-only and cash-only rules in most cases, and New York and Colorado require cash receipts.
Rental application denied? What the landlord must tell you
If a screening report played any part in a rental denial, federal law requires an adverse action notice naming the screening company and explaining your right to a free copy and a dispute.
What a landlord cannot do: rules that apply almost everywhere
Discrimination, lockouts, utility shutoffs, retaliation, surprise entry, and unexplained deposit deductions are off limits in nearly every state. Here are the statutes and the penalties that back them up.
Does a lease end when the rental property is sold?
A sale does not cancel a lease. The buyer takes over as landlord, and state notice rules decide when a month-to-month tenancy can end and how showings work.
Keys, locks, and lockouts: who can change them and when
Changing the locks to force a tenant out is illegal in nearly every state. Here is when a landlord may legitimately rekey, when a tenant may, and what to do if you are locked out.
Mid-term rentals: what a 30 to 90 day lease needs to say
A furnished 30 to 90 day stay is usually a tenancy under state law. Here is where states draw the line, when occupancy tax applies, and what the lease should cover.
Automatic renewal clauses in a lease: are they enforceable?
Automatic renewal clauses usually hold up, but New York and Wisconsin require a written reminder from the landlord first. Here is how to draft one and how tenants opt out.
Does a deceased tenant's estate have to pay the rest of the lease?
Unpaid rent after a tenant dies is a debt of the estate, and heirs rarely pay it from their own money. Here is how landlord claims, re-renting, early termination, and cosigners fit together.
Military lease termination: Your rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Qualifying orders let a servicemember end a residential lease early. Who is covered, what the notice must include, when it takes effect, and what comes back.