Lease Guides
52 articles in this category
Can a landlord refuse to renew your lease?
In most states a landlord may decline to renew a lease for any reason or none. Fair housing law, retaliation statutes, and a handful of just cause jurisdictions draw the lines.
Holdover tenants: What happens when you stay past the lease end
Staying past your lease end makes you a holdover tenant. Depending on the state, the tenancy can convert to month-to-month or trigger an eviction. Here is how it works.
How fast can you be evicted? Nonpayment notice periods in all 50 states
The pay-or-quit notice period for unpaid rent ranges from three days to thirty across the states. Here is the full 50-state map and what the clock really covers.
Breaking a lease as a domestic violence survivor: Your legal protections
Most states let a domestic violence survivor end a lease early with the right documentation and notice. Here is how the protection works and where to find help.
Adding a roommate: Sublease, lease addendum, or a new lease?
Adding a roommate can be done three ways, and each one changes who is legally on the hook for the rent. Here is how a sublease, a lease addendum, and a brand new lease compare.
Lease vs Rental Agreement: Are They the Same Thing?
A lease and a rental agreement often mean two different things. Here is the real difference, what changes for each side, and which one to use.
Normal Wear and Tear vs Damage: What a Landlord Can Legally Deduct
The line between normal wear and tear and tenant damage decides most security deposit disputes. Here is how to tell them apart, room by room, and what a landlord may legally deduct.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Can You Have Two Tenants on One Lease? Joint and Several Liability Explained
When roommates sign one lease, a phrase most of them never notice decides what happens if one stops paying. Joint and several liability means each tenant can be held responsible for the entire rent, not just their share. It is the most important clause nobody reads.