Why Rental Agreement Forms Are Important
Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
by Henry Fong
Feng Shui Absolutely
Are you a new landlord, about to rent your property to an unknown stranger? Are you looking for a n
A rental agreement form is a legal document between a tenant and a landlord that will be signed before leasing any apartment. It will generally have the time that the lease is good for (usually a year), and outlines the responsibilities of both the tenant and the landlord during that time period. The purpose of the form is so that both the landlord and the tenant are covered legally.
A good rental agreement form will include several different things. It will have the names of both the renter and the landlord and their signatures that they both agree to it. If it is not signed by both parties then it is not valid. It will also include the address of the place that is being leased, as well as the agreed upon amount of rent. Any required security deposit will be mentioned, as well as the conditions that must be met before the security deposit is returned to the tenant.
The agreement will also include who is to pay for the town's water and sewer bills, and weather or not the tenant is responsible for paying the electric and gas bills. It will also say if a pet is allowed or not. They may also have additional stipulations attached.
It is important to make sure that you go over any rental agreement before you sign it. It does not matter if you are the person who wrote it yourself, ensure that everything looks right and nothing is missing.
Keep a copy of the rental agreement in a safe place should an event occur where you may need to prove you aren't responsible for paying for whatever the cost may be. A tenant usually will not pay for plumbing or any other type of work due to normal use, and a clause regarding such a scenario should be inside the agreement. It is better to be safe than sorry.
It is important for everyone to use a rental agreement. It ensures that both parties remain safe. Make sure you always use one so that you do not end up paying for someone else's mistakes.
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